Cornmarket and Great Dockray

Cornmarket was where grain used to be sold outside the many inns, all of which provided stabling for farmers’ horses. White Hart Yard, (the first arched opening on the right hand side) is so named because the building to the left was the ‘White Hart’, a notable coaching inn. Directly to the right was the ‘Griffin Inn’ where a mid-19th century landlord, William Jameson, was a wrestler of great renown. Penrith Museum holds his trophies.

White Hart Yard

Sign - Nil Sine Labore
In 1983 the central area of Cornmarket was pedestrianised and the ‘market cross’ bandstand was built.
The ‘Board & Elbow’ public house was formerly the ‘Black Bull’; note the inscribed lintel to the left bearing the date 1624. Turn left into Great Dockray.

Board And Elbow lintel inscribed 1624WR
When Richard III was Duke of Gloucester and Warden of the Western Marches he lived in Penrith Castle but frequented Dockray Hall, hence his arms of two Boars Rampant appear above the main entrance. Above the other door there is the date 1580 and the initials of John Whelpdale who was one of five original governors of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School.

Dockray Hall - Two Boars Rampant

Dockray Hall - John de Whelpdale dated 1580
Great Dockray, the largest of Penrith’s market spaces was the cattle market in the 18th century. The set back building at the far end of Great Dockwray, the newly restored Two Lions Hotel, was formerly two public houses; the "White Horse" and the "Two Lions" The latter dates from before 1585 and was formerly the home of Gerald Lowther, Sheriff of Cumberland in 1594. Retrace your steps and exit Great Dockwray via Angel Lane.
Proceed down Angel Lane to view , on your right, the arched pediment above the double doors a little beyond Exchange Lane which tells us that the premises was built in 1763. Return to Exchange Lane and enter Angel Square.

Exchange Lane

Exchange Lane