Penrith, Cumbria

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.^{[M 22]}

The eclipse of the Nevilles and Percies by the end of the Wars of the Roses opened the field for families such as the Cliffords, the Dacres and the Musgraves to jostle for position in the North (including those of the Sheriff of Cumberland, the Warden of the West March and the keeper of Penrith Castle).^{[M 23]}

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.^{[M 24]}

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 Hall. The foundation was overseen by 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 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.^{[M 25]}

However, there may have been a substantial underclass as well. A typhus epidemic in 1587 caused a high death rate, exacerbated by possible poverty and poor nutrition. 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).^{[M 26]}

Stuart period

Penrith in Stuart times was affected by political and religious upheavals that saw the English Civil War, the Commonwealth and the Glorious Revolution, but was spared any fighting. It also escaped the witch-craze phenomenon that afflicted other parts of England. The Union of the Crowns and suppression of the 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.^{[M 27]}

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), 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. Major-General Lambert, the Parliamentary commander, took over Penrith in June 1648 until forced out by Scottish royalists aided by Sir Philip Musgrave of Edenhall. The Covenanters supported the future Charles II after 1648. He stayed at Carleton Hall in 1651 on his way south to defeat at the Battle of Worcester.^{[M 28]}

Because Penrith lacked borough or corporation status, governance fell on the local nobility, gentry and clergy, (such as Hugh Todd). During the Commonwealth, 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.^{[M 29]} Meanwhile, Penrith benefited from work on restoration of Brougham and other castles, and by charitable donations undertaken by Lady Anne Clifford.^{[M 30]} 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.^{[M 31]}

Leading gentry of Cumberland and Westmorland gathered at the George Inn on 4 January 1688 at the behest of Lord Preston, the Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland and Westmorland. He was attempting to gauge the views of leading figures in the counties (deputy-lieutenants, and J.P.s) on the intention of 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 Whig Lowther went on to contribute to securing the two counties for King William in the Glorious Revolution and advancing his career, unlike his local (Tory) rival Christopher Musgrave of Edenhall who had been more dilatory in his support for William. This exemplified local politics feeding into national politics.^{[M 32][21]}

The economy of Penrith "continued to rely on cattle rearing, slaughtering and the processing of cattle products" (leather goods, tanning, shoemaking).^{[M 33]}

A Georgian "middle-ranking country town",^{[M 34]} (1715-1800)

The repercussions of the Glorious Revolution continued to have an effect on Penrith as its citizens were caught up in the subsequent Jacobite rising of 1715 and the later rising of 1745 - another consequence of the town's position on major travel routes. In 1715, the local posse comitatus and militia, under the command of Viscount Lonsdale and Bishop Nicolson of Carlisle, failed to stop the southwards-heading Jacobite force on Beacon Fell (not wooded in those days). There is little evidence of pro-Jacobite sympathy in Penrith at the time. The Jacobite army's overnight billeting in the town was peaceful, however.^{[M 35]} The 1745 incursion saw Prince Charles Edward Stuart staying at the George in Devonshire Street on November 21st during the Jacobite army's route south through England. Local animosity towards the Jacobites' "living off the land" broke out and there was a disturbance at Lowther Hall. After the retreat from Derby, the pro-Hanoverian sentiment of Penrithians showed itself in the so-called "Sunday hunting" harassment of the Scots by local forces, along with delaying tactics at Thrimby. With the Prince back again in Penrith on 21st December, elements of the army of Prince William, Duke of Cumberland caught up with the retreating Jacobites at Clifton Moor, supposedly the last military engagement on English soil.^{[M 36] [22]}

Penrith in the eighteenth century had approximately 2,000 rising to 4,000 people.^{[M 37]} It was still governed by the landed aristocracy, many of whom built town houses (often in the Palladian style) during this period: Hutton Hall (c.1720), and the Mansion House (c.1750) being examples.^{[M 38]} St Andrew's Church was also subject to change. The nave of the old medieval church was totally demolished and re-built (1722), partly because it was deemed to be beyond repair, partly to prevent the increasingly prevalent private take-over of space by local landowning families, and partly to improve the accommodation, and better to fit the changed liturgical practice and artistic views of the period.^{[M 39] [23]}

