Cockermouth
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| Cockermouth | |
  Cockermouth shown within Cumbria |
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| Population | 7,787 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Allerdale |
| Shire county | Cumbria |
| Region | North West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | COCKERMOUTH |
| Postcode district | CA13 |
| Dialling code | 01900 |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | Workington |
| List of places: UK • England • Cumbria | |
Cockermouth is a town within the Allerdale borough of Cumbria, England, and is so named because it is at the confluence of the River Cocker as it flows into the River Derwent.
Historically a part of Cumberland, Cockermouth is situated on the northwest fringe of the English Lake District. This location tends to enhance the life and character of the town without the effect of receiving too many tourists (as some believe has occurred in the case of Cockermouth's neighbour Keswick). Much of the architectural core of the town remains unchanged since the 18th and 19th centuries.
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[edit] History
The town has ancient roots and Romans, Vikings and Normans have each left lingering marks on the Town and surrounding place names. Curiously, Cockermouth lays claim to be the first town in Britain to pilot electric lighting, reputedly in 1881.[citation needed] It is perhaps best known as the birthplace of William Wordsworth and Dorothy Wordsworth, and Fletcher Christian. John Dalton (a father of atomic theory) was born in Eaglesfield, a village on the outskirts of Cockermouth, and Astronomer Royal Fearon Fallows also hailed from the town. Wordsworth House has recently been restored and features a working eighteenth century kitchen and children's bedroom with toys and clothes of the times. Cockermouth is situated a few minutes travelling distance from lakes such as Ennerdale, Crummock Water, Loweswater and Bassenthwaite, but is less crowded with tourists than many Cumbrian towns.
[edit] Present day character
The tree-lined main street boasts a statue of Lord Mayo, formerly an MP for Cockermouth, who became British Viceroy of India and whose subsequent claim to fame was that he was assassinated. There was a market every Monday in the town's Market Place from the 13th century, but in recent times the event is held infrequently, if at all. The centre of Cockermouth is largely unspoilt and its Market Place is currently subject to a renovation with an artistic and community focus. Although tourists come and go, Cockermouth is essentially a place to live in and both locals and 'offcomers' combine to give the town mix of traditional and urbane social character. In the days when opening hours of public houses were restricted the fact that the pubs in Cockermouth could open all day on Market days made the town a popular destination for drinkers, especially on Bank Holiday Mondays. Only the Market Bell remains as a reminder of this period (inset into a wall opposite the Allerdale Hotel). Much of the centre of the town is of medieval origin substantially rebuilt in Georgian with Victorian infill. The tree lined Kirkgate offers examples of unspoilt classical late 17th and 18th century terraced housing, cobbled paving and twisty curving lanes which run steeply down to the River Cocker. Most of the buildings are of traditional slate and stone construction with thick walls and green slate roofs. Many of the facades lining the streets are frontages for historic housing in alleyways and lanes (often maintaining medieval street patterns) to the rear. An example of this may be observed through the alleyway adjacent to the almost time-frozen Market Place hardware merchant (J.B.Banks and Son) where 18th century dye workers' cottages line one side of the lane and the former works faces them across the narrow cobbled lane. Examples of Georgian residences may be found near the Market Place, St. Helens Street, at the bottom of Castlegate Drive and Kirkgate. Harris Park offers riverside walks and views down over the historic Town. There is a cycleway which runs along a former railway track and spans a high bridge over the Cocker affording views of the town and river-scape. The Kirkgate Centre is the Town's major cultural focus and offers regular historical displays by the museum group in addition to holding major cultural events including theatre, international music and world cinema.
