Carole Atkinson the author of a book published earlier this year titled Penrith Town Trails, showing life in a busy vibrant 1978 Penrith with many familiar buildings feature in the book but some surprises for those who are not familiar with 1970’s Penrith including traffic travelling both ways through the town along the A6.
Talking with us this week about the continued interest in her Penrith Town Trails Book, Carole shared her memories of Penrith at Christmas.
“Penrith holds many memories for me, from the first Christmas, when I visited my future husband's parent's in 1967, meeting them for the first time. Then, every year, with our family.“
“When we travelled to Penrith, we went by train, which those days were a lot slower and stopped off at every station. But, from the moment you stepped off the train, it felt like home. walking from the station, people greeted you and although it was dark by then, the little shops were still open. It was hard not to resist looking through the windows at the Christmas trees with their twinkling lights and traditional decorations.”
“I loved the walk along St Andrew's Yard because the period windows of the shops and houses, which were joined together, stuck out and I could look inside and see all kinds of Celtic, hand made jewellery and goods, which I had never seen before. I still have a Celtic choker, Jeff bought for me there, for Christmas, which I still treasure.”
“The little back streets, some were cobbled, on our way to Sandgate and Benson Row. The poor, old fashioned street lighting, by todays standards, was funnily enough comforting and welcome. Then, approaching the gate, at Benson Row, there was a pitch dark passage to go down.”
“This led you to the back's of the houses, which you couldn't see, until you got to the end. A perfect passage for courting couples, who those days, did not want to be seen! The family's three back doors faced each other. Something else I wasn't used to, as each time we visited, we went to Grandma Carlton's house first, with her old fireplace, in a very small front room, the only warm room in the house.”
“Hanging from a chain, was what looked to me like a black cauldron, which she still heated food in. She toasted bread on this little fire with a toasting fork, which tasted delicious. I'd never experienced this before, only the chestnuts roasting on the front of the grate. There was a kind of blackish rug across the front of the fireplace. She told me how she and her daughters always made their own rag rugs and explained how old clothes and material were never wasted, but cut into strips, then using an old dolly peg, were pushed in and out of a kind of netted framework across their laps. This was usually done, in the evenings, when she and her two daughters, my mother in law Norah Atkinson and her sister Hilda Brown would sit together, whilst the men usually went to the pub, after a hard days work.”
“I thought the idea was a good one, but I'd have wanted to go with him to the pub for a drink. Apparently not many women then, did that in Penrith, so I didn't dare say a word! But, I did drink the small sherry she poured out for the ladies and whisky for the men and also daren't say I preferred whisky! “
“When we were invited into Jeff's Auntie Hilda and Teddy's next door, we were given another drink of sherry and whisky with mince pies. Their son Gordon was there and straight away because he realised everything was strange to me, told me about the Christmas traditions in Penrith”
“He pointed out the evergreens on the sideboard and walls, which were believed to bring you good luck, the following year. The Rowan tree scared away evil spirits and holly and ivy were also thought to protect the house from evil. Hospitality, particularly at Christmas seemed to be important to Cumbrian folk. Carol singers were welcomed at the door and the householder would bring out mince pies and wassail cups.”
“Then, on entering my mother in laws house, thankfully we had a cup of tea! I still was given the sherry and Jeff the whisky. I suppose I was lucky, as the age for drinking alcohol was then 21 and I was in my teens. We were given Jeff's parents bed only after we were married. Sex, before marriage was unheard of. So, on my first Christmas there as a single girl, my mother in law, had put a strange hot pottery object in the bed. This I learn was called a bed warmer. It certainly worked around the area of the bed you had it, but would burn your feet, if you touched it.”
“There was also a small black fireplace with a few coals burning. That dark, old, heavy bed, with a feather mattress was heaven, so warm and snug, compared to coldness of the rest of the room. So, when the bells pealed out, early the next morning on Christmas Day from St Andrew's Church, I was woken up, startled. When I tried to block out the noise and go back to sleep, it was still pealing. Although I never appreciated those bells then, I miss them now. They were calling out to everyone to come to church and celebrate together the birth of Christ - It's Christmas Day!”
“It always seemed to snow at Christmas, which made it more Christmassy there. Jeff's friends called and hoiked us out to the local pub, of which there were many then. Brian Hardy's parents, Madge and Alan had The Grey Horse, down the road. It always seemed to be full of happy people. They welcomed us and were so friendly. It took me ages to learn what they were saying, as Cumbrian was so different to the London and Buckinghamshire accent, I was used to.”
“Another pub I remember was along a cobbled street, somewhere near St Andrew's. It had a large bay window and you could feel the warmth hit you, after you'd trudged through the biting, snow. After being a teenager, in London, not used to going into a pub and maybe drinking a shandy, which my parents would allow us to have, this was an eye opener socially. I remember counting the pints Jeff and Brian had and couldn't believe anyone could consume so many, in one evening. They explained to me, it was pubs which youngsters went to, as there wasn't much for young people then, especially at weekends, only perhaps the occasional dances. Those days the fish and chip shops were always open after closing time and when it was cold weather, there was a queue. Fish and chips in Penrith were divine, they always tasted so good.”
“When we had children, Penrith was extra special for us, as we could wander along Devonshire Street onwards and buy last minute Christmas presents. Just before Christmas, we still hadn't bought a rocking horse for them. They seemed to be scarce then, except for the small metal ones, with a square seat. We were walking into Middlegate, when we saw a very old shop. It seemed to sell lots of items, but it did have some toys. “
“I think it might have been called Harper's, we went inside. It was very old fashioned, having many traditional toys of the 70's. So, on the off chance, I asked if they sold any rocking horses? The lady there said, they thought there was one in the attic somewhere and she led us up narrow steps. The room was darkish, but amongst lots of items, there was a rocking horse. I'd seen one like that, years ago and never expected to find one like that anymore. She explained it had been there for years, as no one had been interested in a rocking horse anymore. The whole horse, on the springs frame was made entirely of metal and was quite large and solidly built. To this day, I don't know how the three of us managed to get it down that narrow stone staircase. Then after covering it up, with endless brown paper and sellotape, Jeff and I got it back and somehow into our Ford Cortina, hiding it from the children.”
“We must have looked a comical pair walking up to Sandgate. This would never have happen, at closing time on Christmas Eve, nowadays. The shop assistants would never look up in an attic, to make two children as happy as ours were on Christmas Day.”
“When their father brought them downstairs, in his arms, as his Penrith father had done with him to see what Santa had brought them around the Christmas Tree, they let out wails of sheer joy. Of course, the glass of port and a mince pie, left out for Santa, was gone.”
It's taken me over 50 years to say thank you to Harper's and I'm sure they've had many happy customers say the same since”.
“We always used to bring home our Christmas meat, pork pie and black pudding from the local Butcher's and Cumbrian sausages from the old Co-op, all since closed. Penrith food always tasted so good. I could tell many more stories, but maybe, I should just write another book “
Carole’s book “Penrith Town Trails” printed by Reeds Printers in Penrith can be purchased in Penrith at Hedgehog Books, Beckside Books and Penrith Tourist Information And would make a great Christmas present idea.
Carole said “I am overwhelmed by the response to my book. I love history and Penrith, which holds happy memories for me.” Adding “Merry Christmas Penrith and thank you for my happy memories!”
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