Industrialization failed to make any headway during this time (lacking "the power resources, raw materials and social structure for a major industrial take-off").^{[M 40]} The economy continued to rely on agriculture, services and marketing geared towards the local vicinity.^{[M 41]} As the century wore on, tourism joined this list, encouraged by interest in Penrith's prehistoric and medieval past and in Romanticism.^{[M 42]} There was some small-scale manufacturing taking place in Penrith during the Georgian period: clockmaking; tanning; pewter wares; and textiles (gingham fabric, check-patterned fabric, linen). ^[24] However, the textile industry in Penrith could not compete with the great textile towns of Yorkshire and Lancashire.^{[M 43]} The advent of turnpike roads,^{[M 44]} operated by turnpike trusts, aided the movement of goods and people between Penrith and other prominent towns. Penrith was a stopping point on stage-coach routes from London or Manchester to Scotland.^{[M 45]}

Urban renewal was a feature of eighteenth-century Penrith, acting out in the context of two visions. On one hand were those who looked to a future town that would attract the wider trade and tourism as well as increasing shopping and retailing opportunities. These were led by William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire who had bought the Honour of Penrith from his brother-in-law (William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland). On the other hand were those who saw the future as one that concentrated on the local market(s). The chaotic, congested, smelly nature of the latter was not conducive to the former. A compromise was achieved: the old Shambles, Moot Hall and Market Cross were repositioned and the centre of town was made less obstructive and obnoxious.^{[M 46]}

Overall, Penrith society remained one characterised by a manorial system dominated by aristocratic elites, backed by the Church of England, albeit with challenges in the form of jostling for power in the former (the Lowther versus the Bentinck political struggles, for example) and the rise of Wesleyan Methodism. The Toleration Act 1688 enabled alternative religious practices to feature in Penrith, but small Quaker and declining Presbyterian and Catholic representation did not seriously challenge the status quo.^{[M 47]}

Typical of Georgian England was Penrith's disparity in wealth between the upper and lower classes. The poor in Penrith were often on the breadline. Agricultural depression (1730-50), cattle plague (1749) and a nutritional shortfall ( possibly resulting in a steep fall in female fertility rates) were factors involved. A mixture of charitable donations by individuals was sometimes supplemented by "informal" activities such as begging, farm work, gleaning and help from relatives. The official poor law administration (still operating under the Poor Relief Act 1601) tended to favour those who "deserved" help: widows, fatherless children, those who could no longer work because of incapacity. Apprenticeships for poor and/or illegitimate children was another method tried by poor law officials. Entitlement status as a resident of the parish was enforced under the Act to Relieve the Poor, or Settlement Act (1662). This "outdoor" system of poor relief in Penrith was supplemented by the supervisory "indoor" system of the workhouse - the one in Penrith opened in Albert Street (1737).^{[M 48]}

Criminal activity was largely related to the agricultural nature of Penrith's economy - theft of livestock being prominent.^{[M 49]}

The major educational institution in the town was the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (founded 1564) which suffered from difficulties in funding itself and from a rather backward-looking classical humanistic curriculum. Lowther College (1697-1740) was founded by John Lowther, 1st Viscount Lonsdale as an antidote to the classical Latin- and Greek-based system (John Locke was Lonsdale's mentor in this respect).The College sought to fit out the "sons of gentlemen" for business and trade purposes, along with an emphasis on Stoic morality. By an endowment (1661) of William Robinson, a wealthy London merchant, a school for girls in Middlegate was founded - teaching reading and "seamstry work". Its regulations featured an Anglican emphasis and had input from the local overseers of the poor.^{[M 50]} According to local tradition, the Tudor House (or St. Andrew's Place) was occupied by the school run by Dame Birkett. Among her pupils in the 1770s were William Wordsworth, his sister Dorothy and his future wife, Mary Hutchinson. ^[26]

Victorian reform, refinement and democratisation (1800-1901)

