Cumbria Blue Badge Guide Training Programme
2010-11
PENRITH WALKING ROUTE
Start – outside the George Hotel, Devonshire Street
Guiding Point (1) INTRODUCTION
Outside George Hotel near Arnison’s – for George Hotel,
Origin of name – probably celtic “Pen” means hill or head, and rith, connected to word for red.
The valley was on the major north-south valley route. The Roman road from Ravenglass, Hardnott and
Ambleside joined the main north/south road to Carlisle and Lancaster at the fort of 'Voreda' about 6 miles north
of Penrith.
Ancient capital of Cumbria - 9th & 10th cen, more Norse DNA in this part of Cumbria, Said that King Owen
Cesario buried here.
Nearby is the the River Eamont, and believed that it formed the frontier with the Kingdom of Strathclyde
around the 10th century.
In 1295 town seized by Edward I of England, and for the next 15 years, Penrith was subject to numerous
border skirmishes between the Scots and the English. It razed to the ground at least three times during this
period.
Geographically still important -Penrith centre of the Eden District and lies between 2 national parks The Lake
District and Yorkshire Dales National park.
Next door to The George Hotel – originally called The George and Dragon and one of the oldest Inns in the
town)– Bonnie Prince Charles stayed here in Nov 1745 on his way south in an attempt to regain the throne for
the Stuarts– talk more about his campaign. His last skirmish on English soil (although local people insist it was
the last battle on English soil) occurred at Clifton on 18th December . (just outside the town) when the Duke of
Cumberland caught up with stragglers from the Princes’ Army. Both armies were probably feeling pretty
exhausted have just climed Shap Fell. The final battle took place at Cullodon nr Inverness in 1746.
Arnison’s – drapery shop dating from 1830s. Formerly the site of the Moot Hall, owned by his grandparents
(mother’s family). It was here that Wordsworth’s mother died in 1778 (when he was 8years old.)
View down alleyway towards Burrowgate – means Burghgate=Town Street (The Woolpack) leads to
Sandgate - Believed to be area in which the first markets were held.
(Believe Burrowgate and Sandgate are the oldest streets in Penrith).
Walking past the Devonshire Arcade – an indoor covered market built between 1860-1866 – as a Butter
Market.
Guiding Point (2)
Nat West Bank – built of White Ashlar
for a) Musgrave Memorial, 1861 - erected to the eldest son or Sir George and Lady Musgrave of Edenhall, who
died in Madrid aged 26. The family were one of the most ancient in the area and held in high esteem. This
gothic – yellow building contrasts with the mainly Georgian Red Sandstone surrounding.
Town clocks were all the rage!
Market Square, Charter given to the town in 1223 by Henry III. To hold market every Wednesday, and
permitted the felling of trees in Inglewood Forest for the building of shops and stalls.
Newcomers to the town were allowed 10 oak trees to build stalls on rented sites.
Market stalls were rented and tolls taken – for street cleaning, and the office of weights and measures.
Tolls included 4d on every woolsack, a dish of wheat or salt. – the old brass and wooden scoops can be seen in
the Museum.
(formerly The Fleece Inn Stood on corner)
This continued until 1878, when the Penrith Local Board of Health bought the market from the Duke of
Devonshire (for £4140) and introduced cash payments.
Now the site of a Farmers Market, 3rd Tuesday in the month.
Most fertile land, sheltered from Westerly winds, lower rainfall, fertile soil (sedimentary rocks, basic red
sandstone, see the buildings).
J & J Graham’s grocers (Georgian shop front) established in 1793. Most of the buildings that surrounded
were rebuilt in Victorian Times. (in Victorian times there were 4 banks on the square – including the Liverpool
Bank, The London City and Midland Bank and the National Provicial Bank.
Rowcliffe Lane, - Rowcliffe Lane, a street hardly noticed by people today, was once at the industrial heart of
Penrith. Although only 8 feet wide in places, it was filled with tailors, coopers, saddlers, rope-makers and
whitesmiths in the 17th century.
View to Cornmarket; pre-guide “Narrows”
Old Inns and alleyways
Cross Devonshire Street at crossing point, pass through “Narrows” and enter Middlegate
Guiding Point (3)
Williamson Yard, Middlegate - for Wool Stapler’s sign, shears over
the door.
Staple is a term referring to naturally formed clusters or locks of wool
fibres throughout a fleece that are held together by cross fibres
The staple strength of wool is one of the major determining factors when
spinning yarn as well as the sale price of greasy wool
The staple length of the wool is the length of the staple, and highly
correlated with mean fibre length in the top (hauteur).
Staple length generally determines the end use of wool, that is, whether
it will be used in weaving or knitting. The longer wools, generally around
51 mm and longer and called combing types, are processed to worsted
yarn. Short stapled wools are more profitably used in the woolen section
where high grade material may be produced from superfine wool
The length of the wool fibres or 'staple' varies a little across a fleece,
from shorter at the neck to longer in the middle section. The staple
length (or Hauteur) of the wool fibre determines how easily it can be
spun into a yarn. Fibres with a staple ranging between 8cm-12cm are
the easiest to hand spin, typically these are found in the
downland breeds. Longer staples such as Devon Longwool,
shown in this image, has a 20cm staple length and is quite
coarse and so is used for making strong rug warp as well as
Dolls Hair. By way of contrast in Wensleydale the staple can
be up to 35cm, and with a high Bradford Count is spun for
fine strong yarns typically used in suits. Long staple fibres
require skill in hand spinning, using a long drafting zone
and relatively little twist if an even finish is required.
Throughout the 17th and 18th cen Penrith known as a centre
for knitting gloves and socks – many for the army – and
knitting sticks can sometimes be seen in antique shops.
In earlier times Penrith was known for its barkhouses and tanneries (1379-1550) and its saddlers, shoemakers
and cobblers.
All roads lead to Penrith. Look at a local map. Consquently important Drovers Route, but market.
Guiding Point (4)
Walking past - Burtons and Woolworths introduced Art Deco buildings.
