28:
1081:
110:
393:
326:
19:
1073:
333:
416:
400:
432:
349:
365:
245:
229:
213:
197:
181:
165:
149:
133:
117:
318:
is a mathematically derived point that is in every sense the centre of a two dimensional area like a piece of land. If a straight line is drawn through a centroid in any direction there will be equal length of the line on either side of the centroid as measured from it to the boundary if the line is
456:
Put simply, the centroid is the point at which a cardboard cut-out of the area could be perfectly balanced on the tip of a pencil. Islands are assumed fixed to the mainland in their precise position by invisible rigid weightless wires. A mathematical method is used to do the balancing to a much
51:, and its constituent countries, due to the complexity and method of the calculation, such as whether to include offshore islands, and the fact that erosion will cause the position to change over time. There are two main methods of calculating this "centre": either as the
319:
unbroken on either side. If a line crosses an inlet of the sea then it can be considered as a stick of uniform weight with a material of negligible weight crossing the water, the line would then balance precisely at the centroid point if suspended.
699:
1107:
also claims to be the centre of
England as it is not only midway along England's longest north-south axis, but also midway between the east coast and the Welsh border. Claims are also made for a tree, the
22:
This stake is one of several way markers that mark the location of variously calculated geographic centres of
Britain. It is located just to the west of Whitendale Hanging Stones in Lancashire at SD 64188
523:
968:
628:
769:
840:
667:
63:), or as the point farthest from the boundary of the country (either the sea, or, in the case of constituent countries, a land border). These two methods give quite different answers.
109:
392:
1103:, and there has been a stone cross there commemorating the claim for at least 500 years. The justification is that the point farthest from the sea is in the parish.
1545:
882:
811:
740:
596:
565:
490:
325:
580:
371:
277:
155:
1535:
260:
447:
27:
1135:
1051:
using the mean (least squares) method based on local authority district data from the 1990s gave the population centre of Great
Britain at
917:
380:
1489:
Population density, change and concentration in Great
Britain 1971, 1981 and 1991 (Studies on Medical and Population Subjects No. 58)
1456:
1140:
1516:
1145:
60:
1407:
1024:; also approximately the midpoint of each of the lines through it across Great Britain along the 16 main compass directions.
1540:
1080:
878:
830:
807:
736:
592:
561:
486:
1229:
98:
conducted studies that pinpointed the respective centres more precisely, and it is their results that are quoted below.
1424:
1295:
1092:
672:
464:
of the two-dimensional shapes made by the countries. Calculations include offshore islands unless stated.
18:
1037:
1021:
1429:
584:
56:
44:
32:
1130:
1104:
1085:
622:
292:
1342:
685:
671:) A plaque denoting this point, and disputing the "traditional" centre of England as being at
287:
187:
1512:
907:
610:
517:
422:
406:
302:
282:
235:
171:
1278:
1072:
1411:
1363:
1282:
1150:
95:
1076:
Plaque on the ancient cross at
Meriden, West Midlands, the traditional centre of England
1464:
1113:
614:
76:
48:
1529:
1052:
1048:
962:
693:
618:
509:
505:
474:
355:
339:
272:
267:
139:
123:
84:
80:
1117:
1036:
This calculation depends on the method used (mean, median or geometric median; see
755:
203:
1258:
1404:
1321:
1109:
1017:
72:
1384:
911:
834:
826:
763:
759:
588:
513:
482:
297:
219:
88:
36:
1059:. Since then, the population centre will have moved slightly south and east.
984:
970:
932:
919:
856:
842:
785:
771:
715:
701:
644:
630:
539:
525:
1487:
1203:
958:
689:
478:
438:
251:
31:"Centrographers" at the centre of mainland Great Britain, in a field near
1434:
1414:, Centre of Britain Hotel, Haltwhistle, Northumberland. Accessed May 2012
1207:
1176:
1172:
1096:
461:
315:
52:
1100:
675:
in the West
Midlands, was erected by Ordnance Survey on 14 June 2013
55:
of the two-dimensional shape made by the country (projected to the
1079:
1071:
1056:
26:
17:
39:
at Grid Ref SD 72321.72 36671.1 (approximately), in
December 2005
83:". By another calculation the centre can also be said to be
951:
Point farthest from high tide mark (including tidal rivers)
1173:"Scottish independence: The town at the centre of Britain"
1020:, Northumberland. The midpoint of the longest north–south
477:", approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) off the coast at
457:
greater accuracy than the practical method could achieve.