During the 19th century, Penrith participated in the national "age of improvement",^[27] encapsulating advances in public health, welfare, transport and utilities provision, amenities, governmental administration and law and order. All this while remaining, essentially, a small market town of 3,801 people in 1801 rising to 9,182 in 1901. This despite increased connectivity (for example, a toll road to Appleby via Brougham instigated by local resident John Loudon McAdam and long-range stage coaching services). No extensive industrialisation took place - Penrith continued to rely on "agriculture, marketing, retailing, tourism and the hospitality industry". ("Agriculture" included the rearing of shorthorn beef cattle, for example). ^{[M 51]} The Georgian textile industry in the town had died out by the 1820s, although there was some weaving linked to the firm of Peter Dixon of Carlisle. Metal manufacturing linked to agricultural tools (Stalker's in Castlegate) and to domestic goods (Altham's with a foundry in Albert Street), brewing, iron foundries, leather tanning and saw-mills rounded out the small-scale picture of Victorian Penrith's industries. ^{[M 52]}

There was expansion of the town northwards during the 1850s and '60s. Penrith Building Society purchased land going up towards the Beacon Hill. Houses built here became the New Streets area - Newlands Street, Arthur Street, Graham Street, Wordsworth Street and others. The Beacon itself, unwooded, became fully the property of William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale in 1811 (following enclosure of the commons as permitted under local enclosure Acts of Parliament - 43 Geo 3) and tree-planting began. To the south, expansion included the building of Tynefield House (belonging to the Rimington family who were living in the Mansion House). ^{[M 53]}

The various agricultural and local produce markets (including "farmers' marts") were described at the time as "the principal support of the town". However, the coming of the railways led to some non-local goods being sold in places such as the market hall in Devonshire Street (opened 1860). Penrith had a varied list of trades and outlets to cater for the increasing middle-class - "grocer and tea dealer" J. and J. Graham, for example (established 1793, in current building since 1880 ^[28]). Glovers, hatters, glaziers, booksellers, printers, glass and china dealers, drapers, and photographers were just a selection of retailing in Penrith - all aided by press advertising in newspapers such as the Penrith Observer (1860-1968).

The railways also helped to develop accommodation for visitors - the Agricultural Hotel and Station Hotel were built near to the railway, perhaps leading to a downturn in the fortunes of the George, an old stage-coach venue located centrally. Penrith had c. 55 pubs and inns, some of which, such as the Grey Goat and the Woolpack, still exist. Much local employment (as servants or builders, for example) as well as philanthropy (including funding education and church-building) still depended, though, on the local aristocratic element in society. Local benevolent and charitable societies, whose "ethos"...was "typically suffused with Christian idealism...", also played a large part in helping the more unfortunate. ^{[M 54]}

This devout nature of Penrithian people reflected that of the Victorian era generally and was evidenced in the large number of denominations and buildings devoted to them. As regards the established (Anglican) church, the Parish Rooms were opened (1894) in St. Andrew's Place on ground that used to house the cockpit; Christ Church, in Drovers Lane/ Stricklandgate, was opened in 1850 to alleviate pressure on St. Andrew's as a result of the growing population and had a more high church style - it was also made the focus of a separate parish. ^{[M 55]} Despite the lack of a populace involved with industry (a factor influential in the growth of Methodism), Penrith's Wesleyan Methodists grew in numbers - there were 865 members of the "Penrith Circuit" by 1871. A building at Sandgate Head was replaced by one in Wordsworth Street (opened 1873). The fewer Primitive Methodists took over the Sandgate building in 1873. ^{[M 56]} The Quakers seem to have suffered a bit of a downturn in their fortunes, but local members such as Thomas Altham, the ironmonger, contributed strongly to welfare reform in the town. ^{[M 57]} Congregationalists, in Penrith since c. 1817, attracted the well-educated and middle class persons, such as Samuel Plimsoll and his family.. Their Ebenezer Chapel (1824) in Duke Street was replaced by a church, also in Duke Street, in 1865. ^{[M 58]}