Dutch style gables and
Alhambra Cinema b1910 as a public assembly hall, on site of former brewery.
Old Brewery in Stricklandgate est 1754>Glassons/s Brewery who owned premises in former tannery in Union
Court off. Roper Street.
Thacka Beck flows behind.
Opposite Robinson’s School, Middlegate –
Named after William Robinson, - local man made good as London
merchant.
Robinson’s School, earlier Elizabethian school for poor girls est 1670. The
school eventually closed in 1971.
Very small, schoolyard area to side, seating installed by Penrith Civic
society for Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1978.
At one time the
school was
surrounded by
a Brewery!,
Coment on
architecture.
TI Museum what inside – history - Romans, geology,
archaeology, , town seal.
Jacob Thompson 2 paintings – will see work in
church
Town Seal and the Monocole of Tom Piper
In December 1967 the announcement that Robinson's Church of England Infant School was to close heralded
the Council's decision to acquire the building for the re-establishment of the Museum in Middlegate.
Following the school's closure in April 1971 preparations were stepped up for the conversion of the building
to a 'museum-cum-information-bureau', it being observed that 'since the opening of the M6 more and more
people were staying in Penrith for longer periods'.
The inaugural meeting of the Friends of the Museum was held on 5 March and on 9 July 1985 the Penrith
Museum was officially re-opened to the public in Robinson's School.
In 1988 Eden District Council resolved to undertake a scheme of major alterations and extensions to the
building, and by 1990 it had been completely renovated with additional office space and storage
accommodation for the Museum.
The newly refurbished Museum was officially opened by the playwright Colin Welland on 20 April 1990.
In January 1991 it was awarded Full Registered Status by the Museums and Galleries Commission in
recognition that it complied with the standards laid down with regard to its management, collections care and
service provision.
Today the Museum has an acquisition policy which aims to collect, preserve and display material reflecting the
history and culture of Penrith and Eden.
Its range is broad including, for example, a fossil dinosaur footprint from the sandstone of the Eden Valley,
objects from the Stone Age and the Roman period, the medieval seal of Penrith and the old market toll
measures.
Counting individual items in group deposits the Museum's collection comprises around ten thousand accessions
relating to the archaeology, natural, social and cultural history of the area.
The fine art collection encompasses a fine group of Dutch and Flemish landscape and genre paintings, local
topographical views and contemporary works by Eden artists Phil Morsman, Alan Stones, Lorna
Graves, David Boyd and William S. Cowper.
The 19th century Penrith artists Jacob Thompson and Edward Hobley are well represented and important works
by the former have recently been acquired with grants from the Art Fund and the V&A/MLA Purchase Grant
Scheme. There also mementoes of personalities such as Trooper William Pearson, wrestler William Jameson
and Percy Toplis the so-called 'Monocled Mutineer'
Cross Middlegate at crossing point
The Cutting Edge 1664, on Queen Street
Guiding Point (5)
Millstone by Thacka Beck –
Queen Street former main road out of
town.
Thacka Beck was a man made stream
cut from the River Petteril 4 miles N of
the town on the orders of Bishop
Strickland in 1382. The Road
becomes Stricklandgate. The amount
of water that flowed was controlled by
how much could pour through the eye
of a Millstone.
There was a bridge situated at corner
of Brook Street – called Fallowfields
Bridge .
Covered in at later date. Is it still there ? – yes
Thacka Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme – completed in November 2010
The flood alleviation scheme consisted 2 parts
work to repair, replace and upsize 600m of culverts (an underground watercourse) beneath the streets of
Penrith, and
the construction of a 76,000 cubic metre flood storage basin upstream of the town.
The £5.6 million flood alleviation scheme benefits 263 homes and 119 businesses in Penrith and reduces the
chance of flooding from Thacka Beck.
Hundreds of homes and businesses across Penrith are now benefiting from improved flood protection as work
on the town’s flood alleviation scheme draws to an end underground the streets of Penrith.
Throughout winter and spring, we will be carrying out landscaping and planting locally sourced trees, shrubs
and reeds surrounding the flood storage reservoir. These will then by allowed to establish naturally to become
a wetland wildlife haven.
The scheme is the result of close partnership work between the Environment Agency, Eden District Council,
Cumbria County Council, Eden Rivers Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, local businesses and the wider community.
Musgrave Hall
formerly stood at the junction of Middlegate and Brunswick Road (see part of former garden).Their coat of
arms can be seen on the lintel (now British Legion). We saw the clock monument to their son in the main
Market Square.
Congregational Church
Built in 1865 on site of the Eberneezer Chapel founded 1780.
The northern part of the town expanded rapidly in the late 18th
century, and new residential areas were developed.
Bulmer's directory, 1901, described "The Congregational Church, in
Duke Street, is a handsome stone building in the Gothic style, with
square tower surmounted by a spire."
Samuel Plimsoll spent 10 years of his childhood in Penrith and
attended this church.
He was influential in the passing of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1876
and the painting of ‘Plimsoll lines’ on ships, to prevent overloading.
Another person who attended was Mary Wilson – well known for being
very down to earth, wife of the former Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
Her father was a Congregational Minister and she attended secretarial
college for 2 years in Cumbria.
In l990 it was decided to sell the building in Duke Street and the two Penrith congregations – the Presbyterians
and Congregationalist worshiped together in Lowther Street.
The premises were extensively enhanced using the money from the sale of Duke Street.
The Duke Street church was developed into flats – the spire of the church was retained and is still clearly visible
– and one reason for deciding to sell it must have been the fact that Lowther Street is quieter and had a site
capable of being developed, where Duke Street had become part of Penrith’s one-way system and is
surrounded by houses.
The organ was built for the Duke Street Congregational Church in Penrith in 1888 by Nicholson of Newcastle at
a cost of £230. Moved to the church in Lowther Street Penrith following redundancy of Duke Street church in
1990.
Brunswick Square Victorian square developed 1850 around an earlier croquet law (later tennis courts)
Brunswick Rd formerly Scott Lane – renamed for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.
