Schools and Other Institutions GAZ Cockermouth

Schools: A Grammar School existed in Cockermouth prior to 1546, but the first recorded building was  the free grammar school alongside All Saints Church, erected in 1676. Notable pupils at this later school were Fletcher Christian, Fearon Fallows and William Wordsworth. During the 19th century, prior to compulsory education and school boards under the Education Act of 1870, the number of private schools increased (there were 10, including Dame Schools, in 1874) a National School was built in New Street (1845) and there was a British School in Market Street (1847). The School of Industry ‘for the gratuitous education of 30 poor girls’ was established in 1809. In addition to the church Sunday schools which provided some limited education, the General Sunday School opened in 1832 with accommodation for 400 children.

The National School moved to new premises in Kirkgate in 1869 becoming All Saints National School; it moved to new premises in 1973, the 1869 building becoming a cinema and arts centre (the Kirkgate Centre). New Street school became a Board School in 1870. The new Fairfield Girls Board School was built in 1876, and the New Street school became vacant when Fairfield Boys Board School opened in 1884; Fairfield Junior School opened in 1971. St Joseph’s RC school having occupied what are now the church rooms from 1877, moved to new premises on The Level in 1967.

In 1881 the newly built Cumberland County Industrial School opened at Strawberry How, off Lorton Road. Boys sent by the courts for vagrancy /crime were taught trades in addition to the basics. Having closed in 1921, the premises were adapted, becoming Cockermouth Secondary School in 1929. Derwent School on Castlegate Drive opened as a Secondary Modern in 1958, with Lorton Road becoming a Grammar School until 1984, when the two sites were amalgamated to form the new 11-18 comprehensive ‘Cockermouth School’. Expansion of the Castlegate Drive facilities allowed the old grammar school to close its door in 1991.

Other Institutions: A Widows’ Hospital in Kirkgate, was endowed by Thomas Leathes in 1760.  The Cockermouth Dispensary was established in 1785; a nursing home or small hospital had been established at Harford House by 1905; and the Cottage Hospital was built in 1915.  The formation of Cockermouth Poor Law Union led to the opening of a new Workhouse on Gallowbarrow in 1843, serving some 50 townships. (The Union School educated the workhouse children until 1887 when it was moved to Flimby). The Workhouse closed in 1929

The Mechanics Institute was started in 1845 ‘for the diffusion of useful knowledge’ by means of a library, reading room, lectures and discussions. Membership was 300 at the end of the 19th century. Cockermouth Book Club, founded in 1785 (which had become Cockermouth Library by 1847) formed the nucleus of the library of books which passed to the town council in 1899; and became the Carnegie Pulbic Library, which opened in 1904. It is the only Carnegie Library listed within the old county of Cumberland.

Public meeting places included the Public Hall (built 1874), the Royal Assembly Rooms and the Drill Hall (built 1886).  A public park, Harris Park, was laid out in 1894.  A cinema, the Grand Theatre, was built 1913-14 (closed in 1978).