subject: Cockermouth, Cumbria: Market Towns Of England [print this page] You will find the pretty market town of Cockermouth - Cumbria not far from the National Park that is the Lake District and be pleasantly surprised at the lack of tourists it attracts in comparison to some other parts in the lakes e. G. Keswick, Ambleside. The origins of the town stem from the Rivers Cocker and Derwent, the two most important rivers in the entire area and the point where they cross.
The efforts of Robert the Bruce resulted in much of the 13th century Roman built Cockermouth Castle being destroyed and very little remains today. The privately owned castle is not open to the public apart from tours which take place each July when the Cockermouth festival takes 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.
Close by, just on the main A66 road you will find Cumbria's famous residents at the Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre, home to almost twenty different types of living breed 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.
To guide you around what is called Town Trail walk, the children from the local school in Cockermouth - Cumbria have created small cast iron numbered plaques with an accompanying leaflet which is available from the local office of tourism.
