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{{Short description|Market town in
{{Other places|Penrith (disambiguation){{!}}Penrith}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2007}}
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|official_name = Penrith
|population = 16,984
|population_ref = (2021 census)<ref name="bua2011">{{cite web |title=Penrith
|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/northwestengland/admin/eden/E04012411__penrith/ |website=City population |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref> |population_demonym = Penrithian
|unitary_england= [[Westmorland and Furness]]
|lieutenancy_england= [[Cumbria]]
|region = North West England
|constituency_westminster = [[Penrith and
|post_town = PENRITH
|postcode_district = CA10, CA11
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|static_image_2_name = [[File:Penrith_town_flag.svg|150px]]
|static_image_2_caption = Flag
}}
'''Penrith''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɛ|n|r|ɪ|θ}}, {{IPAc-en|p|ɛ|n|ˈ|r|ɪ|θ
[[File:Penrith castle 18th-century.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Penrith Castle]] in 1772.<ref name="Gilpin">Gilpin, William (1786), ''Observations relative chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, Made in the year 1772.... Cumberland & Westmoreland.'' R. Blamire, London. Facing p. 85.</ref>]]▼
==Toponymy==
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==Prehistory==
The origins of Penrith go far back in time. There is archaeological evidence of "early, concentrated and continuous settlement" in the
area.<ref
For the [[Celts|Celtic]] ([[British Iron Age|Iron Age]]) era (c. 800 BCE – 100 CE), nearby [[Clifton, Cumbria|Clifton]] Dykes has been proposed as the centre of the [[Carvetti]] tribe, due to the large enclosure discovered there and assumptions about the strategic position of the Penrith area in the communications systems running north–south through the Eden Valley and east–west across Stainmore.<ref>Higham and Jones (1985), p. 10.</ref>
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===Roman period===
[[File:Roman road 428.jpg|thumb|General view of Roman road looking south]]
Penrith itself was not established by the Romans, but they recognised the strategic importance of the place, especially near the confluence of the rivers Eamont and Lowther, where the Roman road crossing the Pennines (the present A66) came through. In doing so, they built the fort at [[Brougham, Cumbria|Brougham]] ([[Brocavum]]) along with another road (the present A6) going north over Beacon Hill to the large fort at [[Plumpton, Cumbria|Plumpton]] (Voreda) – and from there northwards to Carlisle ([[Luguvallium]]).<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 7–12.</ref> Brocavum may also have been built in order to have a military presence close to the centre of the Carvetti.<ref>Higham and Jones (1985), p. 66.</ref>
The [[Ancient Romans|Roman]] [[castra|fort]] of Voreda occupied the site now known as ''Old Penrith'', five miles north of the town.<ref>Roman Britain. [http://www.roman-britain.org/places/voreda.htm "Voreda".] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008081047/http://www.roman-britain.org/places/voreda.htm |date=8 October 2014}}</ref> The 18th-century antiquarian and vicar of Penrith, [[Hugh Todd (author)|Dr.Hugh Todd]], speculated that the [[Ala I Petriana]] may have been stationed there, giving its name to the subsequent town,<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), p. 3.</ref> but see the "Toponymy" section above.
[[File:Brocavum.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Brocavum|Banks of Brocavum Roman fort in foreground, [[Brougham Castle]] behind, and 18th-century [[Carleton, Eden#History|Carleton Hall]] to the left]]
The [[Roman roads in Britain|Roman road]] from Manchester to Carlisle ran through the area.<ref>Cumbria SMR no. 11055: Site of Roman road.</ref> Excavations before an extension to Penrith Cemetery showed the road had survived better at the edges of the field. The cobble and gravel surfaces seemed to have been ploughed out at the centre. The road was constructed by excavating a wide, shallow trench below subsoil level.<ref>R. G. Collingwood and I. Richmond, ''The Archaeology of Roman Britain'' London, Methuen, 1969.</ref> Large cobbles were probably obtained nearby, as they did not appear frequently in the subsoil in the excavated area. They were added to the excavated subsoil dumped back into the cut to form a stable foundation, [[Cant (road/rail)|canted]] at the centre of the road.
The two forts close to where Penrith is today would have had a [[vicus]], an ad-hoc civilian settlement nearby, where farmers supplying food to the forts, and traders and others supplying goods and services lived and died. There is evidence of continuous settlement throughout the Roman period and into the post-Roman era.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 10–12.</ref>
==History==
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After the departure of the Romans (c. 450 CE), the north became a patchwork of warring Celtic tribes ([[Hen Ogledd]]). One of these may have been [[Rheged]], perhaps with a centre in the Eden valley and covering the area formerly held by the Carvetti. However, this has been disputed by historians. The Rheged Centre, just outside Penrith, commemorates the name.