43:
There has long been debate over the exact location of the
1084:
Road sign welcoming visitors to the Centre of
England at
1509:
Sacred Center: the
Ancient Art of Locating Sanctuaries
1120:, although the basis for these claims is not clear.
1296:"Q. Where is the centre of mainland Great Britain?"
451:
Map of centres of UK and
England by various methods
332:
504:Whitendale Hanging Stones (#1 on the map), near
1343:"New centre of England marked in Fenny Drayton"
1228:Social Media Manager, Gemma (22 August 2014).
79:has banners stating that it is the "Centre of
1099:has claimed to be the geographical centre of
581:Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
8:
957:Between Hammerwich and Wall, south-west of
1253:
1251:
415:
384:Map of centres of the UK and Great Britain
1011:Mid point of the longest north–south axis
399:
1230:"Where is the centre of Great Britain?"
1197:
1195:
1193:
1163:
431:
91:, 71 miles (114 km) to the south.
1546:United Kingdom geography-related lists
348:
7:
1136:Extreme points of the United Kingdom
1055:, Leicestershire, 20 miles south of
364:
59:ellipsoid then flattened using the
1171:Vanessa Barford (22 August 2014).
996:Point farthest from high tide mark
14:
1461:Appleby Magna & Appleby Parva
460:Unless stated, positions are the
1486:Dorling, D; Atkins, D J (1995).
891:Locations found by other methods
744:) Irish grid ref H 84494 74047.
430:
414:
398:
391:
363:
347:
331:
324:
243:
227:
211:
195:
179:
163:
147:
131:
115:
108:
1536:Geography of the United Kingdom
1202:Brady Haran (20 October 2002).
1141:Geography of the United Kingdom
1204:"Stuck in the middle with ewe"
1146:Geographical centre of Ireland
61:Transverse Mercator projection
1:
574:Great Britain (mainland only)
473:A position "in the middle of
1385:"Saving the centre of Wales"
1091:For centuries the parish of
897:Point farthest from the sea
1562:
1259:"Brave hearts of Scotland"
857:52.33021972°N 3.76640889°W
786:56.81673806°N 4.18396306°W
727:Centre of Northern Ireland
716:54.60757694°N 6.69314528°W
645:52.56192833°N 1.46485389°W
540:54.00366000°N 2.54785500°W
1410:January 29, 2012, at the
340:Whitendale Hanging Stones
268:Whitendale Hanging Stones
244:
228:
212:
196:
180:
164:
148:
132:
116:
862:52.33021972; -3.76640889
791:56.81673806; -4.18396306
721:54.60757694; -6.69314528
650:52.56192833; -1.46485389
545:54.00366000; -2.54785500
1322:"A tale of two centres"
551:Centre of Great Britain
1088:
1077:
40:
24:
1507:John Michell (2009).
1405:The Centre of Britain
1281:(calculation made by
1083:
1075:
485:, at Ordnance Survey
94:However, in 2002 the
67:Traditional locations
30:
21:
1541:Geographical centres
1511:. Inner Traditions.