Guiding Point (6)
Town Hall – for Town Hall to include the town seal and the Masonic Hall
Follow road round into Stricklandgate
Guiding Point (6)
Town Hall – Corney Square
Originally 2 houses by architect Robert Adams Adams 1792..
LHS was the residence of William Wordsworth’s cousins, Captain John Wordsworth and his brother Richard
(acquired 1805) h who died in 1819. Captain John was the master of the East India Company ship “Earl of
Abergavenny”, and Wordsworth’s own brother later became captain of the same ship. (See plaque)
Ornate - Red sandstone may have come from Cowraik Quarry on the escarpment of Beacon Hill. (There was a
line of quarries which were used along Beacon Edge Road. This stone was originally laid down in a hot dessert
about 250mill years ago when it was blown and deposited as massive sand dunes. It is sometimes possible to
discern lines of colour in the stone representing the different layers deposited over thousands of years. The
sand was later compacted, and heated duringthe movement of the continents.
In 1905-06 the 2 houses were converted into converted into Penrith Town Hall (the portch was added) amid
great controversy, much fuelled by Canon Rawnsely. He involved the Society for the Preservation of Ancient
Buildings and the National Trust.
THE TOWN SEAL – WHERE EXACTLY IS IT?
On the façade see the Town Seal –
It bears the cross of St Andrew and the inscription “Siigillum Commune Ville de Penreth”, ie the Common Seal
of the Town of Penrith.
In 1830’s original brass seal discovered in a ditch beside the old church at Brampton 20miles to NE. It is
thought that it may have been stolen by Scottish raiders in the 14th cen.
It was given by Mr R Ferguson MP for Carlisle, to the Penrith Local Board of Health in 1876.
It is in the Penrith Museum
Say something about Rawnsley
In 1906 the Library and Museum moved in supported with funding from the Carnegie Trust.
By then the role of Honorary Curator had passed to J. Charles Varty-Smith, a local gentleman described by his
obituarist as 'possessed by taste and knowledge far above the ordinary' and a 'born collector, antiquary,
entomologist, botanist and connoisseur of old china and rare and out-of-the-way objects of art'. A man of
means and leisure, Varty-Smith was a pioneer researcher on old glass and a frequent contributor to illustrated
magazines such as The Queen, Country Life, Home and Garden and The Connoisseur.
He and his daughters made a number of important gifts to the Museum such as the multure dishes used for
collecting tolls at the town's market.
There were other notable contributors to the development of the Museum including Father A. Desmit, a Belgian
refugee during the First World War, who devoted much time to the making of models to illustrate crystal
formation. Thomas Hay, Honorary Curator from 1931 to 1944 carried on this tradition of altruistic service as did
others such as William Lowe of Patterdale and, at a later date, W. Atkinson of Duke Street, Penrith.
In 1964 the Urban District Council handed over its library responsibilities to Cumberland County Council and the
Museum was temporarily closed pending the finding of a new home for the collections
Masonic Hall opposite timeFearly C18, red sandstone with rusticated quoins, heavy moulded
cornice and parapet, slate roof with stone copings and kneelers. Two storeys
with stone band. Centre 6-panelled door in moulded doorcase with cornice, and
pediment on consoles. Six sash windows on ground floor and seven above in
plain architraves. Good staircase, panelling and woodwork inside
Continue along Stricklandgate and into Christ Church churchyard
Guiding Point (7)
Northwest corner of Christ Church –
Christ Church, Stricklandgate, 1850 by Travis and Mangnall - a thin west bell-turret
on a mid-buttress, with nave and aisles. 'Dull' according to Pevsner.
Christ-Church -Administrative history:
Built as an overflow building for St Andrew's, it opened in 1850.
In 1846, an attempt to re-seat St Andrew's and increase the accomodation failed, and
the Vicar (Rev. WH Milner) thereupon formed a committee and opened a subscription
for a new church and burial ground to relieve the pressure on St Andrew's. They then
bought the site, and built the church in 1848-50. The two-acre churchyard was the
main Penrith burial-ground until Penrith Cemetery was opened on Beacon Edge in
November 1872.
From 1850-62, Christ Church was a chapel of ease to St Andrew's. In 1862 it was
endowed, and created a district chapelry under a perpetual curate; in 1868 a stipend of
£40 p.a. was allocated
In 1896, 1906 and 1965 there were alterations to the interior.
Fifty-two vaults were made in the ground to the east of the church, and sold for £10 each freehold for
church funds from the outset. The churchyard continued in regular use until 1888, and was used less and less
frequently thereafter until 1955.
Christ Church was reunited with St Andrew's by Order in Council in 1968, following some months' vacancy and
several years' expectation of reunion, and is now a chapel of ease in the United Parish of Penrith. Its parish
rooms (Christ Church Rooms) [...] closed 1983 still flourish, under their own trustees.
St Catherine’s R C Church, St Catherine, Virgin and Martyr,
The parish boundaries are among the most extensive in
England.
We are a parish of some 240 to 320 at our Sunday Masses
serving a large area from the Northumberland and Durham
boundaries to within a few miles of Keswick, from Low Hesket
in the north to the south of Shap.
St Catherine's serves most of the Eden Valley and District
except Appleby and Kirkby Stephen.
Church and School as seen from Drovers Lane.
Catholics, though relatively few in numbers since the Reformation, gave courageous witness to the Faith
through its martyrs: John Boste of Dufton, Christopher Robinson of Carlisle, William Ward of Thrimby and
Thomas Tunsdall of Whinfell.
Mass was celebrated at Greystoke Hall, seat of the Howard Family, until 1824.
The nearby town of Penrith became the centre of the parish in 1833 with the present church being opened in
1850. It was a Fr George Leo Haydock of the old Catholic family of that name from Cottam near Preston who
built the church, though he died before it was opened.
Sanctuary and altar during Easter Week
ST CATHERINE'S PRIMARY SCHOOL
St Catherine's Catholic School was opened in 1873 with
the first entry in its Log Book being for the week ending
May 19th. Here we read: "This School about to be placed
under Government Inspection. The original red
sandstone building matching the church was replaced by
the one of the present design in 1970
Methodist Church,
Early Penrith records show that a Methodist was buried in Penrith in 1772.
