The Town Walk
The Town Walk is one of a series of five-
local walks around Egremont.
There is a leaflet for each walk-
downloadable from this site or from the-
tourist information cente in Egremont.
The Town Walk is one of a series of five-
local walks around Egremont.
There is a leaflet for each walk-
downloadable from this site or from the-
tourist information cente in Egremont.
The Town Walk
1.12 miles 1.8km
This walk is a brief introduction to-
the town and its historic, cultural and-
leisure attractions.
The town is a hub of a network of-
leisure routes for walker and cyclists.
1.12 miles 1.8km
This walk is a brief introduction to-
the town and its historic, cultural and-
leisure attractions.
The town is a hub of a network of-
leisure routes for walker and cyclists.
Beck Green Car Park
Leave Beck Green car park at the junction, following Lamb Lane-
arriving at the Main street and turning right at the side of the-
Coop.
Leave Beck Green car park at the junction, following Lamb Lane-
arriving at the Main street and turning right at the side of the-
Coop.
Main Street
This is a conservation area and displays-
all the charm of this old market town
This is a conservation area and displays-
all the charm of this old market town
Continue past the-
shops, pubs and cafes-
until you reach the-
Methodist Chapel
At the Methodist Chapel cross over the-
road to the Town Hall
Town Hall
The Town Hall , built with local-
sandstone in 1889, and a fine civic-
building with a landmark clock tower. It-
stands on the corner of Market Steet-
leading to the Market Hall
The Town Hall , built with local-
sandstone in 1889, and a fine civic-
building with a landmark clock tower. It-
stands on the corner of Market Steet-
leading to the Market Hall
The Market Hall
The Market Hall is a much used venue for-
leisure and entertainment, including-
during Crab Fair, the world gurning-
championships and for regular Farmers,-
Crafts and Fairtrade markets.
The Market Hall is a much used venue for-
leisure and entertainment, including-
during Crab Fair, the world gurning-
championships and for regular Farmers,-
Crafts and Fairtrade markets.
Turn left out of Market-
street and continue up the-
Main Street until you reach-
Wyndham Way.
Colin Telfer's Sculptures
At the approach to the new West Lakes-
Academy are two sculptures by local-
artist Colin Telfer. These commemorate-
the town's mining heritage.
At the approach to the new West Lakes-
Academy are two sculptures by local-
artist Colin Telfer. These commemorate-
the town's mining heritage.
Outside the Academy is the-
winding gear from a local-
mine.
Over the main road on the Main street is Lowes-
Court Gallery and tourist information centre.-
Origionally an 18C courtyard to the rear of-
the gallery, entered through the archway on-
the right.
Leaving the gallery turn-
left and continue past-
the shops until you reach-
Chapel street.
Chapel Street
Turn left here and continue down the street to a tarmac-
path at the side of the Fire station.
Turn left here and continue down the street to a tarmac-
path at the side of the Fire station.
The path leads behind a factory and-
towards the underpass.
Walk through the underpass and come out-
by the Donkyline
The bypass follows the line of the old-
Sellafield to Egremont railway built-
in 1864. The Donkeyline was the-
industrial tramway the brought iron-
ore down to the railway.
The junction is the starting point for-
several of the leisure routes. North-
leads to Longlands Lake Country Park,-
Clintz Quarry Nature Reserve and Bigrigg.-
The lane is also part of the Hadrian's-
Cyclway.
Turn right at the Donkeyline and continue-
to the signpost to make a left and head-
towards Black Bridge.
Where the path leaves the lane are
capped mine shafts.
Each shaft has a commemorative plaque.
The path leads to a steel and timber-
bridge over the River Ehen. This replaced-
the origional 1658 stone bridge.
From this point you can access the-
leisure routes to the east including a-
circular walk to Grange and Haile and a-
walk to Uldale, the fells and Ennerdale-
beyond.
The town walk does not cross the bridge.-
Turning right follow the path by the-
river towards the skate park and-
underpass by the river.
Beck Green is a quiet little backwater-
with a village atmosphere.
You have now arrived at Church street-
and a right turn here returns to Beck-
Green car park.
If you continue along Church street you pass-
the famous Hartley's ice cream shop and-
factory. Founded in the 1930s by Grayson-
Hartley who sold his ice cream from a-
motorbike and sidecar.
