Cockermouth

Cockermouth is a historic town in Cumbria, England, where the River Cocker flows into the River Derwent. It is situated on the North west fringe of the English Lake District. This location tends to enhance the life and character of the town without the negative impact 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 largely unchanged since the 18th and 19th centuries.Template:GBdot

The town has ancient roots and was curiously the first in Britain to pilot electric lighting. It is perhaps best known as the birthplace of William Wordsworth, John Grayston, and Fletcher Christian (of Mutiny on the Bounty fame). John Dalton (a father of atomic theory) was born in a village on the outskirts of Cockermouth and Astronomer Royal Fearon Fallows also hailed from the town. Wordsworth House has recently been expensively restored and visitors may take tea in its 18th century kitchen. Cockermouth is situated within a few minutes travelling distance from lakes such as Ennerdale, Crummock, Loweswater and Bassenthwaite, but is much less crowded with tourists than many Cumbrian towns.

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. Much of the centre of the town is Georgian with Victorian infill. The tree lined Kirkgate offers splendid examples of unspoilt classical 17th and 18th century terraced housing, cobbled paving and wistful twisty curving lanes which run steeply down to the River Cocker. Many 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 perfectly preserved 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 from the other. Other examples may be observed behind frontages in Castlegate Drive, Main Street and Kirkgate.

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. The castle and its preserved dungeons is open only once a year during the annual festival. The Printing House Museum, the Toy Museum and Wordworth's birthplace are other attractions. There is also a Lakeland Sheep Centre which offers daily shows in its theatre.

Cockermouth is also home to the respected and traditional [[[Jenning's Brewery]] which offers regular public tours and occassional carriage rides pulled by a shire horse. Culturally, the Kirkgate Centre offers international music, theatre and cinema (including international 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 and it is to host a Georgian Fair. At Christmas the town puts on an impressive display of festive lights, which are accompanied by impressive shop displays.

Cockermouth has a two primary schools, a secondary school and several churches, three medical and dental surgeries, a complementary health centre, an arts centre, and an internationally renowned art gallery (Castlegate House). 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 (most of which serve good espresso and varied teas). There are many restaurants and of course lots of pubs. There is even a gourmet fish and chip restaurant in the Market Place. The 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.

Many of the shops offer a distinctive and local appeal and yet there are three supermarkets (including the only Sainsburys between Lancaster and Glasgow), two chemists, two cycle shops, a Wilkinsons store, a sports centre, three bakers, swimming pool and two parks which both facilitate very pleasant riverside walks. The small but charmingly preserved 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 village in its own right and stands on the site of a Roman fort. The main cemetery on the Lorton Road is beautiful with streams, humped stone bridges and views of the fells.

External link

• Guide to the town (http://www.cockermouth.org.uk/)eo:Cockermouth