Longtown is a market town in Cumbria, England, just south of the Scottish Border. It has a sheep market which was at the centre of the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth crisis. Just south-west of Longtown is Arthuret Church, dedicated to Saint Michael and All Angels. Location It is in the parish of Arthuret and on the River Esk. Longtown is to the north of Carlisle and to the east of Dumfries. History Historically in Cumberland, nearby was the Battle of Arfderydd in 573. The Battle of Solway Moss was fought nearby in 1542. 2001 UK Foot and mouth crisis Longtown is the location of the largest sheep markets in England. The first animal to be found infected with foot-and-mouth disease in the 2001 crisis had been purchased at Longtown Market. While at the market it spread the infection to other animals. The size of the Longtown Sheep Market meant that the disease had spread right across the country in a very short time. Longtown became the centre for control of the disease in south western Scotland and North West England. Governance Longtown is in the parliamentary constituency of Penrith and the Border. Neil Hudson was elected its Conservative Member of Parliament at the 2019 General Election, replacing Rory Stewart. Before Brexit for the European Parliament residents in Longtown voted to elect MEPs for the North West England constituency. For Local Government purposes it is in the Longtown + The Border Ward of Carlisle City Council and the Longtown Division of Cumbria County Council. Longtown has its own parish council; Arthuret Parish Council. Education Longtown has one primary school with around 190 pupils. Most secondary school pupils travel to William Howard School, Brampton, or Carlisle. Though up until 2008 Longtown had its own secondary school, Lochinvar School. Environment In April 2014 Carlisle City Council rejected a planning application for a two million gallon slurry lagoon at Scaurbank Wood, to the north east of Longtown. The planned slurry lagoon was said to be the most objected to plan in the City Council's history, with more than 1,400 letters or e-mails of objection. Industry Coal mining Lochinvar coalfield was discovered in the 1950s by the National Coal Board and was subject to drilling but never mined. From 2014 an Australian firm was exploring the coalfield for coking coal to produce steel. The company was exploring as far north as Evertown near Canonbie, and