The Presbyterians also built a new, Gothic-style, church in Lowther Street (1884). Their Sunday attendance was c.60-100 worshipers. ^{[M 59]} The Salvation Army opened premises in Castlegate in 1882. This burned down and was replaced, in 1906, by a building in Hunter Lane, still operating. ^{[M 60]} The Christian Brethren established premises in Queen Street in 1873. ^{[M 61]} Catholics, led from 1839 to 1849 by George Leo Haydock built St. Catherine's Church, Drovers Lane, which Haydock did not live to see (opened 1850). The influx of Catholics to the area, as a result of the Irish Famine and railway-building, led to tension (the "navvy riots") which Haydock was instrumental in placating. ^{[M 62] [29]}

The high level of literacy in Penrith during the 19th century was partially the result of church-organised education. The overall picture included: nine Sunday Schools; the Grammar School (fee-paying and with only 24 pupils in 1853); many private day and boarding schools; a Ragged school (Drovers Lane), closed 1874; a non-denominational Board school (1847 Castlegate Head, 1894 Brunswick Road); a National school (1816 Benson Row, 300 boys in the 1870s); Methodist school (Meeting House Lane - 327 pupils in the 1890s); the Catholic mixed primary school in Drovers Lane; Robinson's School in Middlegate which moved to Nether End, Graham Street and became the Girls National School (263 pupils in the 1890s). ^{[M 63] [30]}

Churches were also involved in the provision of charitable payments to the poor : such funds and endowments were administered by churchwardens and vestries (and JPs), for example. These funds were small compared to the rateable funds administered by the overseers of the poor on an "outdoor" and "indoor" (workhouse) basis. The system changed with the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 by which all relief to the able-bodied poor was made illegal unless work was done in "well-regulated workhouses". This new arrangement was run by the central government-appointed Poor Law Commission, (then by the Poor Law Board from 1847, then by the Local Government Board from 1871). Penrith became the lead in a local Poor Law union in 1836, supervised by a 50-strong Board of guardians. The existing workhouse in Albert Street was closed and, in 1839, a larger one (built for c.250 inmates) was opened near Castletown Bridge on the Greystoke Road. ^{[M 64] [31]}

The supply of utilities, such as gas and water, pitched the urban supporters of "progress" against the more north-town (Town Head) and rural, farming, "economy"-minded members of Penrith society. A private gasworks had been set up in Old London Road in 1833. Attempts to turn this into a public, rateable enterprise struggled until the advent of the railways (and the prospect of tourists, visitors, holiday-makers having to deal with unreliable lighting). By 1845, local voting swung towards payment via rates. In 1878 the Local Board of Health (established 1851) took over the gas works from the private owner. ^{[M 65]}

The coming of the railway to Penrith was a catalyst for change. Despite objections to the railways, supposedly spoiling the beauty and tranquility of the Lakes, according to William Wordsworth, John Ruskin and Lord Brougham, and local people predicting the end of inns and of posting, the local nobility succeeded in their promotion of a project to build a line from Lancaster to Carlisle. This line would be via Shap, Kendal and Penrith, rather than an alternative one that would run across Morecambe Bay and along the west Cumbrian coast. Work began in 1844 and the line was opened in December 1846, despite being interrupted by the "navvy riots" of early 1846 when serious violence broke out between Scots/English navvies on one side and Irish navvies on the other. An east-west route, carrying coal and iron ore from west Cumbria to and from Durham and visitors to Keswick was the next proposal. The Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway opened for business in 1864 (for goods) and 1865 (for passengers). Penrith's ancient role as a communications hub was therefore re-enforced. ^{[M 66] [32]} The development of the Eden Valley Railway between Clifton and Kirkby Stephen, opened in 1862, allowed easier access, for both minerals and passengers, between the North-East and the Penrith area. ^[33]

In national politics, the Reform Act 1832 resulted in the creation of the Cumberland East division (with two-members), consisting of Cumberland, Eskdale and Leath wards - Penrith was in the last of these. Aristocratic dominance still prevailed, with Whigs (later the Liberal Party) and Conservatives vying for the support of c. 5,000-6,000 voters. ^{[M 67]}