During the 7th century, the region was invaded by the [[Angles (tribe)|Angles]], a Germanic tribe which moved west from [[Northumbria]]. The Celtic place-names in the region such as Penrith, [[Blencow]], [[Culgaith]], [[Penruddock]], were now joined by settlements ending in "-ham" (estate) and "-ton" (farm), such as [[Askham, Cumbria|Askham]], [[Barton, Cumbria|Barton]], [[Clifton, Cumbria|Clifton]], [[Plumpton, Cumbria|Plumpton]] and [[Stainton, Eden|Stainton]].<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 14–15.</ref>
From about 870, the area became subject to Viking settlement by [[Norsemen|Norse]] from Dublin and the Hebrides, along with Danes from Yorkshire. Settlements with names ending in "-by" ("village") and "-thorpe" ("hamlet") were largely on higher ground – the Vikings were pastoralists, the Angles arable farmers. Examples are [[Melkinthorpe]], [[Langwathby]], [[Lazonby]], and [[Ousby]]. Little and Great Dockray (not to be confused with the nearby village [[Dockray, Eden|Dockray]]) in Penrith itself are Norse names.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 16–17.</ref>[[File:Brooches from the Penrith Hoard.jpg|thumb|right|[[Fibula (brooch)|Fibula]]e from the [[Penrith Hoard]], 10th century (British Museum)]]
The [[Penrith Hoard]] of Viking silver brooches was found in the Eden valley at Flusco Pike, Penrith, as were 253 pieces of silver at Lupton.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.archaeology.eu.com/vikings/weblog/2007/09/treasure-found-in-cumbria.html |title=Viking Archaeology: Treasure found in Cumbria |date=13 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602141603/http://www.archaeology.eu.com/vikings/weblog/2007/09/treasure-found-in-cumbria.html |archive-date=2 June 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Giants Grave. - geograph.org.uk - 243538.jpg|thumb|left|'Giant's Grave', St. Andrew's churchyard, Penrith, an unusual arrangement of two Viking-age cross-shafts with four hogbacks (in the foreground). In addition, there is a smaller, Viking-age, wheel-headed cross just visible in the background (the "Giant's Thumb"). The group might commemorate the gathering of kings in 927 or Owain of Strathclyde.]]
Two cross-shafts and four [[Hogback (sculpture)|hogback]]s, along with a small cross found immediately to the west of [[St Andrew's Church, Penrith|St Andrew's Church]], known as the "Giant's Grave" and "Giant's Thumb" (c. 920s), have long prompted speculation. They may have been separate items brought together by an [[antiquary]] or they may be a genuine group. They appear to be an Anglo-Norse fusion of Christian and Norse motifs, but it is still debated whether they are linked to the King of the Strathclyde Cumbrians, [[Owain ap Dyfnwal (fl. 934)]].<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), p. 32.</ref> It is thought that [[Kingdom of Strathclyde|Strathclyde British]] had settled in parts of north Cumbria in the 10th century.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 29–31.</ref>
On 12 July 927, [[Eamont Bridge]] (or possibly the monastery at [[Dacre, Cumbria]], or the site of the old Roman fort at [[Brocavum|Brougham]] or even the church at Penrith, or a combination of these) was the scene of a gathering of kings from throughout Britain as recorded in the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' and the histories of [[William of Malmesbury]] and [[John of Worcester]]. Present were [[Athelstan]], King of the Anglo-Saxons and then of the English, [[Constantín mac Áeda]] (Constantine II), King of Scots, [[Eógan I of Strathclyde|Owain of Strathclyde]], King of the Cumbrians, [[Hywel Dda]], King of Wales, and [[Ealdred I of Bernicia|Ealdred son of Eadulf]], Lord of Bamburgh. Athelstan took the submission of some of these other kings, presumably to form some sort of coalition against the Vikings. The growing power of the Scots and perhaps of the Strathclyders, may have persuaded Athelstan to move north and attempt to define the boundaries of the various kingdoms.<ref>Newman (2014), p. 47.</ref> This is generally taken as the date of foundation of the [[Kingdom of England]], whose northern boundary was the Eamont river, with Westmorland outside the control of Strathclyde. Penrith was effectively held by the Scottish king as overlord of the Strathclyde Cumbrians, until the [[Normans|Norman]] takeover in 1092. Thereafter Penrith's fortunes varied according to the state of play between England and Scotland over ownership of Cumberland, Westmorland and Northumbria.
