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Cockermouth is a historic town in Cumbria, England, where the River Cocker flows into the River Derwent. It is situated on the North west fringe of the English Lake District. This location enables it to enjoy its own life and character without being overrun by too many tourists (which has happened to its neighbour Keswick). Much of the architectural core of the town remains largely and unchanged since the 18th and 19th centuries.

The town has ancient roots and was curiously the first in Britain to pilot electric lighting. It is perhaps best known as the birthplace of William Wordsworth, John Grayston, and Fletcher Christian (of Mutiny on the Bounty fame), John Dalton (a father of atomic theory) was born in a village on the outskirts of Cockermouth and Astronomer Royal Fearon Fallows also hailed from the town. Wordsworth House has recently been expensively restored and visitors may take tea in its 18th century kitchen. Cockermouth is conveniently situated within a few minutes travelling distance from lakes like Ennerdale, Crummock, Lowestwater and Bassenthwaite and yet is not overrun by tourists.

There was a market every Monday in the town's Market Place from the 13th century which this has recently more or less disappeared. Much of the centre of the town is Georgian with Victorian infill and tree lined Kirkgate offers splendid examples of unspoilt classical 17th and 18th century terraced housing, cobbled paving and wistful twisty curving lanes which run steeply down to the River Cocker. Many of the buildings are of traditional slate and stone consruction with thick walls and green slate roofs. Many of the facades lining the streets are frontages for historic housing in alleyways and lanes (often maintaining medieval street patterns) to the rear. An example of this may be observed through he alleyway adjacent to the almost perfectly preserved Market Place hardware merchant(J.B.Banks and Son) where former 18th century dye workers cottages line one side of the lane with the former works facing it. Other examples may be observed behind frontges in Castlegate Drive, Main Street and Kirkgate.

Attractions include the sizeable but partly ruined Norman castle (but still inhabited by Lady Egremont) built at the confluence of the Rivers Cocker and Derwent, (complete with a tilting tower which hangs Pisa-like over Jennings Brewery. Sadly the castle and its preserved dungeons is open only once a year (during the annual festival). The Printing House Museum and Toy Museum together with Wordworth's birthplace may be worth visiting. There is also The Lakeland Sheep Centre which offers daily shows in its theatre. Cockermouth is also home to the respected and traditional Jenning's Brewery which offers regular public tours and occassional carriage rides pulled by a shire horse. Culturally, the Kirkgate Centre offers international music, theatre and cinema (including international and art-house on Monday evenings) and the Town has an annual festival of concerts and performances each Summer. Cockermouth has an annual Easter Fair, fireworks display and carnival. In April 2005 and it is to host a Georgian Fair). The Christmas light extravaganza is surprisingly, a joy to behold (and is not even particularly garish) and is accompanied by genuinely impressive shop displays throughout the Town and truly vast amounts of coloured festive lighting extensively throughout Cockermouth's main streets.

Cockermouth has a two primary schools, a secondary school and several churches, three medical and dental surgeries, a complementary health centre, an arts centre, and an internationally renowned art gallery (Castlegate House). Percy House Gallery on Main Street has a ceiling which dates from the 16th century with some of its timberwork dating from the 14th century. The town has many antique shops, three main galleries, and amazingly, more than 14 cafes (most of which serve good espresso and varied teas), particularly recommended are the atmospheric No. XVII and Merienda cafes on Station Street and Norham House on Main Street. There are many restaurants (including the award-winning vegetarian Quince and Medlar in Castlegate) and of course lots of pubs. There is even a gourmet fish and chip restaurant in the Market Place. The tasteful Bitter End Pub in Kirkgate has its own micro-brewery and visiting ales. Whilst the Swan (also in Kirkgate) has fine Jennings and a largely unspoilt and friendly ambiance. The Tithe Barn on Station Street and the Grey Goat in St. Helens Street offer an authentic local flavour. The Bush is perhaps the only Main Street pub to preserve any sense of character. The largest hotel is the Georgian fronted Trout which still has a faded photo on its walls of Bing Crosby who used the hotel as a base for his fishing in the town's rivers.

Many of the shops offer a distinctive and local appeal and yet there are three supermarkets (including the only Sainsburys between Lancaster and Glasgow), two chemists, two cycle shops, a Wilkinsons store, a sports centre, three bakers, swimming pool and two parks which both facilitate very pleasant riverside walks. The small but charmingly preserved Youth Hostel is sited in a 16th century mill on a bend in the River Cocker's approach to the Town. Adjoining Papcastle is a genuinely picturesque village in its own right and stands on the site of a Roman fort. The main cemetery on the Lorton Road is one of the most beautiful in the country with streams, humped stone bridges and views of the fells.

External link

• Guide to the town (http://www.cockermouth.org.uk/)