1234:The Official OS Blog
1038:Centre of population
1030:Centre of population
668:SP 36373.66 96143.05
448:class=notpageimage|
381:class=notpageimage|
261:class=notpageimage|
1467:on 23 November 2007
1457:"Population Centre"
1430:University of Leeds
1364:"Meg in the middle"
1285:) 16 September 2014
980: /
933:52.72759°N 1.6252°W
929: /
852: /
781: /
711: /
640: /
535: /
45:geographical centre
1131:Centre of Scotland
1105:Morton, Derbyshire
1089:
1086:Morton, Derbyshire
1078:
904:Church Flatts Farm
797:Centre of Scotland
623:Higham on the Hill
423:Church Flatts Farm
303:Church Flatts Farm
102:Centroid locations
41:
25:
1437:on 3 October 2006
1387:. BBC. 2002-10-24
1366:. BBC. 2002-10-23
1345:. BBC. 2013-06-14
1324:. BBC. 2002-10-22
1302:. Ordnance Survey
1261:. BBC. 2002-10-24
1067:Centre of England
1047:A calculation by
938:52.72759; -1.6252
908:Coton in the Elms
656:Centre of England
611:Lindley Hall Farm
579:A field south of
518:Forest of Bowland
407:Lindley Hall Farm
293:Near Blair Atholl
283:Lindley Hall Farm
1553:
1522:
1494:
1493:
1483:
1477:
1476:
1474:
1472:
1463:. Archived from
1453:
1447:
1446:
1444:
1442:
1433:. Archived from
1421:
1415:
1402:
1396:
1395:
1393:
1392:
1381:
1375:
1374:
1372:
1371:
1360:
1354:
1353:
1351:
1350:
1339:
1333:
1332:
1330:
1329:
1318:
1312:
1311:
1309:
1307:
1292:
1286:
1276:
1270:
1269:
1267:
1266:
1255:
1246:
1245:
1243:
1241:
1225:
1219:
1218:
1216:
1214:
1199:
1188:
1187:
1185:
1183:
1168:
1004:
1003:
1001:
1000:
999:
997:
992:
991:
986:
981:
978:
977:
976:
973:
944:
943:
941:
940:
939:
934:
930:
927:
926:
925:
922:
885:
876:
875:
873:
872:
871:
869:
864:
863:
858:
853:
850:
849:
848:
845:
814:
805:
804:
802:
801:
800:
798:
793:
792:
787:
782:
779:
778:
777:
774:
743:
735:
734:
732:
731:
730:
728:
723:
722:
717:
712:
709:
708:
707:
704:
680:Northern Ireland
670:
664:
663:
661:
660:
659:
657:
652:
651:
646:
641:
638:
637:
636:
633:
599:
568:
559:
558:
556:
555:
554:
552:
547:
546:
541:
536:
533:
532:
531:
528:
493:
434:
433:
418:
417:
402:
401:
395:
367:
366:
351:
350:
335:
334:
328:
247:
246:
231:
230:
215:
214:
199:
198:
183:
182:
167:
166:
151:
150:
135:
134:
119:
118:
112:
1561:
1560:
1556:
1555:
1554:
1552:
1551:
1550:
1526:
1525:
1519:
1506:
1503:
1501:Further reading
1498:
1497:
1485:
1484:
1480:
1470:
1468:
1455:
1454:
1450:
1440:
1438:
1423:
1422:
1418:
1412:Wayback Machine
1403:
1399:
1390:
1388:
1383:
1382:
1378:
1369:
1367:
1362:
1361:
1357:
1348:
1346:
1341:
1340:
1336:
1327:
1325:
1320:
1319:
1315:
1305:
1303:
1294:
1293:
1289:
1283:Ordnance Survey
1277:
1273:
1264:
1262:
1257:
1256:
1249:
1239:
1237:
1227:
1226:
1222:
1212:
1210:
1201:
1200:
1191:
1181:
1179:
1170:
1169:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1151:Drainage divide
1126:
1095:to the west of
995:
993:
989:
987:
983:
982:
979:
974:
971:
969:
967:
966:
937:
935:
