Penrith's proximity to the Lake District and
Pennines, and its location at the crossroads linking these areas
and the North of England to the Scottish borders, has from the
earliest times favoured its growth as a centre of trade, transport
and agriculture. The monuments in and around the town show that
Prehistoric settlers, Celts, Romans, Saxons and descendants of
Vikings were all drawn here. Later still, Norman barons and feudal
chiefs build castles and fortified towers during unstable and
violent times when the crowns of England and Scotland fought to
retain power. The culture of the area has been enriched by the
lore, legends and language of all these people, giving it a
character as distinctive and varied as the landscapes which provide
their setting. Many of the town's old yards and buildings are on
sites which follow the plan of the medieval settlement, and are
rich in associations with notable personalities of the past. Today,
Penrith still retains much of the essential charm and dignity of a
historic market town, whilst commercial developments on the
outskirts and major new leisure and tourism initiatives nearby
bring challenging stimuli for economic growth.
This selection of photographs from the holdings
of Penrith museum seeks not only to further the interest we have in
our past, but is also presented as tribute to the commitment,
patience and skill of the area's local photographers.
View a selection of the photographs from this collection.
If you would like to order a copy of "Penrith - A
Historical Record in Photographs" please use the order form below.