Penrith may have been founded before the arrival of the Normans. A ditched oval enclosure surrounding the area now occupied by [[St Andrew's Church, Penrith|St Andrew's Church]] (a [[burh]] - hence "Burrowgate") has been excavated. A church on the site may date back to the time of Bishop [[Wilfrid]], (c. 670s) whose patron saint was [[Andrew the Apostle|Saint Andrew]].<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 33–34.</ref>
===Later medieval period: Normans and Plantagenets===
The Norman conquest of north Cumbria took place in 1092 under [[William II of England|William Rufus]], who retained Carlisle, Penrith and some other manors round Penrith as [[demesne]].<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), p. 35.</ref> The Norman and [[Plantagenet]] rulers thereafter held Penrith as a crown estate ("Penred Regis"), along with a group of others locally, including [[Carlatton and Cumrew|Carlatton]], [[Castle Sowerby]], [[Gamblesby]], [[Glassonby]], [[Langwathby]], [[Great Salkeld]], [[Little Salkeld]] and [[Scotby]]. The group became known as the "Queen's Hames" ("Queen's Homes") from 1330 onwards.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 37–39.</ref>
Membership of the group fluctuated over time. In 1187 a sub-set including Penrith, Langwathby, Great Salkeld, Gamblesby, Glassonby and Scotby was referred to as the [[Inglewood Forest#Honour of Penrith|Honour of Penrith]].<ref>Mullett (2017a), p. 40.</ref> From 1242 to 1295, the Honour of Penrith (created "the liberty of Penrith" by the [[Treaty of York]] in 1237) was in the hands of the King of Scots, in return for renouncing his claims to Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland. [[Henry III of England|King Henry III]] had been reluctant to cede Penrith to the Scots, as it was a good source of Crown income: the right to hold a market and fair was granted in 1223 by Henry, and arable farming produced good yields and taxes.<ref>Mullett (2017a), pp. 44–55.</ref> Tensions between the English Crown's agents in Cumberland and the Scottish agents attempting to defend the rights of the Scottish king and his tenants in the liberty of Penrith, may have influenced the mindset of the Scots leading up to the outbreak of the [[Wars of Scottish Independence]].<ref>Stringer (2019), pp. 73–84.</ref>▼
▲Membership of the group fluctuated over time. In 1187 a sub-set including Penrith, Langwathby, Great Salkeld, Gamblesby, Glassonby and Scotby was referred to as the [[Inglewood Forest#Honour of Penrith|Honour of Penrith]].<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), p. 40.</ref> From 1242 to 1295, the Honour of Penrith (created "the liberty of Penrith" by the [[Treaty of York]] in 1237) was in the hands of the King of Scots, in return for renouncing his claims to Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland. [[Henry III of England|King Henry III]] had been reluctant to cede Penrith to the Scots, as it was a good source of Crown income: the right to hold a market and fair was granted in 1223 by Henry, and arable farming produced good yields and taxes.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 44–55.</ref> Tensions between the English Crown's agents in Cumberland and the Scottish agents attempting to defend the rights of the Scottish king and his tenants in the liberty of Penrith, may have influenced the mindset of the Scots leading up to the outbreak of the [[Wars of Scottish Independence]].<ref>Stringer (2019), pp. 73–84.</ref>
[[Edward I of England|King Edward I]] took Penrith and the other manors back into Crown possession (having been taken from the Scots and given to [[Antony Bek (bishop of Durham)|Bishop Anthony Bek]]).<ref>Mullett (2017a), pp. 56–63.</ref> Perhaps to underline the authority of the Crown, Edward also established an [[Penrith Friary|Augustinian Friary]] in 1291. This succumbed to the [[English Reformation|Reformation]] in 1539. The Friarage house was built on the site in 1717.<ref>Mullett (2017a), pp. 64–65.</ref>▼
▲[[Edward I of England|King Edward I]] took Penrith and the other manors back into Crown possession (having been taken from the Scots and given to [[Antony Bek (bishop of Durham)|Bishop Anthony Bek]]).<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 56–63.</ref> Perhaps to underline the authority of the Crown, Edward also established an [[Penrith Friary|Augustinian Friary]] in 1291. This succumbed to the [[English Reformation|Reformation]] in 1539. The Friarage house was built on the site in 1717.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 64–65.</ref>
With the [[Wars of Scottish Independence]], Penrith suffered destruction by Scottish forces in 1296 ([[William Wallace]]), 1314, 1315–1316 and 1322 ([[Robert the Bruce]]). Meanwhile climatic change caused poor harvests. Penrith went from incipient economic growth in the early 14th century to poverty by the third decade.<ref>Mullett (2017a), pp. 66–76.</ref> Recovery in the 1330s was again reversed by the devastating Scottish raid of 1345 ([[David II of Scotland]]) and the [[Black Death]] of 1348–1349 and subsequent years. However, Penrith, Castle Sowerby and the other manors were valuable as a source of royal income, paying debts the Crown owed to those leading the fight against the Scots, such as [[Roger de Leybourne]], [[Anthony de Lucy]] and [[Andrew Harclay, 1st Earl of Carlisle]].<ref>Mullett (2017a), pp. 66–88.</ref>▼
[[File:Penrith_Castle_-_geograph.org.uk_-_19095.jpg|thumb|left|Penrith Castle, built 1399–1470]]▼
▲With the [[Wars of Scottish Independence]], Penrith suffered destruction by Scottish forces in 1296 ([[William Wallace]]), 1314, 1315–1316 and 1322 ([[Robert the Bruce]]). Meanwhile climatic change caused poor harvests. Penrith went from incipient economic growth in the early 14th century to poverty by the third decade.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 66–76.</ref> Recovery in the 1330s was again reversed by the devastating Scottish raid of 1345 ([[David II of Scotland]]) and the [[Black Death]] of 1348–1349 and subsequent years. However, Penrith, Castle Sowerby and the other manors were valuable as a source of royal income, paying debts the Crown owed to those leading the fight against the Scots, such as [[Roger de Leybourne]], [[Anthony de Lucy]] and [[Andrew Harclay, 1st Earl of Carlisle]].<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 66–88.</ref>