931:
928:
923:
920:
918:
916:
915:
893:
881:
868:Centre of Wales
867:
865:
861:
859:
855:
854:
851:
846:
843:
841:
839:
838:
822:
810:
796:
794:
790:
788:
784:
783:
780:
775:
772:
770:
768:
767:
751:
739:
726:
724:
720:
718:
714:
713:
710:
705:
702:
700:
698:
697:
682:
666:
655:
653:
649:
647:
643:
642:
639:
634:
631:
629:
627:
626:
607:
595:
576:
564:
550:
548:
544:
542:
538:
537:
534:
529:
526:
524:
522:
521:
501:
489:
470:
454:
453:
452:
450:
444:
443:
442:
441:
439:Near Hammerwich
435:
427:
426:
425:
419:
411:
410:
409:
403:
387:
386:
385:
383:
377:
376:
375:
374:
368:
360:
359:
358:
352:
344:
343:
342:
336:
312:
311:
310:
307:Near Hammerwich
264:Map of centres
263:
257:
256:
255:
254:
248:
240:
239:
238:
232:
224:
223:
222:
216:
208:
207:
206:
200:
192:
191:
190:
184:
176:
175:
174:
168:
160:
159:
158:
152:
144:
143:
142:
136:
128:
127:
126:
120:
104:
96:Ordnance Survey
69:
12:
11:
5:
1559:
1557:
1549:
1548:
1543:
1538:
1528:
1527:
1524:
1523:
1517:
1502:
1499:
1496:
1495:
1478:
1448:
1416:
1397:
1376:
1355:
1334:
1313:
1287:
1271:
1247:
1220:
1189:
1162:
1161:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1114:Leamington Spa
1063:
1062:
1061:
1060:
1042:
1041:
1026:
1025:
1007:
1006:
985:52.66°N 1.85°W
947:
946:
892:
889:
888:
887:
879:grid reference
844:52°19′48.791″N
831:Devil's Bridge
821:
818:
817:
816:
808:grid reference
750:
747:
746:
745:
737:grid reference
703:54°36′27.277″N
681:
678:
677:
676:
632:52°33′42.942″N
615:Leicestershire
606:
603:
602:
601:
593:grid reference
575:
572:
571:
570:
562:grid reference
500:
497:
496:
495:
487:grid reference
469:
468:United Kingdom
466:
446:
445:
437:
436:
429:
428:
421:
420:
413:
412:
405:
404:
397:
396:
390:
389:
388:
379:
378:
370:
369:
362:
361:
354:
353:
346:
345:
338:
337:
330:
329:
323:
322:
321:
309:
308:
305:
300:
295:
290:
285:
280:
275:
270:
259:
258:
250:
249:
242:
241:
234:
233:
226:
225:
218:
217:
210:
209:
202:
201:
194:
193:
186:
185:
178:
177:
170:
169:
162:
161:
154:
153:
146:
145:
138:
137:
130:
129:
122:
121:
114:
113:
107:
106:
105:
103:
100:
77:Northumberland
68:
65:
49:United Kingdom
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1558:
1547:
1544:
1542:
1539:
1537:
1534:
1533:
1531:
1520:
1514:
1510:
1505:
1504:
1500:
1491:
1490:
1482:
1479:
1466:
1462:
1458:
1452:
1449:
1436:
1432:
1431:
1426:
1420:
1417:
1413:
1409:
1406:
1401:
1398:
1386:
1380:
1377:
1365:
1359:
1356:
1344:
1338:
1335:
1323:
1317:
1314:
1301:
1297:
1291:
1288:
1284:
1280:
1275:
1272:
1260:
1254:
1252:
1248:
1235:
1231:
1224:
1221:
1209:
1205:
1198:
1196:
1194:
1190:
1178:
1174:
1167:
1164:
1157:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1128:
1123:
1121:
1119:
1115:
1111:
1106:
1102:
1098:
1094:
1087:
1082:
1074:
1070:
1069:
1068:
1058:
1054:
1053:Appleby Parva
1050:
1049:Danny Dorling
1046:
1045:
1044:
1043:
1040:for details).
