Penrith Museum

We were very pleased to welcome to our June meeting a representative from one of our local museums. Judith Clark is a Curator at Penrith Museum and gave us a wide ranging insight into both the content and history of the museum. From the outset it was made clear to us that Penrith Museum is one of the more progressive bodies that seeks to project to the community a more friendly and stimulating approach than museums traditionally adopted not too long ago. As an ‘ice-breaker’, artefacts that would have been in daily use at various times in the past were circulated amongst the audience with an invitation to decide what they were and to discuss their original purpose and origins. They ranged from a Neolithic axe-head to a WWII light deflector for a motor vehicle and included a potted char dish, a tinder box and a very substantial firmer for a ladies corset. Some suggestions showed imagination and were possibly more interesting than the correct answer!

Also shown were examples of the outreach information packs distributed to schools as part of the Museum’s education programme plus a booklet on the standing stones of the Eden Valley and other parts of Cumbria. The Museum has hosted a number of themed exhibitions on many topics, including contemporary art. The permanent exhibits on display cover a wide range of subjects and were well illustrated by slides. Much of the material is from the immediate area and includes a fine display of rocks, minerals and fossils plus a good collection of querns and pottery. There is an extensive Oriental collection but most of this is housed in Durham. The Museum owns some 60 paintings and is also responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of those on display in the Town Hall, the Mansion House and Council Offices.

This reference to paintings led to Jacob Thomson, arguably Penrith’s most famous artist, and who, along with some of his work, is featured in the Museum. His is a fascinating story in that he was born into a well-to-do family who went bankrupt when he was only seven years of age and life became very hard. His family were Quakers and, as such, did not approve of art, giving Jacob no encouragement to follow his undoubted talent and calling. Such was his enthusiasm that he frequently walked to Carlisle to visit art shows and exhibitions. Whilst painting a landscape he was seen by William, 1 st Earl of Lonsdale, who became his sponsor enabling him to attend the Royal Academy. He was obliged to undertake portrait work whilst in London to provide himself with an income but his great love and preference was landscapes. When established he returned to the North and lived at Hackthorpe, becoming a friend of Wordsworth. His best known work to be found in Penrith is the altar piece in St. Andrew’s Church. Since his death in 1879 he has retained his popularity and his work is highly collectable and of significant value. Recently a Scottish scene was sold at auction for £185,000.

The actual building currently used to house the Museum is an historic part of Penrith in its own right. It started life in 1670 as Robinson School in Middle Gate as a gift to the town by William Robinson, a native of Penrith who had made his fortune in London as a coffee merchant. Certain architectural features suggest that it might have incorporated an earlier Tudor building on the same site. The original legacy was to provide education for the poor girls of the town – a very laudable action particularly at that time when education for girls was not usual. A strict set of rules and regulations applied including provision for the poorer girls to be identified as such and to be allowed to go into the town to beg each day at certain times. With the passing of the Education Act the school became the Church Infant School eventually closing in 1971..

The Museum acquired the building and made various improvements and extensions, the most recent being opened in 1990. The extent of the work carried out was governed by the presence of a substantial copper beech tree and this restricted the depth that foundations could be dug. It also accounts for the light construction of an adjoining new building, rather unfairly referred to, because of its appearance, as a ‘Japanese tea house’! The Museum has clearly become a vital and active part of the life of the town.

JACOB WALTON MEMORIAL

 The inauguration of the relocated Memorial at Town Foot, Alston will take place at 12.00 noon on Tuesday, the 6 th July and all are welcome. The Stanhope Town Band will be playing to add to the festive atmosphere. All are welcome and are invited, after the ceremony, to view an exhibition in the Town Hall of the background and events leading up to the re-inauguration.

DILSTON HALL

The Society has arranged a private visit to the Hall on Wednesday, 7 th July meeting at the Hall between 6.30 and 7.00 pm and any interested party is welcome to join us. We will be able to visit parts of the site which are not open to the general public. Please ring Richard Turner on 01434 381353 for further details.

LAURENCE A LAW – Hon. Sec.

4/6/04