There is evidence of a protective wall built round the town after the Scottish raid of 1345. This was strengthened in 1391 by the townspeople and Penrith's patron, [[William Strickland (bishop)|William Strickland]], Bishop of Carlisle, after another Scottish raid by the 1st [[William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas|Earl of Douglas]] in 1380, and others in 1383 and 1388, when [[Brougham Castle]] was probably destroyed as well.<ref>Mullett (2017a), pp. 90–97.</ref> It is thought that Strickland built and strengthened the "pele tower" in Benson Row, behind Hutton Hall. He also endowed a chantry (1395) in St Andrew's Church, (where the chantry priest may have taught music and grammar), and created Thacka Beck, diverting clean water from the [[River Petteril]], which was notably valuable for the tanning and related industries.<ref>Mullett (2017a), pp. 93–105.</ref>▼
▲[[File:Penrith castle 18th-century.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Penrith Castle]] in 1772, built 1399–1470.<ref name="Gilpin">Gilpin, William (1786), ''Observations relative chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, Made in the year 1772.... Cumberland & Westmoreland.'' R. Blamire, London. Facing p. 85.</ref>]]
▲There is evidence of a protective wall built round the town after the Scottish raid of 1345. This was strengthened in 1391 by the townspeople and Penrith's patron, [[William Strickland (bishop)|William Strickland]], Bishop of Carlisle, after another Scottish raid by the 1st [[William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas|Earl of Douglas]] in 1380, and others in 1383 and 1388, when [[Brougham Castle]] was probably destroyed as well.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 90–97.</ref> It is thought that Strickland built and strengthened the "pele tower" in Benson Row, behind Hutton Hall. He also endowed a chantry (1395) in St Andrew's Church, (where the chantry priest may have taught music and grammar), and created Thacka Beck, diverting clean water from the [[River Petteril]], which was notably valuable for the tanning and related industries.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 93–105.</ref>
Strickland shared power in Penrith with the [[House of Neville|Neville family]], which had been [[History of Cumbria#The Percies, the Nevilles, and the Wars of the Roses|promoted in the North]] by [[Richard II of England]] to offset the influence of the [[House of Percy|Percies]]. In 1396, [[Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland]] and his wife Joan gained the manors of Penrith and Castle Sowerby: windows in St Andrew's Church may depict the Nevilles along with Richard II. Ralph probably started building [[Penrith Castle]], which was continued by his son, [[Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury]], father of [[Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick]], the "Kingmaker", whose death in the [[Battle of Barnet]] in 1471 led [[Edward IV of England]] to grant the Castle and Penrith manors to [[Richard III of England|Richard of Gloucester]], the future Richard III, to keep them [[Yorkist]]. Richard III used Penrith as a base [[Richard III of England#War with Scotland|against the Scots]] and to promote a Yorkist "affinity" in the area to offset Lancastrian loyalties at nearby Brougham, Appleby ([[Baron de Clifford|Clifford]]) and Greystoke ([[Baron Greystoke]]) and elsewhere. Tradition has Richard staying in what is now Dockray Hall (once the ''Gloucester Arms'') during building work on the castle. The latter was more of a palace than a military stronghold, with a chantry chapel endowed by Richard.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017a), pp. 106–126.</ref>
===Early modern period (1485–1714)===
====Tudor period====
The [[Tudor period]] saw the centralising tendencies of the Yorkist government continued. The [[English Reformation]], economic and social progress, educational change, the rise of the non-noble [[landed gentry]] and the depredations of the plague all affected Tudor England, and Penrith was no exception.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017b), pp. 7–11.</ref>
The eclipse of the Nevilles and Percies by the end of the [[Wars of the Roses]] opened the field for families such as the [[Baron de Clifford|Cliffords]], the [[Baron Dacre|Dacres]] and the [[Musgrave baronets|Musgraves]] to jostle for position in the North (including those of the [[Sheriff of Cumberland]], the [[Lord Warden of the Marches|Warden of the West March]] and the keeper of Penrith Castle).<ref group=M>Mullett (2017b), pp. 15–21.</ref>
[[File: Two Lions, Penrith - geograph.org.uk - 911055.jpg|thumb|The former Two Lions, Penrith - previously the townhouse of Gerard Lowther called Newhall]]
Penrith people were involved in a rebellion of 1536/1537 known as the [[Pilgrimage of Grace]]. Eight town residents were executed as a result. The motives seem to have been partly religious, partly to do with a desire for more English government protection against Scottish raids.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017b), pp. 26–35.</ref>
The reformation went on apace afterwards – the Augustinian Priory was dissolved and the two chantry bequests closed later. The Strickland bequest partly funded the [[Penrith Grammar School]], founded 1564, in the reign of [[Elizabeth I]]. Many governors of the new foundation in St Andrew's churchyard were rising [[Protestant]] gentry, who moved into various houses in Penrith: the families of Whelpdale (whose coat of arms adorns Dockray Hall), Carleton, Bost and Hutton (who had taken over the pele tower in Benson Row), and Richard Dudley of [[Yanwath|Yanwath Hall]]. The foundation was overseen by [[Thomas Smith (diplomat)|Sir Thomas Smith]], one of Elizabeth's trusted Protestant counsellors.