John Wesley is said to have visited Penrith in 1766 and 1780 when he preached in the Upper Room at Crown
Terrace, when travelling from Barnard Castle to Whitehaven.
The foundation stone laid on 28 June 1872 by John Crone, a leading benefactor who gave £1800 towards the
£8,000 cost of building it. (Architect was George Woodhouse of Bolton-le-Moors).
Replaced the former Chapel at Sandgate Head sold for £700 (became a Primitive Methodist Church).
In 1967 Sandgate Head.Church closed and the two societies joined together at Wordsworth Street.
In 1897 the Wordsworth Hall Sunday School was added for a cost of £1760.
The Hall was used as an auxiliary Red Cross military hospital during the 1914-18 World War and as temporary
accommodation for Newcastle Royal Grammar School during the 1939-45 World War.
Major re-development taking place between November 1995 and November 1996 at a cost of £768,000. The
formerly separated Wordsworth Hall and Church were linked together to form one building, the seating in the
gallery was opened for use again and the pews on the ground floor were replaced with chairs. The sanctuary
area was considerably extended to facilitate flexible use of the area both for worship and appropriate secular
events. Modern heating and lighting systems were installed and the pipe organ was replaced with an Ahlborn
pipe less organ.
Following the 1995/96 scheme the use of the premises increased significantly and in 2001 advice was sought as
to whether an additional floor could be installed in Wordsworth Hall. The Structural Engineers advised that this
was not feasible. Within a fortnight of receiving that news it was learned that the Woodland House Hotel,
immediately opposite the Church, was to be sold and the property was acquired before it went on the open
market. Work commenced in January 2002 on its conversion to provide additional mainly Youth orientated
space on the lower two floors and accommodation on the upper floor for a Youth Worker.
Much of the work was undertaken by volunteers (and young offenders) meaning that the cost of acquiring the
premises and conversion was £310,000. A full time youth worker moved into the property and commenced
work in September 2003. At that time parts of the property were occupied by two local charities but by August
2007 the whole of the premises were devoted to Church use.
In 1806 there were 20 members recorded as Wesleyan Methodists this rose to 96 by 1825, 131 by 1846, 206
by 1866 and this remained the same in 1923 compared to 355 in 2010.
The Beacon
On Beacon Pike 937ft, (views across Eden Valley and towards Cross Fell Pennines 2930ft)
Built 1719 in local sandstone, restored 1780, on site of the fire-signal station and watch tower, est 1296 –
Used to give warning of Reiver Raids, Jacobite Rebellion and Napoleonic Wars.
Penrith was laid waste (revenge attacks) during the Reign of Edward III – 1327-1377 and later during the
Reign of Richard III (1483-1485) as we will hear it was his Northern base.
The town was occupied by Prince Charles Stuart in 1745
A view enjoyed by Wordsworth. His mother came from Penrith, and he spent sometime here with his
grandparents.
Said that Sir Walter Scott saw the beacon in (when exactly ) and decided it was time to return to Scotland.!
Leave churchyard by Drovers Lane gate; proceed down Drovers Lane, Portland Place and into
Queen Street
[NB. Cross Queen Street before the awkward junction with Hunter Lane and Albert Street ]
HUNTER'S LANE No 12 (Hunter House) and No 13 Grade II listed.
Early C19. Corner of Drover Lane. Roughcast, 2 storeys, stone roof, 2 stone
chimneys. Two modern doors and 2 garage doors in long plan. Five windows on
ground floor and 6 above, with 16 and 24 panes. A round-arched staircase window
with glazing bars.
Guiding Point (8)
Queen Street Nursery –
Corney House,
Means old-fashioned, trite, or lacking in subtlety
CORNEY PLACE Nos. 1 and 2 (Corney House)
(formerly listed as north west and south east blocks of Corney House, Stricklandgate) Grade I I Listed)
1777 Built by Thomas Corney, son of a prominent bookseller.
The house was divided in 1851, Coursed red sandstone ashlar, with long and short quoins, stone
architraves and bands, 3 storeys.
Entrance at each end in a one-storey wing, with 6-panelled doors,
Doric attached columns with cornice, Gothic glazing bars to fanlights. Five sash windows on each floor.
Gospel Chapel, and Queen Street Nursery
pre-guide wool stapler’s sandstone sign above shop and Three Crowns Yard
Proceed down Queen Street, enter Middlegate, cross at pedestrian crossing,
and enter Three Crowns Yard for White Hart Yard
Guiding Point (9)
Cornmarket area
White Hart Inn, White Hart Yard – for White Hart Yard,
First Recorded 1720 Coaching Inn, 2 coaches per day departing for West Cumberland.
Inns public houses and taverns thrived in the market town. It was the main stopping placed for long-distance
traveller – conveniently located between Kendal and Carlisle. Later stage coaches stopped to change horses
after the pull up Shap.
The completion of the London to Edinburgh route in 1838 hit the town, and the arrival of the railway in the
town in 1846, killed the coaching trade. But the Railway boosted the town as a market centre – with goods
being taken to the rail-head.
The arrival of the railway not a peaceful affair. The Irish Navvys were treated with great suspicion. There was
competition between the English teams and the Irish workmen, a finally war broke out in the “Navvy Riot”.
The Militia, army, and padre were all called out to pacify the riot.
1n 1829 there were 58 pubs/inns.
Through archway to yard. (now being re-developed).
The Griffin Inn – in 1867 – The Pall Mall gazette reported on the landlord (Mr William Jameson) who was a
famous locally as a prize winning Wrestler. He was described as “A certain gigantic Jameson of Penrith who
was more like a polar bear on its hind legs in a grey flannel shirt than a human being.”
This refers to the traditional white leggings worn by Cumberland Wrestlers. – the pub became a haven for
wrestlers and other local sportsmen, and no doubt his winning “belts” were hungin traditional fashion beside
the fireplace.
