A Jewel In The Lakes: The Market Town Of Cockermouth, Cumbria

Located just outside the Lake District National Park is the market town of Cockermouth – Cumbria. It manages to avoid the throngs of tourists that surrounding areas such as Ambleside and Keswick draw in. It is at the junction of two of the areas most important rivers – the River Cocker and the River Derwent flowing out to the sea at Workington.

Cockermouth Castle was built around the thirteenth century although through the endeavours of Robert the Bruce, not much is left of what was the original building even though it has had bits added in modern times. The castle is not routinely open to the public but tours during the Cockermouth festival in July are known to take place.

Present day visitors are brought into town by its calmness combined with its close proximity to the lakes and mountains. Literary fans are drawn by the fact that it is the birthplace of William and Dorothy Wordsworth. The National Trust now look after the Georgian house in the Main Street where they were born. Fletcher Christian of mutiny on the Bounty fame is another famous person born in the town and attended the same school as Wordsworth as did the originator of the atomic theory, John Dalton.

In 1221, Cockermouth received its charter and has been an important market town ever since. Iron and lead mining were developed outside of the town as well as a brewery which was built where the two rivers meet at the foot of the castle mound.

There are several interesting places to visit apart from Wordsworth’s home. The Museum of Printing is home to a fascinating array of printing presses from all over the United Kingdom. Jennings Brewery offer tours to visitors which last one hour thirty minutes and explain the brewing process to produce traditional ales. If its arts and culture that you are after, The Kirkgate Centre has everything to cater for your musical, artistic and theatrical needs.

You can also find some of Cumbria’s most famous residents at the nearby roundabout on the A66 road at the Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre – home to nineteen different breeds of sheep.

Cockermouth and District Civil Trust have made visitors and local people publicly aware of a fabulous walk that you can take through the town and learn its history. The walk reflects much of the work done by Bernard Bradbury, a local historian who’s writings are considered bibles of the historic townscape of Cockermouth.

The children of the local school in Cockermouth – Cumbria create small cast ironed numbered plaques to help guide visitors as they take the trail around the town, details of which are available from the tourist information centre.

For accommodation in Cockermouth check this list of Cockermouth hotels.