Penrith was not involved in the [[Rising of the North]] in 1569, despite involvement by [[Richard Lowther (1532-1608)|Sir Richard Lowther]] and his younger brother Gerard, whose house in Penrith became the former ''Two Lions Inn''. The merchant, Robert Bartram, may have built the Tudor House in St Andrew's Place (1563), indicating a trading class operating in Penrith.<ref group=M>Mullett (2017b), pp. 41–98.</ref>[[File:Former school, now a library - geograph.org.uk - 2866111.jpg|thumb|left|Former Grammar School, now the public library]]
However, there may have been a substantial underclass as well, as shown by possible poverty and poor nutrition causing a high death rate in 1587, when there may have been a [[typhus]] epidemic. The [[Bubonic plague]] may have caused some 615 deaths in 1597–1598, according to the vicar's register (2,260 according to a brass plaque inside St Andrew's Church).<ref group=M>Mullett (2017b), pp. 99–125.</ref>
====Stuart period====
Penrith in [[House of Stuart|Stuart]] times was affected by political and religious upheavals that saw the [[English Civil War]], the [[Commonwealth of England|Commonwealth]] and the [[Glorious Revolution]], but was spared any fighting. It also escaped the [[Witch-hunt|witch-craze]] phenomenon that afflicted other parts of England. The [[Union of the Crowns]] and suppression of the [[Border reivers|reiver]] clans such as the Grahams, gave Penrith relief from Scottish raiding and a boost to Penrith's commercial prosperity. [[James VI and I]] and his entourage of 800 visited Brougham Castle in 1617, which boosted commerce. However, Penrith's crossroads position on the north–south and east–west routes made it vulnerable to starving vagrants bringing disease. This plus a national food shortage may have led to a typhus epidemic in 1623.<ref group=M>Mullett (2018), pp. 5–18.</ref>
During the Civil War, Penrith's gentry were mostly Royalist, but Penrithians seem to have been neither for nor against the King. During the first war (1642–1646), [[David Leslie, 1st Lord Newark|General Leslie]] took over Brougham Castle for the [[Covenanters]] and Penrith became a supply centre for Parliament. In the second civil war starting in 1648, Brougham and Penrith castles were strategic assets. [[John Lambert (general)|Major-General Lambert]], the Parliamentary commander, took over Penrith in June 1648 until forced out by Scottish royalists aided by [[Sir Philip Musgrave, 2nd Baronet|Sir Philip Musgrave]] of Edenhall. The Covenanters supported the future [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] after 1648. He stayed at Carleton Hall in 1651 on his way south to defeat at the [[Battle of Worcester]].<ref group=M>Mullett (2018), pp. 25–31.</ref>
[[File:Carleton Hall. - geograph.org.uk - 146542.jpg|thumb|285px|Carleton Hall - now Cumbria Police HQ]]
[[File:Penrith Railway Station from the west.jpg|thumb|285px|Penrith Railway Station from the west]]
Because Penrith lacked borough or corporation status, governance fell on the local nobility, gentry and clergy, (such as [[Hugh Todd (author)|Hugh Todd]]). During the [[Commonwealth of England|Commonwealth]], [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] "Godly rule" was administered at St Andrew's Church by the local [[Justice of the peace]], Thomas Langhorne, who had bought Lowther's Newhall/Two Lions house.<ref group=M>Mullett (2018), pp. 32–41.</ref> Meanwhile, Penrith benefited from work on restoration of Brougham and other castles, and by charitable donations undertaken by [[Lady Anne Clifford]].<ref group=M>Mullett (2018), pp. 67–76.</ref> The gradual rise in religious toleration eventually saw in 1699 the establishment, by the [[Quakers]], of Penrith's second place of worship, the Friends' Meeting House in Meeting House Lane.<ref group=M>Mullett (2018), pp. 101–102.</ref>
Leading gentry of Cumberland and Westmorland gathered at the ''George Inn'' on 4 January 1688 at the behest of [[Richard Graham, 1st Viscount Preston|Lord Preston]], the [[Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland]] and [[Lord Lieutenant of Westmorland|Westmorland]]. He was attempting to gauge the views of leading figures in the counties (deputy-lieutenants, and [[Justice of the peace|J.P.s]]) on the intention of [[James II of England|King James II]] to introduce greater religious toleration. Partly due to efforts by [[John Lowther, 1st Viscount Lonsdale]], the attendees were persuaded to give a non-committal reply. The [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]] Lowther went on to contribute to securing the two counties for [[William III of England|King William]] in the [[Glorious Revolution]] and advancing his career, unlike his local ([[Tory]]) rival [[Sir Christopher Musgrave, 4th Baronet|Christopher Musgrave of Edenhall]] who had been more dilatory in his support for William. This exemplified local politics feeding into national politics.<ref group=M>Mullett (2018), pp. 83-96.</ref><ref>Colman (2003), pp. [237]–258.</ref>
The economy of Penrith "continued to rely on cattle rearing, slaughtering and the processing of cattle products" (leather goods, tanning, shoemaking).<ref group=M>Mullett (2018), pp. 103–104.</ref>