Clint Mill, originally built by Pattinson and Winter 1878 – local seed merchants and millers.
Occupied until 1990’s by Nickerson’s Seed Merchants (took over the original business) and now converted into
offices and gymnasium.
From 1800-1850 many ancillary industries connected with iron, - tool making, repairs to carts, esp Stalker’s
Foundry in Castlegate, known for their ploughs.
Continue down White Hart Yard and into Cornmarket – cross at pedestrian crossing
Guiding Point (10)
Market Cross, Cornmarket –
Site of one of Penrith’s first gas lamps – The Penrith Gas Light and Coke Co, operated from the south of the
town and the lamp lighter was seen daily lighting the lamps.
By 1789 the Market was suffiently important that it operated from Wednesday, Thursday and
Saturday.
There was a weekly cornmarket, the land was sufficiently well cultivated that there were separate areas in the
market for rye, barley, oats, peas and potatoes.
The main market for live pigs and sheep was Sandgate.
Likewise it is the area where bulls were “baited” prior to slaughter – it was thought this would improve the
flavour of the meat.
There were separate areas for horses and hogs, with a fortnightly cattle and sheep market.
Shops around Cornmarket until 1950’s Tobacconist, Joseph Pickering mens outfitters, and Edmondson the
chemists – started trading in 1726.
Cross over into Great Dockray
Guiding Point (11)
1. The Gloucester Arms –
for Gloucester Arms, Formerly called Dockray Hall,
dates from 1477.
Claims that Richard III (as Duke of Gloucester)
reputedly lodged here are likely to be true.
His mother Cecily Neville was the daughter of Ralph
Neville, Earl of Westmorland (and Joan Beufort),
now credited with building Penrith Castle to protect
the town from Reiver Raiders.
It is known that Richard, was often based in Penrith
acting as his brother’s (Edward IV – Yorkist had
deposed HenryVI) lieutenant in the North. Whilst
based here he had a gatehouse and “lodgings
including a banqueting hall” added to the castle.
(It was the time of the Border Reivers and The Wars of the Roses).
The arms of Richard III are displayed in stonework above the door. He owned vast estates in the area
(including the Hunting the forest of Inglewood – boar and deer) and adopted the white boar as his personal
badge, and the motto “Loyaulte me lie” which means “Loyalty binds me”.
.
Richard was educated at the home of his maternal cousin Richard Neville (in Yorkshire) often referred to as
“Warwick the Kingmaker” . (who inherited the Castle???)
Castle partly blighted in 1648.
2. Above other door are the initials of John de Whelpdale, one of the five original governors of the Queen
Elizabeth Grammar School.
Great Dockray Market,
Large Horse Fairs –
The White Horse Pub and cattle were
Held at Martinmas and Whitsun. (Could mention the Appleby
Horse Fair.)
These were the main Servant Hiring Fairs.
In England The Feast of St Martin, - Martinmas was a time
for celebrations with great feasts and hiring fairs, at which
farm labourers would seek new posts.
The contract would be sealed by the exchange or a token.
It was also the time when autumn wheat seedling was usually
completed in many places,
In Scotland, Martinmas is one of the Term and Quarter Days
on which debts, especially quarterly rents, are payable. It falls
on 28th November,
Today a Market is held in Great Dockray, but a more
traditional Farmers Market is held every third Tuesday.
Across the square
The Two Lions Inn – dates from 1585 formerly the home
of Gerald Lowther – the family that became the Earls of Lonsdale.
On Monday 4th January 2011Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP held their weekly sale of
Primestock.
Top price on the day was £1354.74, for a pure bred Charolais Bull, weighing 804kg from Messrs Raine, Fog
Close, selling to West Scottish Lamb Ltd. All other sorts of primestock sold to similar rates.
Leading Prices
Clean Cattle p/kg
British Blue - 182.5 Cannerheugh; 173.5 Ratten Castle
Limousin - 180.5 Cannerheugh; 164.5 Manor Farm (Irving)
Clean Cattle £/head
Limousin - £1024.84 & £970.32 Manor Farm (Irving); £909.72 Cannerheugh
British Blue - £967.25 Cannerheugh; £950.78 Ratten Castle
Prime Bulls p/Kg
Charolais - 168.5 Fog Close
Limousin - 166.5 & 162.5 Fog Close
Black & White - 119.5 Town End Farm (Mounsey); 118.5 Lingstubbs
Prime Bulls £/Head
Charolais - £1354.74 Fog Close
Limousin - £1110.56 & £1085.50 Fog Close
Black & White - £718.25 Middlesceugh Hall; £712.22 Town End Farm (Mounsey)
Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP
Wednesday 9th February 2011
On Wednesday Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP held their weekly sale of 4,177 Prime Sheep, comprising of
3,425 Prime Hoggs & 752 Cast Ewes & Rams.
Our sale averages were 194.83p/kg for 32-39k/g, 187.21p/kg for 39.5-45.5kg, 171.12p/kg for 46-52kg and
162.12p/kg for 52.5kg plus, with an overall average of 181.29p/kg. Cast Ewes and Rams averaged £75.20 for
all sold.
Top price on the day was 240p/kg for a pen of 3 Beltex Hoggs from Messrs Bindloss, Shap Abbey, purchased
by Mr J Tucker.
Top price per head on the day was £104 twice, once for a pen of 5 Texel Hoggs from Messrs MTP & SD Wills,
Fawcett Park, purchased by Cranstons’ Quality Butchers. The second pen was for a pen of 3 Texel Hoggs, this
time from Messrs D & S Morrison, Home Farm, bought by Mr Ditta, Accrington.
A very pleasing days trade was witnessed, with no fewer than 42 outlets taking stock out of our mart, this
giving the producer job satisfaction.