[edit] Services
Cockermouth has three primary schools. These are Fairfield, which has separate infant and junior Schools; All Saints Church of England and St. Joseph's Roman Catholic. It also has a secondary school, several churches, three medical and dental surgeries, complementary health centre, a sports injuries and physiotherapy centre, an arts centre, and two art galleries (Castlegate House and Neo). Percy House Gallery on Main Street has a ceiling which dates from the 16th century with some of its timberwork dating from the 14th century. The town has many antique shops, three main galleries, and more than 14 cafes. There are many restaurants and of course lots of pubs, many selling the locally brewed Jennings beers. Bitter End Pub in Kirkgate has its own micro-brewery and visiting ales. The largest hotel is the Georgian fronted Trout which still has a faded photo on its walls of Bing Crosby who used the hotel as a base for his fishing in the town's rivers. Cockermouth Rugby Football Club is now based at the former Cockermouth Grammar School site and can boast that in 1987 it played the first ever rugby union league match[citation needed] when they played Kirby Lonsdale when the Rugby Union formed national and regional leagues - the precursors of what have now become the national and premier leagues.
[edit] Shops
Many of the shops offer a distinctive and local appeal and yet there are three supermarkets (including the only Sainsbury's between Lancaster and Glasgow[citation needed]), two chemists, two cycle shops, a Wilkinsons store, a sports centre, three bakers, swimming pool and three parks which both facilitate riverside walks. A small youth hostel is sited in a 16th century mill on a bend in the River Cocker's approach to the town. The adjoining village of Papcastle is also picturesque in its own right and stands on the site of the Roman fort of Derventio, lined with grand 18th and 19th century houses. The main cemetery on the Lorton Road features streams, humped stone bridges and views of the nearby fells.
[edit] Attractions
Attractions include the sizeable but partly ruined Norman castle (still inhabited by Lady Egremont), built at the confluence of the Rivers Cocker and Derwent (complete with a tilting tower which hangs Pisa-like over Jennings Brewery). Jenning's Brewery offers regular public tours and occasional carriage rides pulled by a shire horse.
The castle with its preserved dungeons is opened to the public once a year during the annual Town festival. The Printing House Museum and Wordworth's birthplace are other attractions. There is also a Lakeland Sheep Centre which offers daily shows in its theatre.
Two and a half miles northwest of the town lies Dovenby Hall Estate, a 115 acre park and woodland estate. Dovenby Hall is the home of the Ford Rally team. The estate was bought in January 1988 by Malcolm Wilson for his M-Sport motorsport team and in 1996 they were selected by Ford Motorsport to build, prepare and run a fleet of cars for entry into the World Rally Championship.
Culturally, the Kirkgate Centre offers international music, theatre and world cinema (including critically acclaimed and art-house movies on Monday evenings) and the town has an annual festival of concerts and performances each Summer. Cockermouth has an annual Easter Fair, fireworks display and carnival. In April 2005 it hosted its first Georgian Fair, which was repeated in 2006, and is planned again for May 2008. At Christmas the town presents festive lighting throughout its main and subsidiary streets, accompanied by competing shop displays.
[edit] Organisations
Cockermouth is the home town of Belfagan Women's Morris, an all-female team established in 1981 who perform North West morris wearing traditional wooden clogs and using garlands, sticks and hankies in their various dances. The town is also home to CADS (Cockermouth Amateur Dramatic Society), and the Cumbria Youth Alliance (www.cya.co.uk).
The West Cumbria Hockey team play their home games at the Cockermouth School Astro Turf pitch.
The 1st Cockermouth Scout group meets on various days and incorporates all sections of the scouting movement.
Derwent Valley Cycling Club (DVCC) is based in Cockermouth. DVCC is situated within the Derwent Valley which covers an area from Keswick to the river Derwent's outlet at Workington. Activities also take place in the neighbouring Solway Plain and Eden Valley areas.
[edit] See also
- Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team
- Cockermouth Cricket Club - North Lancashire and Cumbria Cricket League Premier Division
[edit] External links
- Life in 19th century Cockermouth and the Cragg Family
- Cockermouth Website
- Cockermouth Civic Trust
- Derwent Valley Cycling Club
- The Kirkgate Centre
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