===Local government before 1974===
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==Governance==
===UK Parliament===
Penrith is in the [[United Kingdom Parliament constituencies|parliamentary constituency]] of [[Penrith and
===Local government===
Since 2023, Penrith has had two levels of local government – Westmorland and Furness unitary authority (see below) and Penrith parish (town).
Until 2023, for county purposes, it was governed by [[Cumbria County Council]], whose social services and education departments used to have area offices in the town. It was the seat of administration for [[Eden District|Eden District Council]], one of the largest districts by area in England and the most sparsely populated. It was based at offices in [[Penrith Town Hall]] and at the building now known as Mansion House, formerly Bishop Yards House.
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===2023 changes to Local Government===
In 2023 Cumbria County Council and the 6 District councils within the county were abolished and replaced by two new [[unitary authority|unitary authorities]]. Eden along with [[South Lakeland]] and the [[Borough of Barrow-in-Furness]] became the new unitary District of [[Westmorland and Furness]]. The first elections to the new authority
A nascent campaign has arisen, demanding that Penrith be included within [[Cumberland (district)|Cumberland]], given that it forms part of the historic county of [[Cumberland]] and has never been part of [[Westmorland]].<ref>{{
==Geography==
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====Scaws====
The Scaws Estate was built by Penrith Urban District Council after [[World War II]] on land hitherto known as the Flatt Field and Scaws Farm, as part of the [[Earl of Lonsdale|Lowther Estates]]. Scaws Farm is now Coldsprings Farm
Beaconside Primary School stands in the centre of the estate, where there were once three corner shops and a launderette. Adjoining Scaws are the private Barcohill and Meadow Croft housing estates.
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==Transport==
Just off Junction 40 of the [[M6 motorway]], the [[A66 road (Great Britain)|A66]], [[A6 road (Great Britain)|A6]] and [[A686 road|A686]] intersect in the town.▼
===Railway===
[[Penrith railway station|Penrith station]] is a stop on the [[West Coast Main Line]]. It is served by two [[train operating companies]]:<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240102093349/https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:PNR/2024-01-03/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=pax-calls&order=wtt Services calling at Penrith North Lakes on 3 January 2024] [[Realtime Trains]]</ref>
* [[Avanti West Coast]] operates inter-city services between [[Euston railway station|London Euston]], [[Glasgow Central railway station|Glasgow Central]] and [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh Waverley]], with trains calling at [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham]], [[Carlisle railway station|Carlisle]], [[Crewe railway station|Crewe]], [[Lancaster railway station|Lancaster]] and [[Preston railway station|Preston]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our latest timetables and ticket info |work=[[Avanti West Coast]]|date=May 2023 |access-date=20 August 2023 |url= https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/travel-information/plan-your-journey/timetables |quote=}}</ref>
* [[TransPennine Express]] operate services between [[Manchester Airport railway station|Manchester Airport]] and Glasgow Central.<ref>{{Cite web |work=[[TransPennine Express]]|title=Timetables |date=21 May 2023 |access-date=20 August 2023 |url= https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/timetables |quote=}}</ref>
===Buses and coaches===
Local
[[National Express Coaches|National Express]] operate two long-distance coach routes with stops in Penrith. Route 182 runs from [[Birmingham coach station|Birmingham]] to [[Edinburgh bus station|Edinburgh]] and the 590 links [[Buchanan Street bus station|Glasgow]] to [[Victoria coach station|London]].<ref name=BT/>
The [[National Cycle Network]]'s major National Route 7 runs through the town, and National Route 71 stops just short of its southern edge.▼
===Roads===
Penrith has taxi firms licensed by Eden District Council. The main rank is in Sandgate in the middle of town, near the bus station. There is another outside the railway station.▼
▲
▲
▲Local buses are run mostly by [[Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire|Stagecoach in Cumbria]], with links to Carlisle, [[Keswick, Cumbria|Keswick]] and West Cumbria, [[Ullswater]] and less frequent ones to [[Windermere]], [[Appleby-in-Westmorland]] and [[Kendal, Cumbria|Kendal]]. There is also a 646 town service run by the local NBM Motors, serving most of the town once an hour. Fellrunner buses connect Penrith to villages in the Eden Valley. A daily service to [[Alston, Cumbria|Alston]] and [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne]] is run by Wright Brothers of [[Nenthead]]. The bus station is in the town centre off Sandgate. Many services also stop at the railway station.
