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Penrith

Situated on an important intersection of roads between Scotland and England, Penrith has long reaped the rewards of having excellent transport links between the two countries. With excellent access today from the M6, and a mainline railway station, Penrith is the perfect base for travellers who want to explore the northern Lake District, the stunning Eden Valley and the Pennine Hills.

Penrith is a distinctive sandstone town with a wealth of country inns, bars, restaurants and a wonderful choice of family-run shops selling everything from home made toffee to specialist outdoor clothing and even a traditional food emporium – James and John Graham – which was established in 1793.

Eamont Bridge is an early settlement around the bridge over the river of the same name, which began to develop at the point where the drover´s routes converged to cross the river, which was once the boundary between Cumberland and Westmorland. Further south is Clifton, which is steeped in history, and offers visitors an insight into life in the Lake District hundreds of years ago.

 As there was no natural stream or river running to the town, locals dug a ditch four miles long by hand in 1400, which ran from the River Petteril. The watercourse, known as Thacka Beck, flows under much of Penrith towards the River Eamont, and is visible behind the Tourist Information Centre. Locals were allowed to take as much water from the Petteril as would ´flow through the eye of a millstone.´

One of the more colourful characters to pass through (or nearly pass through) Penrith was Percy Toplis, whose life is commemorated at Penrith Museum. Known as the ´monocled mutineer´, Percy was a soldier during the First World War, and he supposedly led thousands of British troops against their superiors in the Étaples Mutiny of 1917. After deserting from the army, Percy went on the run, and committed a string of offences, including suspected murder, before being hunted down and shot dead at Plumpton near Penrith in 1920. Take a look at the display about Percy Toplis´s life at Penrith Museum, including his much loved monocle.

Penrith is famous for its oddities, including:

The Giant´s Thumb is a badly worn Norse Cross, situated in the St Andrew´s Churchyard which is thought to date back to the 10th Century.

The Plague Stone is situated in the forecourt of the Greengarth Home for the Elderly in Bridge Lane, and its hollowed out centre held vinegar or disinfectant for the plague sufferers to place their money in. Farmers from outside town would then exchange the disinfected cash for food.

In 1829, Penrith had 57 pubs for its population of only 5,383, which worked out at 94 pubs for every resident.

Bull baiting used to take place in Sandgate and Dockray where bulls were tethered to an iron ring and set upon by bulldogs. This practice was said to make the meat of the bull wholesome before the animal was slaughtered.

Samuel Plimsoll lived at Page Hall on Foster Street in Penrith, and he devised the 1875 Merchant Shipping Act, which required every ship owner to paint a horizontal line on the hulls of their ships to indicate the maximum depth to which a vessel could be loaded. This became known as the Plimsoll Line.

Clifton Moor was the site of the last battle on English soil between Scottish and English armies on 18th December, 1745. The dead are buried in the village of Clifton. The English were buried in the churchyard and the Scottish under a tree, known as the Rebel Tree.

Places to visit in and around Penrith

Cowraik Quarry

This abandoned red sandstone quarry is situated on Beacon Hill, and the sandstone was used to build many of the Victorian houses in Penrith. When quarrying ceased, nature has reclaimed the site, and a way-marked trail describes many of the interesting features.

Rheged Penrith

Rheged is an award-winning attraction which has been designed to resemble a Lakeland hill and to blend in with its surrounding environment. Rheged was built in a disused limestone quarry, and materials were excavated and recycled to build it, including soil for the roof and stone for the walls. Attractions within Rheged include: 7 giant movies per day, the National Mountaineering Exhibition and 12 speciality shops. Fresh Cumbrian food is also prepared in the onsite cafés and kids can let off steam in the creative workshops and indoor play area.

Winderwath Gardens

The Winderwath Gardens are a plant lover´s paradise. Stroll around the herbaceous borders, the alpine rockeries and the walled kitchen garden, which grows a wide range of fruit and vegetables.  There is also a picnic area by the pond for visitors who want to stay longer.

Penrith Museum

Formerly the 300 year old Robinson´s School is now the Penrith Museum, which was originally named after its founder, William Robinson. Regular displays and exhibitions highlight the history, archaeology and geology of the area.
Penrith Beacon

Penrith Beacon is situated on Beacon Hill, which provides a dramatic backdrop to the town of Penrith. On the summit stands Beacon Pike, a stone tower dating back to 1719 that marks the spot where bonfires were lit during times of conflict between the Scots and the English armies, to spread the word quickly to other parts of the county.

Brougham Castle

 
Brougham Castle was built next to the Roman Fort of Brocavum on the banks of the river Eamont, and it later became a medieval stronghold to repel invasion by the Scots. After the castle fell into disrepair, Lady Anne Clifford restored it in the 1650s, only for raiders to strip lead, timber and furnishings from the castle within 100 years of the restoration. English Heritage now protects the castle, which is partially opened to the public.

If you plan to visit Penrith and visit the northern Lake District, you will find a vast range of accommodation including hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast accommodation in the town. Penrith is a lively town which is surrounded by some of the most stunning countryside in the north of England. If you are touring around the Lake District, take your time to explore the area and check out some of the boutique hotels and themed boutique hotels in Windermere and Bowness.

 
 
 

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