VISITORS were forced to take a second look yesterday as the Lancashire Day proclamation was read out in Ulverston.

Ulverston's Town Crier was in market square yesterday to mark all things Lancastrian.

Afterall a large part of south Cumbria was in Lancashire until 1974.

Now to mark its past each year on November 27, the Lancashire Day proclamation is read out by town criers throughout the county and beyond.

Barrow, Ulverston and Furness were all historically part of Lancashire up until 1974, when the Local Government Act of1972 saw Cumbria come in to existence.

Peter Winston, the Ulverston Town Crier, said: “To the people of the city and county palatine of Lancaster. Greetings!

“Know ye that this day, November 27th in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and eighteen, the 67th year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Lancaster, is Lancashire Day.

“Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of Her Majesty’s County Palatine of Lancaster, the citizens of the Hundreds of Lonsdale, North and South of the Sands, Amounderness, Leyland, Blackburn, Salford and West Derby are forever entitled to style themselves Lancastrians.

“Throughout the County Palatine, from the Furness Fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the Pennines, this day shall ever mark the people’s pleasure in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.

“God bless Lancashire and God save the Queen, Duke of Lancaster.”

Speaking after the proclamation, he said: “Traditionally, Ulverston was part of Lancashire.

“But since 1974, it has been considered part of Cumbria.

“We like to keep the tradition of the Lancashire Day proclamation going as a way of people remembering our history.”

Also talking about the history of the area and the importance of remembering the Lancastrian heritage, Cllr Dave Webster, Mayor of Ulverston, said: “Ulverston used to be part of Lancashire and is still part of the Duchy of Lancashire today.

“Today is a celebration of that.

“Many people in the Furness area still consider themselves Lancastrian.

“Those born after 1974 don’t remember how it used to be but those of the older generation do.

“So, we still celebrate our history each year with the declaration.”

In a poll on The Mail website yesterday, 220 readers voted with 71 per cent still considering Barrow to be part of Lancashire. Only 29 per cent agreeing with the current county lines, placing Barrow and Ulverston in Cumbria.