The landed gentry still dominated local government in early 19th century Penrith - via systems such as manorial courts, the select vestry and JPs. However, the establishment of the local Board of Health (1851), which was concerned about the threats posed by cholera, typhus, smallpox and diphtheria, enabled some improvement. The town's water supply and sewage treatment, still relying largely on Thacka Beck and prone to contamination, was upgraded, using water from the River Eamont (against some local opposition who did not want a rise in the rates). The provision of a cemetery on the west side of Beacon Hill improved the sanitary situation in Penrith, as did the setting up of small isolation and fever hospitals on land purchased from the Devonshire estate at Fair Hill. In 1892, the Board became an Urban District Council. ^{[M 68] [34]}

Although there was a lack of "acute social conflict" in Penrith, ^{[M 69]} the town did suffer from occasional severe crime perpetrated by highway-robbers and burglars, especially in the early years of the century during the Post-Napoleonic Depression. The large number of pubs in Penrith also contributed to spasmodic disturbances. A "house of detention" (prison) had been set up in early-modern times, along with a constable, in Fell Lane and in Scotland Road (1825) and lastly in Hunter Lane (1860). In 1858, a "principal station" of the county constabulary was established in Hunter Lane as well. A notable exception to the relatively low level of crime was the murder of PC Byrnes at Plumpton. ^{[M 70] [35]}

The later 19th century saw a flourishing of social life in Penrith, with new buildings to accommodate it: the Agricultural Hall (1870) in Castlegate; the Drill Hall and Concert Hall (1893) in Portland Place; the Exchange Hall in Angel Lane being examples. A number of voluntary associations - for example, the Penrith Agricultural Society (1830); the Penrith Farmers' Club (1845); the Literary and Scientific Society (1881) were founded. There were many charitable and friendly societies operating. Over 80 pubs, a few breweries and various temperance societies catered for a range of tastes. Association football was established in South End; rugby in the 1870s (with the team joining the Union in 1885); cricket was established in the 1830s with the United Beacon team being founded in 1866. Penrith Swimming Club was formed in 1881 and was based at the River Eamont at Frenchfield. Horse -racing (along with hunting) had taken place in the commons area near the Beacon since the 18th Century. The enclosure of the ground in 1803 provided the opportunity for the growing middle-class of Penrith, allied with the local gentry, to purchase land (now occupied by Penrith Golf Club) from the enclosure commissioners in 1807 and build a formal racecourse with segregated stands (1814) and a wall (1811) (to keep out socially undesirable people). The final race was in 1896. Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling took place during the race meets. ^{[M 71] [36]}

Castletown

Castletown, west of the West Coast Main Line, includes the Gilwilly Industrial Estate and some of the Penrith or Myers Industrial Estate. The area, originally built for workers on the railway line, mostly consists of late 19th and early 20th-century terraced housing, including some council housing. Since the 1990s, private developments such as Greystoke Park, Castletown Drive and Castle Park have appeared.

There was until March 2010 a pub in the suburb, The Castle Inn, and in previous years a sub-post office, a Co-op store and other shops, all now closed. Until the 1970s, Castletown had its Church of England St Saviour's in Brougham Street, acting as a chapel of ease to Penrith's parish church of St Andrew, originally built as a Primitive Methodist chapel. As of 2017, the Oasis Evangelical Church holds services at Brackenber Court sheltered housing complex in Musgrave Street. The Church in the Barn, Elim Pentecostal church, meets at the community centre at Gilwilly.

The suburb has a community centre on the recreation ground at Gilwilly and until recently held an annual gala day and parade throughout Penrith. At one time in the mid-20th century elections were held amongst regulars at the Castle pub to find a Mayor of Castletown. There is longstanding rivalry between the Castletown and Townhead districts.

