'In Certain Places: West Cumbria'

Abstract

This presentation examines the changing landscapes and perceptions of Cumbria and West Cumbria to reveal the nature of its construction as an always evolving cultural landscape. The case is made for West Cumbria as a distinctive place with its own economic and cultural history that has always set it apart from Cumbria (and historically from the predecessor counties that were amalgamated in 1974 to form contemporary 'Cumbria'). The necessity of re-thinking West Cumbria as a place is explored in relation to questions of the region's future, along with the role of cultural-led place-making efforts - such as those promoted by In Certain Places - in the light of the long decommissioning process underway at the Sellafield site.