===Cycling===
▲The [[National Cycle Network]]'s major National Route 7 runs through the town
==Public services==
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*[[Richard III]] (1452–1485) lived at [[Penrith Castle]] for a time. The links to him in the town include two fragments of medieval glass. One in St Andrew's Church is taken to show the heads of [[Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York|Richard Plantagenet]] and [[Cecily Neville]] – Richard III's parents. The other, on display in the town, shows the [[Musgrave family|Musgrave]] coat of arms. Richard III is thought to have stayed at the ''Gloucester Arms'', then a large private house. The bar has panelling of various periods, behind which is an early screen carved with a design taken to be [[Genisteae|broom]] ''(Planta genista)'', an emblem of the [[Plantagenet]] kings.
*The [[Scotland|Scottish]] road-builder and engineer [[John Loudon Macadam]] (1756–1836), inventor of macadamized roads, lived for a while at Cockell House in Townhead. Close by are streets named Macadam Way and Macadam Gardens.
*[[John Littlejohn (preacher)|John Littlejohn]] (1756-1836), an American Methodist preacher and [[Circuit rider (religious)|circuit-rider]], was born in Penrith.
*[[George Leo Haydock]] (1774–1849), noted for an annotated edition of the Catholic [[Douay-Rheims Bible|Douay Bible]], served as Catholic priest here from 1839 until his death in 1849.▼
*Penrith was the home town of the mother of the poet [[William Wordsworth]] (1770–1850). He spent some of his childhood there, attending school with Mary Hutchinson, his later wife.
▲*[[George Leo Haydock]] (1774–1849), noted for an annotated edition of the Catholic [[Douay-Rheims Bible|Douay Bible]], served as Catholic priest here from 1839 until his death in 1849.
*The [[Victorian literature|Victorian writer]] [[Frances Trollope]] (1779–1863), [[Anthony Trollope]]'s mother, lived for a while at a house called Carleton Hill (not Carleton Hall) outside the town on the Alston road.
*[[Samuel Plimsoll]] (1824–1898), [[Member of Parliament|MP]] and social reformer, spent some of his childhood at Page Hall in Foster Street. The houses at Townhead called Plimsoll Close are named after him.
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*[[Angela Lonsdale]] (born 1970 in Penrith), actress, is perhaps best known as policewoman Emma Taylor in [[Coronation Street]] and currently stars as DI Eva Moore in the BBC soap [[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]].
*[[Charlie Hunnam]] (born 1980), the actor, attended [[Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith]] (QEGS) and lived locally in his teenage years. He claimed it is "just about the worst place you could hope to live".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cwherald.com/a/archive/actor-claims-penrith-is-just-about-worst-place-you-could-hope-to-live.276685.html |title=Actor claims Penrith is "just about worst place you could hope to live" |website=cwherald.com |language=en |access-date=2017-03-17}}</ref>
*[[Lewis Guy|Lewis Brett Guy]] (born 1985
*[[Danny Grainger]] (born 1986), footballer, scored [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]]'s third goal in the [[2012 Scottish Cup Final|2012 Scottish Cup final]] against [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]].
*[[Oliver Turvey]] (born 1987), racing driver, attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School and lives locally.
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The local newspaper, the ''[[Cumberland and Westmorland Herald]]'' appears on Saturdays. Sections are updated every following Tuesday on their website. It is independently owned, with offices on King Street, but printed at the [[Newsquest]]'s printing works in [[Glasgow]], along with the weekly ''[[Cumberland News]]'' and daily ''[[News and Star]]'' which also cover some news items from Penrith. A separate edition of the ''Herald'' is published for the [[Keswick, Cumbria|Keswick]] area, known as the ''Lake District Herald''.
