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