Townhead

Townhead is the town's northern area, including the Fair Hill district and the Voreda Park or Anchor housing estate. It mainly flanks the A6 road, heading uphill towards Carlisle. The road is named Stricklandgate and Scotland Road, but on maps before the mid-19th century it appears as Town Head. It was one of seven constablewicks into which the ancient Penrith parish divided, alongside Middlegate, Burrowgate, Dockray and Netherend in the town proper and Plumpton Head and Carleton beyond.

New Streets

New Streets marks an area between Townhead and Scaws on the side of the Beacon Hill or Fell, with steep streets of some terraced housing, but mainly detached and semi-detached houses of the mid-19th century. These streets from north to south are Graham, Wordsworth, Lowther and Arthur Street. The term sometimes includes Fell Lane, (which is actually the ancient east road from Penrith town centre to Langwathby), and Croft Avenue and Croft Terrace (from about 1930), which were not developed till later. At the foot is Drovers Lane, once Back Lane, subdivided into Drovers Terrace, Wordsworth Terrace, Lowther Terrace, Bath Terrace, Arthur Terrace, Lonsdale Terrace, and finally Meeting House Lane. Along the top is Beacon Edge, with extensive views over the town and towards the Lake District. Until the turn of the 20th century, Beacon Edge was known as Beacon Road. Apart from the streets up the fellside there are some that link smaller housing developments between them.

The fellside is known to have been used as a burial ground for victims of bubonic plague, which struck Penrith down the centuries. There are also areas that still have farming names, such as a wooded enclosure in Fell Lane known as the Pinfold (or Pinny) – once a pound for stray animals until owners paid to reclaim them. One lane off Beacon Edge is still Intack Lane, i. e. the lane to farmed land. Most of what formed the intack was passed to Penrith Cemetery.

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 Lowther Estates. Scaws Farm is now Coldsprings Farm. Later some private housing was built on higher parts of the estate.

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.

Carleton

Carleton was once a separate settlement of houses along one side of the A686 road following the boundary of the built-up area. The housing stock underwent much expansion in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Carleton Hall holds the headquarters of the Cumbria Constabulary.^[55] The area is the home of Carelton Banks FC, colloquially the Pinks.^[56]

Pategill

Adjoining Carleton is the Pategill Housing Estate. It began as a council estate on land once part of the Carleton Hall estate and is still mostly owned by housing associations. Two streets, Prince Charles Close and Jubilee Close, were opened by the Prince of Wales in 1977. The centre of the estate is accessible by foot only and there was until 2012 a small convenience store. Several properties are run as sheltered housing for the elderly.

Wetheriggs

The Wetheriggs, Skirsgill and Castle Hill or Tyne Close areas were developed in the 1920s by Penrith Urban District Council on land formerly known as Scumscaw. The first private housing was developed in Holme Riggs Avenue and Skirsgill Gardens just before World War II. Further development did not start until the 1960s and 1970s, on land between Wetheriggs Lane and Ullswater Road. Not until the late 1980s were the two roads connected by the Clifford Road extension, which saw the Skirsgill area developed. There are three schools: Ullswater Community College. North Lakes Junior and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS). The Crescent in Clifford Road holds sheltered accommodation for the elderly. There was once a shop at the junction of Huntley Avenue and Clifford Road and another at the foot of Holme Riggs Avenue. The large North Lakes Hotel and Spa stands at the junction of Clifford and Ullswater Roads, overlooking the Skirsgill Junction 40 Interchange of the M6 motorway, A66 and A592 roads.

Penrith New Squares

Plans to expand Penrith town centre south into the Southend Road area began by expanding the swimming pool area into a leisure centre, to replace a previous car park and sports fields, including ones used by Penrith and Penrith United football clubs. Plans for the rest of the scheme were drawn up by a property firm and included a supermarket^[57] and shopping streets, car parking and housing. Penrith New Squares refers to shops to be centred round two squares for parking and public entertainment.^[58]

Work here was suspended in October 2008 due to the financial crisis,^[59] but a new deal was agreed with Sainsbury's and it resumed in 2011. The update includes less new housing, with parts deferred for up to five years.^[60] Sainsbury's opened in December 2011. In June 2013, the first shop in the squares opened, along with a walk through from Sainsbury's to the town centre.