Leading Prices
Prime Lambs p/kg
Beltex - 240.0, 235.0, 228.0 & 225.0 Shap Abbey; 224.0 Inglewood Edge
Texel - 236.0 Ireby Hall; 234.0 Scales Farm (Wilson); 227.0 Gillside
Continental - 202.0 & 200.0 Brigham Bank; 201.0 Sandriggs
Mule - 200.0 Hole House (Coulston); 181.0 Crosby Hall; 180.0 Throstle Hall
Herdwick - 197.0 Gillside
Cheviot - 195.0 Murrah Hall; 190.0 & 188.0 Crosby Hall
Charollais - 195.0 Reagill Grange
Suffolk - 194.0 Ravenwood Cottage; 192.0 Reagill Grange; 190.0 Brigham Bank; 190.0 Leigh Croft
Swaledale - 185.0 Crosby Hall; 184.0 Gale Hall; 184.0 Gateghyll
Scotch Blackfaced - 176.0 Petteril Green; 176.0 (2) Cannerheugh
Prime Lambs £/head
Texel - £104, £103, £102 & £100 Fawcett Park; £104 Home Farm (Morrison); £103 Petteril Green; £100 Ratten
Castle; £100 Thrang Cragg; £100 Ranbeck; £100 Gillside; £99 Ireby Hall; £99 Skelling Farm
Beltex - £101 (2), £100.50 & £99 Shap Abbey; £100 Edendales; £96 & £94 Inglewood Edge; £94 Grange Hall
Suffolk - £94 Hutton Row; £93.50 & £92 Highrigg; £93 Sockbridge Hall; £90 Grassknop Farm; £87.50
Broomhills; £87.50 Greenhow; £87 Calva Farm; £87 Waterside House; £87 Cannerheugh
Continental - £88 Calva Farm; £88 Brigham Bank; £85 Skelling Farm; £84.50 Sandriggs; £84 Ratten Castle
Mule - £88, £87.50, £87.20, £87 & £82 Waterside House; £84 Well House; £83 Dryevers Farm; £82.50 (2) Hole
House (Ivinson); £82 Ravenwood Cottage; £82 Grassknop Farm; £81.50 Gill Head; £81.50 Fog Close; £81
Street House (Maughan); £80.80 Lower Gate Farm
Cheviot - £84.50 (2), £81, £78 & £77.50 Honeypot; £78.50 Undercragg; £77.80 Crosby Hall; £76.50
Hebblethwaite Hall
Masham - £80 South Field (Wilson)
Charollais - £79 Ratten Castle; £78 Reagill Grange
Scotch Blackfaced - £78 Petteril Green; £74.50 & £74 (2) Cannerheugh
Bluefaced Leicester - £78 Field House
Herdwick - £76 & £75 Gillside
Swaledale - £75.20 & £73 Low Mill (Fleming & Wilson); £75 Gale Hall; £74.50 Crosby Hall; £73.20 & £71.50
Kentmere Hall; £72.80 Mosedale End; £72.50 Dale Head; £72.50 Winter Cragg
Cast Ewes
Texel (av £88.89) - £118 & £104 Cannerheugh Farm; £116, £100, £99 & £97 How Hill (Brownrigg); £108,
£105, £104, £103, £102 & £100 Cragg End; £104 Bells View; £103, £102, £98 & £96 Scales Farm (Wilson);
£100 Greystone House; £98 Howtown Hotel; £96 Fawcett Park; £94 Crosby Hall
Suffolk (av £96.10) - £107 (2), £102, £98 (3), £94 & £92 Holme Farm; £104 Greystone House; £101 Outgang
Bluefaced Leicester (av £87.75) - £105 Well House; £103 Shield Hill Top
Continental (av £77.87) - £99, £92 & £88 Gale Bottom; £98 Scales Hall (Jackson); £97 & £92 Hole House
(Coulston); £93.50 & £86 Crindledyke; £83 Fawcett Park
Cheviot (av £75.65) - £90 & £79 (2) Holme Farm; £87 Crindledyke; £85 Fawcett Park; £77 Ranbeck
Mule (av £75.25) - £85.50, £84 & £81.50 Nelson Farm; £83.50 Crindledyke; £83 How Hill; £82.50 (2) Hole
House (Coulston); £81.50 Hall Close; £81.50 Shield Hill Top; £78 Fawcett Park; £78 Bells View
Scotch Blackfaced (av £64.50) - £72.50 Jerriestown; £70 Hall Close
Swaledale (av £55.29) - £69 & £54.50 Well House; £64.50 Hollins Farm; £63 Keisley; £61.50 Shield Hill Top;
£59.50 (2) Crindledyke; £59 Hebblethwaite Hall; £58 Hall Close; £57 Fog Close; £56 Howtown Hotel; £52.50
Dale Head Farm; £52 Gill Head
Herdwick (av £45.75) - £56.50 Howtown Hotel
Cast Rams
Bluefaced Leicester (av £89.25) - £98 Gill Head; £93 Well House
Charollais (av £79.20) - £92 Hole House (Coulston); £87 Inglewood Edge
Cheviot (av £81.50) - £91 Noran Bank Farm
Texel (av £74.50) - £90 Leigh Croft; £77 Ranbeck
Beltex (av £68.13) - £80 & £78 Inglewood Edge
Swaledale (av £70.00) - £70 Burns Farm (Cartmel)
Herdwick (av £52.60) - £67 Noran Bank Farm
and Two Lions
Cross over Great Dockray and into Angel Lane, turn right into Angel Square and on to the Bewick pre-guide
Angel Lane and Angel Square
Angel Lane and Angel Square – unusual name but origin unknown
Town used to be full of pubs . (of the 58) .
“The Angel Inn (now shoe shop) and
Duke of Cumberland were here
The Waggon Horses Inn, (originally owned by a cooper (barrel maker),
The King of Prussia (mentioned in 1790 which became the unofficial home of the freemasons in 1820) – this
landlord was a maltster, but again it was the centre of the lurcher racing fraternity.
In 1878 The Exchange Hotel was built as a “Temperance Hostel” perhaps to redress the balance – One owner
Thomas Hodgson went on to found The Cumberland and Westmorland Herald – a local newspaper that still
exits.
Angel Square is a modern development built in 1987.
Guiding Point (12)
The Bewick
The site started life as The Bewick Coffee House
But 1785 Presbyterian Chapel opened.
