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The ancient town of Cockermouth is set in attractive countryside on the fringe of the Lake District National Park at a point where the River Cocker joins the River Derwent. Cockermouth has long held an attraction for writers, poets, and artists, which makes the town a natural setting for the annual Cockermouth Festival held in July.
It is one of the 51 towns in Great Britain listed as “gem” towns, recommended for preservation by the state as part of the national heritage. Tree-lined Station Street, Market Place and the broad attractive Main Street, complemented by Old Kings Arms Lane and Lowther Went are the principal shopping areas, where all tastes and needs are well catered for.
There are many interesting places to visit in Cockermouth; including Wordsworth House is a fine Georgian town house, built in 1745 for the Sheriff of Cumberland. It later passed into the Ownership of Sir James Lowther (1st Earl of Lonsdale) who let it to his Estate and Law-agent, John Wordsworth. Here all five Wordsworth children were born, including the poet Laureate, William on the 7th April 1770, and his sister Dorothy, on Christmas Day 1771.
The Working Museum f Printing is set in a building that dates back to the 16th century. On display is a varied and interesting range of historical presses and equipment, the earliest, a Cogger Press, dated 1820.
The range of presses include an Imperial press, two Columbians, two Albions, a Jones press, Cropper Minerva, an Arab, Heidelberg and Wharfedale. There is also a hot metal section with Linotype and Monotype. Visitors are offered the opportunity to gain “hands on” experience by using some of the presses displayed, to produce cards or keepsakes. The Museum aims to cater for many tastes, the large varied and ever-changing displays will appeal to both the young and old alike.
The Toy and Model Museum exhibits mainly British toys from c1900 to the present. There are many visitor operated displays including 0 and 00 vintage tinplate trains, Scalextric cars, Lego models and even a helicopter to fly. Famous names include Hornby trains, Meccano, Triang, Sutcliffe boats, Lego, JEP, Bayco, Minic, Airfix, and Pedigree. There are prams, dolls houses, a railway in both a loft and a garden shed.
Castlegate House is a listed Georgian house and garden, built in 1739 and situated opposite the entrance to Cockermouth castle is the setting for stunning displays of modern paintings and sculpture, ceramics and glass. There are open fires in the winter giving an atmosphere of warmth and friendliness. The walled street garden is open from time to time in the summer. Between March and December there is a changing programme of monthly exhibitions. The gallery, which is privately owned, specialises in showing the work of Northern and Scottish artists, which includes Cumbrian painters Sheila Fell, Percy Kelly, Bill Peascod and Michael Bennet among many others. Advice on purchase is freely given, though you can come and browse.
Other places of interest are the Mining Museum, which includes a collection of Northern England Minerals and the late Wm. Shaw’s mineral collection. The western Lakes Motor Museum (Aspects of Motoring) features audio and visual displays along with a rare collection of over three hundred rare models. The Kirkgate centre is a community arts facility and offers a range of activities and events including drama, film, dance, workshops and exhibitions.
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