Grange-over-Sands[3] is a town and civil parish on the north side of Morecambe Bay in Cumbria, England, a few miles south of the Lake District National Park.
The "over-Sands" suffix was added in the late 19th or early 20th century by the local vicar, who was fed up with his post going to Grange in Borrowdale near Keswick.
The clean, sea air and local spring water were believed to be of benefit to tuberculosis sufferers, and in 1891 one of the first sanatoriums in the country was established at Meathop.
[14] In January 2019, it was announced that the derelict Grade II listed coastal lido would be refurbished and reopened to the public, but not as a swimming pool.
[22] Grange-over-Sands is part of the Westmorland and Lonsdale parliamentary constituency, of which Tim Farron is the current MP representing the Liberal Democrats.
The town is a centre for tourists exploring the southern Lakeland fells, and is home to a number of hotels, bed & breakfasts and holiday properties.
In December 2019, National Geographic published an article called How to spend a weekend on the Cumbrian coast, in which it recommended that tourists should "Resist the lure of the Lake District and instead trace England’s northwest coastline by road or rail, savouring epicurean discoveries and sandy hikes along the way."
[26] Above the town is Hampsfield Fell (generally abbreviated to Hampsfell), crowned by 'Hampsfell Hospice', a sturdy limestone tower monument built in 1846 by the vicar of Cartmel.
Over the door, which faces east, there is an inscription from Homer - 'ΡΟΔΟΔΑΚΤΥΛOΣ EΩΣ' - (RODODAKTYLOS EOS "rosy-fingered" Dawn) - whilst inside are painted boards commemorating its construction, praising the view and welcoming visitors.
Before the building of the railway, the main way of reaching Grange was the road across the Sands of Morecambe Bay from Hest Bank.