Friargate and Sandgate - Explore Penrith

Friargate

Look across Friargate to Abbots Bank. This was built in 1820 near the site of a13th century Augustinian Friary. To its right is the ‘Friarage’ dating from 1717 (this is a fancy name only - as is ‘Abbots Bank’ as Friaries don’t have Abbots). Edward l came to the Friary in the 1290s on his way to fight the Scots.
On your left is Mansion House; the Whelpdale family built this in 1750 as a ‘showoff’ house with ‘a conspicuous waste of land at the front but very plain inside’.

Mansion House, Penrith
Further up Friargate, Hutton Hall is another fine Georgian building owned by the Hutton family who lived on this site from 1272-1734. A Pele Tower (fortified house), part of their earlier dwellings, stands to the rear. Turn back into de Whelpdale Lane.
Look left into the churchyard to see the Rotary Garden created from a derelict site in 1971 to mark the 21st Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Penrith. This site was where the Vicarage stood in its garden until 1840. Proceed along de Whelpdale Lane to enter Sandgate.

Rotary Garden

Sandgate

In earlier days a busy egg and butter market, crossed by an open Thacka Beck, stood here. The bus station was created in the mid-20th century on the far side - formerly an area of various yards. Turn left into Burrowgate.

Sandgate