Further along the-
street is the-
Church of St Mary-
and St Michael-
built in 1883 in-
red sandstone and-
designed by T I-
Banks of Whitehaven-
in the 19C-
neo-gothic style.-
It stands on th-
site of an earlier-
chapel that dates-
back to 1100AD.-
Also of interest-
are the 18C-
gravestones in the-
churchyard.
Hatters Went Park
Opposite the end of Church street is-
Hatters Went Park and the start point of-
the leisure routes to the south.
Opened in 2008 the park refurbished an-
area origionally commissioned with-
assistance from Egremont Chamber of
trade to mark the Silver Jubilee of-
Queen Elizabeth 11.
Opposite the end of Church street is-
Hatters Went Park and the start point of-
the leisure routes to the south.
Opened in 2008 the park refurbished an-
area origionally commissioned with-
assistance from Egremont Chamber of
trade to mark the Silver Jubilee of-
Queen Elizabeth 11.
As the castle had no chapel within its-
walls worshippers walked along a path-
leading from the postern gate and down-
the escarpment and crossed Skirting Beck-
which runs beneath the culvert by the-
castle walls.
Over the years buildings were erected on-
both sides of this cobbled path and-
Borough Court records in 1812 refer to-
the area as Hatters Went Freehold, being-
occupied by John Cook, a hatter.
Old Bridge
Nearby this bridge, completed in 1882,-
replaced the old Burras or Borough bridge-
that crossed the Ehen further downstream,-
marked the parish boundry between-
Egremont and St John's, and gave the
name to the area known as Old Bridge,-
from where the old road led into town.
Nearby this bridge, completed in 1882,-
replaced the old Burras or Borough bridge-
that crossed the Ehen further downstream,-
marked the parish boundry between-
Egremont and St John's, and gave the
name to the area known as Old Bridge,-
from where the old road led into town.
The river was the main source of power-
for the town's industries and from the-
bridge at least five water wheels were in-
use within the vicinity.
Follow the path from Hatters went down-
towards the castle gate and past the De-
Lucy gardens.
The gardens are
home to Paul-
Bainbridge's
Braffin sculpture.
Roz Wates mosiac is also in the garden and seating-
area at the back of the De Lucy Centre.
The path emerges
onto the road called-
Bookwell and at the-
side of the castle's-
town gate through an-
arch to the left.
Egremont is the only Norman- French
place name in West Cumbria meaning
'sharp hill' probably refers to the
mount on which the castle stands.
In 1200 the castle passed to-
Richard de Lucy whose wife-
Lady Grunilda,
it is said, was killed by-
a wolf whilst out hunting-
and the legioned enshrined-
in the poem 'The woefull-
chase'.
The castle had quite a peacful time-
whilst occupied for over 300 years-
although it repelled Scottish raiders in-
1138, 1315 and 1322
The grounds are a-
public park and a-
venue for cultural-
events.
The castle has views over the town-
and surrounding countryside.
The castle is illuminated in the evenings
Surrounded by gardens-
and flowerbeds.
In the castle grounds-
a new sensory garden-
was opened in 2008.
This has been planted-
with many aromatic-
species.
The scent of these plants fills the air-
with a wonderful aroma.
Nearby are the old-
sundial.......
....... and the cross
Soon the castle grounds will be home to a-
demountable pavilion structure.
When complete the pavilion will be a fantastic venue for-
events and productions and protect the audience from-
inclement weather.
The Friends of the Castle group and
Copeland parks department keep
the castle site immaculate,-
successfully getting the Green Flag and-
Green Heritage awards
on several occasions.
Leave the castle-
grounds by the top-
gate you will see to-
the left a horse-
trough and monument
at the junction of-
Bookwell and Green-
Dykes Road.
Turning right-
outside the castle and-
walking down the hill-
brings you back past-
the De Lucy centre-
garden and over
the road to the-
market place.
There is a weekly market on Fridays.
The Market Place is-
also the site of the-
Town's war memorial-
and its famous greasy-
pole.
The pole forms part of the Crab fair-
tradition and was greased for-
contestants to try to climb to the top-
to retrieve a prize of a leg of mutton-
and later a top hat.
Now the pole
is a-
perminent
artwork by-
Alan
Kane and-
Jeremy
Deller,-
winner of the
Turner Prize-
in 2004.
From Market Place
continue up the street,
crossing the road
before turning right
into Lamb Lane then
next right to return to
the Beck Green car park.-