Kirkgate History and Heritage
With the loose theme this month being about coming together, and the wonderful support we can give each other as a community (another big thank you to the Committed2Rock choir!) we hear from Gloria about the charitable work of some of Cockermouth’s past community figures;
“Life before the welfare state of the post-WWII years was incredibly hard for those with little money, or those who fell ill and were unable to work each day. There was no unemployment or sickness benefit, or pension: if you couldn’t work, you had no money and relied upon the humanity of others to see you through. The severe winter of 1895 made the situation even more difficult for many. In 1895 the winter frost had been so severe that all building work, which had been booming in Cockermouth, had to be halted for around six weeks, when temperatures remained way below zero. Tatie pots were given out on Sundays to those hardest hit, and children had ‘penny dinners’ in the big room at the Apple Tree Hotel (now the Wordsworth Hotel).
Many charitably-minded individuals in the town came forward to help their fellow citizens, as the West Cumberland Times of 18th January 1895 reports:
“A further distribution of soup and bread was made yesterday from the kitchen in Mr Straughton’s yard. About 50 quarts of soup were distributed to poor people on Thursday by Mr John Dobie of Main Street … Over 60 families were provided with soup and bread at the soup kitchen at the back of the ‘Apple Tree’ … Each family had been carefully selected by the district visitors in connection with Christ Church parish … the vicar of Christ Church asks for further help”.
Many donations of money and food poured in from owners of the larger houses in the area, such as Armathwaite Hall, Brandlingill, South Lodge, and Oakhurst. Free daily dinners were on offer each day at the All Saints’ Mission Room. There was even a donation from Cadbury Bros. in Birmingham of 3 cases of their ‘Cocoa Essence’ (WCT, 13.2.1895).
Advantage was taken of a frozen River Cocker to build an ice house. It was 27 feet long and 9 ft. wide, bult entirely from blocks of ice at Rubby Banks Mill, on the banks of the frozen River Cocker in Harris Park. Twenty-five men in desperate need of work were paid to cut blocks of ice and form them into a house:
“Within the house is an ice cascade. The building was lighted by means of Chinese lanterns and looked very attractive … Miss Todd’s pupils sang and instrumental music was given by the Mechanics’ Band. The ice house attracted a considerable number of persons, and a charge was made for admission. Tea was handed around inside the building.”
(WCT, 16.2.1895) |