1039:
1035:
1034:
1033:
1032:
1031:
1023:
1019:
1016:
1015:
1014:
1013:
1012:
1002:
964:
963:Staffordshire
960:
956:
955:
954:
953:
952:
942:
913:
909:
905:
902:
901:
900:
899:
898:
890:
884:
880:
874:
847:3°45′59.072″W
836:
832:
828:
824:
823:
819:
813:
809:
803:
773:56°49′0.257″N
765:
761:
757:
753:
752:
748:
742:
738:
733:
706:6°41′35.323″W
695:
694:County Tyrone
691:
687:
684:
683:
679:
674:
669:
662:
635:1°27′53.474″W
624:
620:
619:Fenny Drayton
616:
612:
609:
608:
604:
598:
594:
590:
586:
582:
578:
577:
573:
567:
563:
557:
530:2°32′52.278″W
527:54°0′13.176″N
519:
515:
511:
510:Dunsop Bridge
507:
506:Brennand Farm
503:
502:
499:Great Britain
498:
492:
488:
484:
480:
476:
475:Morecambe Bay
472:
471:
467:
465:
463:
458:
449:
440:
424:
408:
394:
382:
373:
357:
356:Morecambe Bay
341:
327:
320:
317:
306:
304:
301:
299:
296:
294:
291:
289:
286:
284:
281:
279:
276:
274:
273:Morecambe Bay
271:
269:
266:
265:
262:
253:
237:
221:
205:
189:
173:
157:
141:
125:
111:
101:
99:
97:
92:
90:
86:
85:Dunsop Bridge
82:
78:
74:
66:
64:
62:
58:
54:
50:
46:
38:
34:
29:
20:
16:
1508:
1488:
1481:
1469:. Retrieved
1465:the original
1460:
1451:
1439:. Retrieved
1435:the original
1428:
1425:"News Item:"
1419:
1400:
1389:. Retrieved
1379:
1368:. Retrieved
1358:
1347:. Retrieved
1337:
1326:. Retrieved
1316:
1304:. Retrieved
1299:
1290:
1274:
1263:. Retrieved
1238:. Retrieved
1233:
1223:
1211:. Retrieved
1180:. Retrieved
1166:
1118:Warwickshire
1090:
1066:
1065:
1064:
1029:
1028:
1027:
1010:
1009:
1008:
990:52.66; -1.85
950:
949:
948:
903:
896:
895:
894:
883:SN7972871704
812:NN6678471599
776:4°11′2.267″W
756:Blair Atholl
741:NV9706433729
597:SD7232136671
566:SD6418856541
491:SD4157566760
459:
455:
372:Calderstones
313:
278:Calderstones
93:
71:The town of
70:
42:
15:
1471:25 November
1441:25 November
1306:23 November
1182:20 November
1110:Midland Oak
1018:Haltwhistle
988: /
936: /
860: /
789: /
719: /
688:(#5), near
648: /
583:(#3), near
543: /
73:Haltwhistle
1530:Categories
1518:1594772843
1391:2010-01-02
1370:2010-01-02
1349:2013-06-14
1328:2010-01-02
1265:2010-01-02
1158:References
994: (
921:52°43′39″N
912:Derbyshire
866: (
835:Ceredigion
827:Cwmystwyth
795: (
764:Perthshire
760:Dalwhinnie
725: (
654: (
589:Lancashire
549: (
514:Lancashire
508:, outside
483:Lancashire
298:Cwmystwyth
89:Lancashire
37:Lancashire
1213:2 January
959:Lichfield
924:1°37′31″W
758:(#6) and
690:Cookstown
686:Annaghone
479:Morecambe
462:centroids
288:Annaghone
1408:Archived
1279:BBC News
1208:BBC News
1177:BBC News
1124:See also
1097:Coventry
1022:meridian
754:Between
749:Scotland
316:centroid
53:centroid
1492:. HMSO.
1300:MapZone
1101:England
1093:Meriden
972:52°40′N
673:Meriden
605:England
585:Whalley
516:in the
81:Britain
47:of the
33:Whalley
1515:
1240:20 May
975:1°51′W
906:(#8),
829:(#7),
617:(near
613:(#4),
481:(#2),
23:56541.
1112:, in
1057:Derby
825:Near
820:Wales
1513:ISBN
1473:2007
1443:2007
1308:2011
1242:2017
1236:. OS
1215:2010
1184:2015
621:and
314:The
57:Airy
625:) (
75:in
1532::
1459:.
1427:.
1298:.
1250:^
1232:.
1206:.
1192:^
1175:.
1116:,
1005:;)
961:,
910:,
886:)
877:;
833:,
815:)
806:;
762:,
692:,
665:;
587:,
569:)
560:;
520:.(
512:,
87:,
35:,
1521:.
1475:.
1445:.
1394:.
1373:.
1352:.
1331:.
1310:.
1268:.
1244:.
1217:.
1186:.
998:)
965:(
945:)
914:(
870:)
837:(
799:)
766:(
729:)
696:(
658:)
600:)
591:(
553:)
494:.
252:9
236:8
220:7
204:6
188:5
172:4
156:3
140:2
124:1
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