Ancestral home of the Thomas Nelson– family emigrated to Virginia about 1705.
His son signed the American Declaration of Independence.
Why did people go to America? Strongly protestant, often very poor with few opportunities, regular trade with
colonies from Whitehaven, sailors told people about life in America.
(Area associated with metal working in 18th cen)
Continue into Princes Street, turn left at the post office into Crown Square and left into King Street
Guiding Point (13)
Opposite The Lounge, King Street – for birthplace of Trooper Pearson – pre-guide The Robin Hood
Penrith's Crimea War Hero
Penrith museum owns the medals and other memorabilia of William Pearson (1826-1909), the Crimea War
survivor.
The town has done much to ensure that the man and his bravery should not be forgotten. As long ago as 1894
townsfolk marked the 40th anniversary of the "Charge of the Light Brigade" by acquiring a life size photograph
of Pearson, who was then still alive. Still in its elaborate frame it is now owned by the Museum.
He has the distinction of having a corner of the town named after him 'Pearson Court' and a plaque is affixed to
the property in King Street formerly the Mitre Hotel where he was born in 1826. He was brought up in North
Westmorland and was a leather dresser before running away to enlist in the 4th Light Dragoons in 1848, at
Westminster. He was serving in Ireland when the regiment received orders for the Crimea.
During the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava his horse stumbled over another that had fallen and he had
to mount a rider-less horse of the 8th Hussars. He had an epaulette shot from his shoulder and returned from
the affair with a wound to his forehead. The severe Crimean winter left Pearson with frost-bite and he spent
Christmas Eve 1854 having four toes amputated. He was nursed by Florence Nightingale at the hospital in
Scutari before being invalided home.
He was presented before Queen Victoria in 1855, and discharged as unfit for further military service, with a
pension of 8d a day. This was later increased to 12s a week by the Royal Patriotic Fund. He received the
Crimea Medal (with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol), the Turkish Medal, and he also had
a Good Conduct Badge.
He met his wife at a ball in honour of the Crimean heroes held at Dover and they returned to Penrith, where
Trooper Pearson became Inspecting Officer's Orderly to the Dalemain Troop, Cumberland and Westmorland
Imperial Yeomanry. In 1880 he moved to Underbarrow, near Kendal, where he set up a fellmongering and
tanning business. He retired in 1906, and died in July 1909, aged 82. He was buried with military honours in
Parkside Cemetery, Kendal.
Shoe maker here until 1997, made clogs on the premises, traditionally used by farmers (made from local hazel,
slow to rot in wet conditions).
Continue up King Street; pass The Robin Hood,
cross at pedestrian crossing and into St Andrew’s Square King Street –
The Robin Hood Inn, where 1794- d 12th Jan 1795 WW cared for his friend and benefactor Raisley Calvert
during his final illness. He was hoping to become a sculptor, but died from TB. By his will William received
£900.
Continue up King Street; pass The Robin Hood, cross at pedestrian crossing and into St Andrew’s Square
Guiding Point (14)
Tudor Building (RB 1563) – for Tudor Building and William Wordsworth school
Built originally to b the home of Roger Bertram, Red Sandstone Building
Became Dame Birketts School attended by WW and Dorethy, and Mary Hutchinson.
Notice the sundial carved into the wall above the S door.
Other important buildings – Double fronted Georgian 1750 house with iron railings,
Parish rooms are on the site of a former cock fighting pit. Victorian disapproval, funds raised by Canon
Monnington , £1505 raised, rooms opered 5th Nov 1895.
Continue into St Andrew’s Place
Guiding Point (15)
Arnison and Company Solicitors, 1, St Andrew’s Place –
for 1, St Andrew’s Place,
.
St Andrew’s Parish Rooms, and
St Andrew’s Church
Site of antiquity
Earlier church built by Ralph Neville 1397 and his wife Joan Beaufort daughter of John of Gaunt (fragments of
stained glass figures in windows), also king with a sceptre thought to be Richard II who gave Penrith to the
Nevilles (related by marriage).
Earlier church demolished in 1716. New church built 1720-22 – but incorporates medieval pele tower –
modified. Retained original name – as on town seal.
Influenced by the appearance of St Pauls Cathedral.
Galleries, plain rounded arched windows. During renovation in 1972, it was discovered that many of the roof
timbers had formerly been ships in the Royal Navy.
2 Fine chandeliers – paid for by the Duke of Portland – in thanks to the people of Penrith for assisting the army
to round up the Jacobite stragglers.
Stain glass window by Christine Boyce of Lanercost. !st Jan 2000.
Chancel 2 murals by Jacob Thompson 1845 for 100 guineas took 6 months to complete. Local people were
models for the figures.
Oldest item in church – medieval tombstone and font 1397.
Exit St Andrew’s Square into Friargate
Guiding Point (16) for Mansion House, Abbots Bank and
Friarage – name of place - Name derives from the original building – the Augustinian Priory
dissolved in 1539. Visited by Edward I in 1299.
Beside us
Mansion House (Eden District Council) –
Built in 1750 by de Whelpdale family. John de Whelpdale was one of the five original Governors of the
Grammar School in 1564 – we saw his emblem on The Gloucester Inn I Great Dockray.
This ancient family, of whom was Roger Whelpdale, made Bishop of Carlisle in 1419, have been settled for
many generations at Skirsgill in Dacre, and at Penrith. The present representative of this family is William
Whelpdale, Esq., now of Beck, in the parish of Ainstable. John Richardson, Esq., whose father married the
heiress of Thomas Whelpdale (fn. 4) , Esq., sometime of Bishop's Yard in Penrith, has taken the name of De
Whelpdale, with the family arms, pursuant to the will of his maternal grandfather.
Arms: — Arg. three greyhounds current in pale, Gules, collared, Or.
School
It moved from its original premises in St Andrew's churchyard to its present site on Ullswater
Road (A592), close to the railway station, in 1917. It is Cumbria's only grammar school.
