Isn't Carlisle in Scotland?

[Gardenwoe]

So was just looking at where Morcambe is, whilst watching the shambolic Spurs game. And was surprised to see Carlisle is in England... I would have bet my DH life on it being in Scotland

@FanGirlX

I didn't know Cambridge didn't have a cathedral. Is it still classed as a city?

Didn't it used to be the case that every place that was designated a city had to have a cathedral? I remember reading a few years ago, that Preston was being elevated to city status, despite not having a cathedral and that was unusual.

'City' is a status granted by the monarch, and while historically it was strongly linked to cathedrals that's not a necessary nor sufficient criterion. From a skim of the wiki page, it seems that in terms of area , the 'city of Carlisle' is actually the largest, at 400 square miles.

promise you it doesn’t have one!

I wasn't doubting you 😀. This thread is like a font of U.K. geographic and historical knowledge.

Forgot the link -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CitystatussintheeUnited_Kingdom

Cambridge doesn’t have a cathedral?! What the??

@DropYourSword

Cambridge doesn’t have a cathedral?! What the??

Neither does Lancaster - well, not a CofE one which was the relevant factor in the period between the reformation and the industrial revolution.

Berwick is confusing because Berwick on Tweed and North Berwick are on opposite sides of the border but only 40 miles apart.

I think So many Mumsnetters need to buy large wall maps of the U.K.

@FelicityBeedle

Another one who lives in Carlisle, and never seen anyone make that mistake before, maybe a southern one? I can’t talk though, I thought Dunkirk was in Scotland until I was about 14. It just sounds it!

Carlisle is a very small city, even has a cathedral! Second smallest in the U.K., second only to Cambridge’s if I recall correctly

Ripon is the smallest city I think (near Thirsk ) and Carlisle is massive in comparison

Oh ignore me, it's too early. My trading comprehension is rubbish 🙄

Reading not trading 🙄

@LowlandLucky

I think So many Mumsnetters need to buy large wall maps of the U.K.

Or spend hours browsing Open Street Map, like I do

I have just read that Thurso (not Thirsk!) s further west than Bristol, too. I knew that Edinburgh is further west than Cardiff.

And I think Pontefract sounds like it should be in Yorkshire. A nice solid northern name, pont notwithstanding. Pen y Ghent is weird though! is that someone having a laugh and it should be Penighent? Like Penistone (which I think is in Yorkshire?)

Guildford has a cathedral, but isn't a city.

@Masdintle @FelicityBeedle Wells in Somerset is the smallest city in the UK. And that's only if you don't count the City of London.

Like Penistone (which I think is in Yorkshire?)

Indeed it is - in South Yorkshire.

I had to comment/ placemark so I can come back to this thread later for a proper read through.

I too thought Carlisle was in Scotland when I was younger. In my early 20s my DP of the time and I went on a trip that involved a night in Carlisle and I said ‘oh so we’re going to Scotland’ and he had to explain to me why that wasn’t the case. I remember the conversation/ affectionate piss taking that ensued ended up with him drawing me a very basic map of the UK and there were a few other surprises - the locations of Sheffield and Middlesbrough in particular being nowhere near where I’d imagined.

In my 40s now and am still totally crap at Geography despite being an otherwise reasonably intelligent person. It’s partly being a very non-visual person with absolutely shocking spatial awareness. I can get lost in my own home town. My sister lives 4 hours away - I have been doing that journey a couple of times a year for the last 20 odd years and I still need the sat nav. My DH could drive it without from the second time he came. I find it really hard to picture where things are in relation to others. I’m fascinated by maps but don’t seem to be able to interpret the information very well or retain it.

Anyway I’m going to come back for a good read to see what else I’ve been wrong about.

DropYourSword

Cambridge doesn’t have a cathedral?! What the??
Neither does Preston ( a city) but Blackburn does ( not a city) They are about10 mes apart.

DH just told me that Chester football club is in Wales but Chester is in England so Welsh Covid restrictions apply...even though they play in the English league
Chester Fc spans the boarder and is both in England and Wales but Welsh restrictions apply. I think the most of the stadium is on the Welsh side.

Oops that’ll teach me to spout half remembered wrong facts at 2am!
I do know for a fact it is a very pretty cathedral at least

Why is being a city considered such a status symbol?

@ErrolTheDragon
Neither does Lancaster - well, not a CofE one which was the relevant factor in the period between the reformation and the industrial revolution.

I honestly would have bet money I’d visited Lancaster Cathedral

Now I’m literally googling why isn’t Lancaster Cathedral a...cathedral.

Lancaster is well worth a visit. The Castle tour is fascinating and the butterfly house at Williamson park is delightful. I'd also recommend Atkinson's for coffee and cake.

Wells is a lovely city too. The cathedral is stunning and the city itself has a peaceful vibe.

Back on to the subject of what is a city and what isn't, I think certain places were designated cities based on what was important at the time - so in mediaeval times religion (hence needing a cathedral) as well as possibly location from a military / strategic perspective- Carlisle being important in the English/Scots wars.

@AdditionalCharacter

Definitely in England.

I always thought Thirsk was in Scotland until I drove through it in Yorkshire.

Aye, you're mixing Thirsk up with Throsk. Easy done. I remember driving through Yorkshire too years ago seeing that village and had to do a double take.

@theNumbersStation

Carlisle used to be Scottish.

If it was 1091 you’d have been right.

Your Wullie robbed it.

You beat me to it. Carlisle used to be part of Scotland but for hundreds of years that's not been the case.

@DropYourSword

Now I’m literally googling why isn’t Lancaster Cathedral a...cathedral.

It is, but RC not CofE. The big CofE church up behind the castle is the Priory.

If it makes you feel any better @Gardenwoe I'm in the borders and ITV seem to be quite confused by this too.