Carlisle (UK)

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City and administrative headquarters of Cumbria, northwest England, on the River Eden at the western end of Hadrian's Wall, 14 km/9 mi south of the Scottish border; population (2001) 73,800. It is a leading railway and service centre. Industries include engineering and brewing, and the manufacture of textiles, agricultural machinery, metal goods, confectionery, and processed foods.

The town developed on a low sandstone hill with the River Eden to the north, the Petteril tributary to the west, and the Caldew tributary to the east. Carlisle was the site of the Roman settlement of Luguvalium and, during the Roman occupation, was raided by the Picts and other Scottish tribes. The Saxon town was sacked by the Danes in the 9th century. William Rufus built the castle in 1092 as a stronghold against the Scots and frequent border raids followed. The Scots gained control of the town from 1136 to 1157 and from 1644 to 1645 during the English Civil War. It was briefly captured again by the Scots in 1745, during the Jacobite rising led by the British prince Charles Edward Stuart. Carlisle developed rapidly in the 19th century as a railway hub.

The number of stripes changed frequently until around 1800. Red, white, and blue became the colours of liberty and an inspiration for other revolutionary flags around the world. Effective date: 19 February 1937. >>