Furness, Lancashire

Furness (FUR-nəs) is an area of Cumbria in northwestern England. Together with Cartmel it forms North Lonsdale, which was historically an exclave of Lancashire. The region may be split into two areas: Low Furness and High Furness. The former consists of the headland bounded on west by the Duddon estuary and on the east by Morecambe Bay, while the latter extends inland into the Lake District and contains the Furness Fells. Off the southern tip of Low Furness is Walney Island, eighteen kilometers in length, as well as several smaller islands.

The town of Barrow, which developed as Furness's iron industry flourished in the 19th century, dominates the region: the surrounding borough contains three quarters of the total population of 91,563. Other significant settlements are Ulverston, Dalton, Coniston, Broughton, and Askam & Ireleth.

The name, which is first recorded in 1150 as Fuththernessa, is interpreted as "headland by the rump-shaped island," from Old Norse futh (genitive futhar), meaning rump, and nes, meaning headland. The island in question may be Piel Island, with the name originally referring to the headland immediately opposite (where Rampside is), before being extended to the entire region. Alternatively it could be Walney Island: though it little resembles a rump today, erosion could have altered its shape over time.

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