Lawson Soulsby, Baron Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, Microbiologist
Charlie Hunnam, British Actor
Oliver Turvey, Racing Drive
Abbots Bank
FRIARGATE - Abbots Bank – Grade II
1820. Scored stucco over stone, with quoins, cornice, parapet, and slate roof.
Two storeys, with stone band, Centre 6-panelled door and semi-circular fanlight
with glazing bars under Tuscan portico with 2 stone columns, frieze, and cornice.
Two 16-paned sash windows on ground floor and 3 above, in plain stone architraves.
Left hand return side has round-headed attic window. Rear has four 16-paned
sashes and a round-headed staircase window in middle
Now a hostel with six on-suite rooms for people between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five – Impact Housing
Continue up Friargate to Hutton Hall
Guiding Point (17)
Hutton Hall, Penrith, Cumbria
At the junctions of Friargate, Folly Lane and Benson Row in Penrith sits Hutton Hall. The building consists of
three seperate but conjoined structures.
The main and largest part of the building is the red Penrith trade mark sandstone 18th century building, now
occupied by Greggs' Cumbrian headquarters
This part of the building used to be the
Masonic Hall. The second part of the
building is the small cottage joined to the
right of the main building. The cottage is
17th century and the oldest part of the
whole building is joined to the back of
this cottage. Hutton Family of Penrith
came to prominence in Reign of
ElizabethI. Sir Riichard Hutton defied n,
Charles I over Ship Tax.
Duke of Cumberland stayed with the
family for 2 days in 1745 after skirmish
with the Scots at Clifton Moor.
Opp. Hutton spout – one of only 2 public
sources of water ( or treck down to the
river).
Guiding Point (18)
Outside bookshop overlooking St Andrew’s churchyard – for De Whelpdale Lane,
Hutton Pele Tower and pre-guide Robert Virtue Monument
Return back towards St Andrew’s Square and turn right into De Whelpdale Lane
Walking down the side of the cottage into Benson Row, the pele tower rises above the walled enclosure that
now surrounds the site (a modern wall I might add).
The pele tower is an almost square structure, probably three or
maybe four storeys high, although the small off-set windows make it
difficult to tell. These small windows don't seem to have been
altered at all from their original design, although the lower ones may
have been added at a much later date. The tower 'may' have been
built in 1397, when William Strickland obtained license to crennelate
his dwelling. However, some documentary sources think this license
may actually concern Strickland's pele tower, the original part of
Penrith Castle. Whatever the relationship with this documentary
evidence, the tower was most certainly built in the late 1300's and is
in remarkably good condition.
The Robert Viirtue Gothic Monument – Superintendent for the building of the Lancashire and Carlisle Railways
in 1846.
Continue round St Andrew’s churchyard to the Library
Guiding Point (19)
Now Library (Old Grammar School)
Queen Elizabeths Grammar School 1569, ,– for Old Grammar School
Renovated in 1857 to it original plan. Library moved from Town Hall building. Now part of the Devonshire
Arcade opened in 1991.
Now Library – houses pictorial celebration of Penrith – called “Eden” by local artist Alan Stones. .
Into St Andrew’s Churchyard
Guiding Point (20)
Giant’s Grave – through door
Giants Thumb a single Nordic Cross dates from 920 .
The Carvings represent a mixture of Celtic, Norse and Anglian decorative motifs, indicating the area was a
cultural mixing pot.
It is thought to have been erected as a memorial to his father by Owen Caesarius – King of Cumbria 920-937.
Later it was used a public pillory.
LHS The Giants Grave – consists of 2 10th century cross shafts and 4 hogback tombstones. is Owen’s own
grave.
The grave was opened in 1675 and large bones and a broad sword was found by the 4 wardens. There is now
an arrangement of 2 crosses and 4 hogback tombs.
,
NE end of the church a Gothic monument to Robert Virtue Monument, engineer supervised construction of the
Lancaster to Carlisle railway opened 1846.
Hutchinson’s grave near the Giants Thumb- a flat stone badly cracked – to John and Mary Hutchinson the
parents of William Wordsworth’s wife parents.
Return to start, outside George Hotel
Widespread settlement in prehistoric times, stone circles – most famous Meg, Victorians associated with ritual
burieals. but also 2 henge formations at nearby Eamont Bridge. henge formations at nearby Eamont Bridge.
The World Sheepdog Trials are to be held on the Lowther Estate, near Penrith on 15 to 18 September
2011. Held over 4 days, it is estimated the event will attract 30,000 visitors to Cumbria and give the local
economy a massive boost.
Lowther Estate hosted The International Sheepdog Trials in 2009 and due to the success of this event, has
been chosen to host this much bigger event. The World Sheepdog Trials will see competitors from 22 countries
taking part.
Clare Savins, the organising secretary said: “This event happens every four years and has been held at venues
all over the world.
“The last World Trials were held in Wales in 2008 and that attracted about 30,000 people. Having it in Cumbria
is a big coup as it’s a few steps up from the International Trials.”
The World Trials will be held on a much bigger scale and also feature a food and country festival with
marquees and entertainment
The Rheged Centre has won ‘The UK's Most Coach Friendly Tourist Attraction,’ during a glittering ceremony at
the Midland Hotel in Manchester. The annual event, organised by UK Coach Awards is designed to recognise
and reward sports and leisure attractions who go 'that extra mile' to accommodate, attract, and welcome
coaches, their drivers and their passengers.
Despite strong competition from big, well known names including Alton Towers and Ascot, the judging panel
said they were particularly impressed with Rheged’s inspiring “group offers, web site and good downloadable
leaflet.” They also praised the offer of combined visits with other local attractions, and excellent group catering
offers.
The Award was presented to Rheged representatives Eileen Walmesley and Claire Urquhart at the Coach
Industry ‘Oscars’ by James Beresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland.
Sarah Dunning, Chief Executive of Westmorland Limited, who own and run Rheged, said, “We are really proud
to have won this award as we work really hard to provide an excellent visitor experience for all our customers,
whether locals, visitors or coach passengers, and we see this award as recognition of all the hard work the
team have put in.”
Congratulations to everyone at Rheged