A new exhibition featuring the stories of people who’ve settled in the Cockermouth area from around the UK and beyond opens at the town’s Kirkgate Centre next week.
‘Offcomers: Celebrating stories of the many journeys to Cockermouth’ runs from Friday, August 16 until Sunday, September 1 (free entry).
Helen Johnston, Kirkgate’s Community Projects Officer, explained: “Our new exhibition features the stories of people who’ve come to Cockermouth from around the UK and the world.
“Covering over 300 years of the town’s history, we explore the many and varied reasons people moved to the area, for family or work, or when they had no choice.
“For some, their stay in the area was for a short period of their life, whilst others made the town their long-term home and raised their families here.
“We have selected a few of their stories to give a sample of people’s different experiences. These stories are now part of our wider community’s stories, ingrained in our cultural consciousness.”
Two such stories give a flavour of the exhibition and Cockermouth’s role in offering refuge to those in need of shelter.
Isaac Jarra came to England from West Bengal at the beginning of the 20th Century and worked as a cook and a butler for a number of Cockermouth families. In 1909, he married Margaret Harrison, and they had five children, three of whom survived childhood; Abraham, Miriam & Alicia.
The children attended All Saints School (in the building which is now the Kirkgate Centre).
Karlis (Charlie) Zirins had been forced to fight for the German Wehrmacht against the Russian army when around 17-years-old, after German troops had invaded Latvia. He fought in modern-day Poland until surrendering to the Allies near Berlin.
He was unable to return home when the war ended as his country had fallen under Russian control and to return would have meant death or imprisonment. Karlis stayed at the former Moota Prisoner Of War Camp, which accommodated Displaced People from across Europe from around 1947, and he worked at Ann’s Hill farm by day.
Before long he met and married Nellie Bewley, and together they raised three children, Katrina, Ian and Sheena, eventually settling into a house on Kirkbank.
The exhibition is on display from August 16 to September 1. It is open every day from 11am – 4pm, except August 31, when the exhibition will be open from 1pm.
It forms part of Kirkgate Art and Heritage’s “In My Shoes” Project and was made possible thanks to National Lottery players funded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Helen added: “We’re going to have some free events taking place alongside the exhibition:
- Jessie McMeekin will be running family storytelling sessions with on Friday 23rd and Friday 30th August.
Tickets for the storytelling sessions (free of charge) can be found at: https://thekirkgate.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873663721
- Multi-award-winning writer and performer Emma McGordon, from West Cumbria, will be doing a spoken word performance on Sunday, 25th August at 2pm
“Please see our website for full details and the programme of events to accompany the exhibition.”
ENDS …..
Captions:
1, All Saints School photo from 1929. Isaac Jarra’s daughter Miriam is on the back row, second from the left, and Alicia is on the middle row, first from the left.
2, Charlie Zirins with his family, circa 1967 – used with permission of the Zirins family.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Kirkgate is a charity based in Cockermouth, Cumbria. It operates an arts and heritage centre as well as working with towns and villages in West Cumbria to encourage a diverse programme of arts, culture and entertainment. Its vision is to ensure that creative talent is valued, developed and supported with opportunities for all to engage actively with, and enjoy, the arts, local heritage and community life.
The Kirkgate Centre brings the best cultural, theatrical and entertainment events to Cumbria. From the best feature and documentary films to live streaming of top London shows, to local talent, heritage exhibitions, music, theatre, comedy and more, there is something for everyone.
In the historic Kirkgate Quarter of the Gem Town of Cockermouth, sitting on the edge of the Lake District National Park, the Kirkgate Centre is the perfect venue for special occasions, conferences, meetings, courses, exhibitions or private film screenings.
Kirkgate manages Arts Out West which stages performances in community venues from Furness to the Solway, ranging from nationally-recognised theatre companies to international musicians with events that are as much a social occasion as a performance. It is a member of the National Rural Touring Forum supported by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation.
Follow @kirkgatearts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
For more information:
Emma Heys 01900 829966
www.kirkgateartsandheritage.org.uk
The Kirkgate Centre, Kirkgate, Cockermouth, CA13 9PJ