The Free, monthly circulated Eden Local community magazine http://www.cumbrianlocal.co.uk/ has been posted through doors since 2010 in Penrith and in areas surrounding it in the Eden Valley. It was set up to launch https://www.edenfm.co.uk/ It reaches its 200th publication in 2023
Penrith lies with the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] [[Border Television|Border]] region and the [[BBC North East and Cumbria]]. There are three local radio stations serving the Penrith area. [[Eden FM Radio|Eden FM]] which is based in Penrith and two others based in Carlisle. These are [[BBC Radio Cumbria]] and the [[Independent Local Radio|independent]] station [[CFM Radio|CFM]].▼
▲Penrith lies with the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] [[Border Television|Border]] region and the [[BBC North East and Cumbria]]. There
Penrith was used as a setting in the 1940 book ''[[Cue for Treason]]'' by [[Geoffrey Trease]]. It was also a setting for [[Bruce Robinson]]'s 1987 film ''[[Withnail and I]]'', although the Penrith scenes were actually filmed in [[Stony Stratford]], Buckinghamshire.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Scovell |first1=Adam |title=In search of the Withnail & I locations 30 years on |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk
==Education==
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==Places of worship==
===Church of England ===
[[File:St Andrew's Church, Penrith.jpg|thumb|St Andrew's Church, Penrith]]
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* Jehovah's Witnesses, Skirsgill Lane, Eamont Bridge
===Mosques===
The town also has two places of worship for [[Islam]]. It has an Islamic centre called the "Quba Islamic Centre"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mosque Map |url=https://mosques.muslimsinbritain.org/maps-mobile.php?id=2686 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=mosques.muslimsinbritain.org}}</ref> and a [[mosque]] called the "Al-Amin Mosque". Both are close to each other and on both Middlegate and Bluebell Lane.
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Although the main industries are based around tourism and agriculture, some others are represented. For example, in 2011 [[Greggs]] opened a new [[bakery]] at Gilwilly, replacing two bakeries in the Friargate area that used to belong to the Penrith-based Birketts firm. [[Domino's Pizza]] had a dough manufacturing site at Gilwilly until 2019. The model firm [[Lilliput Lane]] (now part of [[Enesco]]) was founded in Penrith and until March 2009 had its main factory at Skirsgill Park. Also at Penrith Industrial Estate is the Penrith Door Company factory, formerly part of [[Magnet Kitchens|Magnet Joinery]], now of the American-based [[JELD-WEN]] group.
Agriculture-based industries include [[BOCM Pauls|For Farmers]], which has a large [[compound feed|animal feed]] mill on the Penrith Industrial Estate. Until 2005 there was another feed mill at Gilwilly, originally belonging to Cumberland and Westmorland Farmers Ltd, but eventually becoming part of the [[Carr's|Carrs Milling Industries]] group. Local [[butchers]] Cranstons have an expanding meat packing, pie and sandwich-manufacturing site alongside their shop and head office on Ullswater Road.
Penrith was known for its [[tanneries|tanning]] industry and breweries. The tanneries were mainly in the Friargate/Old London Road area of the town. There were at one time five working breweries. Penrith in recent years has attracted many larger international haulage firms to open depots beside the M6.
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==Twin town==
Since 1989, Penrith has had a [[Town twinning|twinning arrangement]] with the [[Penrith, New South Wales|Australian city]] named after it in [[New South Wales]].<ref>[http://www.eden.gov.uk/main.asp?page=1686 Sister city arrangements for Penrith] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612193052/http://eden.gov.uk/main.asp?page=1686 |date=12 June 2007}}</ref>
==Regular events==
;Mayday Carnival: On the [[
;Penrith Agricultural Show: The first Penrith Show was held in 1834. From 2019 the event takes place on the 3rd Saturday in July.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/16751604.downpours-didnt-dampen-spirits-at-penrith-show/ |title=Downpours didn't dampen spirits at Penrith Show |newspaper=[[News and Star]] |date=22 July 2017}}</ref>
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;[[Kendal Calling]]: Music Festival held in late July each year at Lowther Deer Park has had headline acts that included [[the Stereophonics]], [[Tinie Tempah]], [[Editors (band)|Editors]] and [[the Manic Street Preachers]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/kendal-calling-2017-pictures-crowd-13408876 |title=Kendal Calling 2017 in pictures – Stereophonics, Tinie Tempah, Editors, Manic Street Preachers and more |first=Simon |last=Binns |date=31 July 2017 |newspaper=[[Manchester Evening News]]}}</ref>
;[[Potfest]]: Ceramic
;Lowther Show: Held at nearby [[Lowther Castle]] each August, this includes the Lowther Horse Driving Trials as attended in the past by [[Prince Philip]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/Lowther-Show-given-royal-seal-of-approval-by-Prince-Philip-df03861e-c393-4f6f-ad20-458c88bdbd66-ds |title=Lowther Show given royal seal of approval by Prince Philip |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107004508/http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/Lowther-Show-given-royal-seal-of-approval-by-Prince-Philip-df03861e-c393-4f6f-ad20-458c88bdbd66-ds |archive-date=7 November 2017 |date=11 August 2014 |newspaper=News and Star}}</ref>
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==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
===Mullett references===
{{Reflist|group=M|25em}}
==Sources==
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