IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
South Street, CARLISLE, CA1 2EW

The cobbled street is typical of the side streets in this part of Carlisle, though the housing here is from a much more modern date than the road surface. This view is from close to the junction with Botchergate. The blue building on the far right is also pictured here: Image] .

This old street, built over 150 years ago, now looks very run down. Update: These buildings were demolished by 2021.

This pub at the south end of Botchergate opened in 1935 as the Earl Grey, to replace an older establishment of the same name. Since then it has had several identities, and is now closed and up for sale. The architect was Harry Redfern, who designed many pubs for the Carlisle State Management Scheme. Near the pavement at the side of the building, on Rydal street, are the painted letters "EWS". This dates from World War ll, and stands for "Emergency Water Supply", to be used by firefighters if the main supply was damaged. http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~rwbarnes/cd/ews.htm

This building fails to blend in among mostly much older buildings in Botchergate, Carlisle. It is at the junction of Rydal Street. It is currently in use as the Carlisle Taekwon-do School.

The original Earl Grey pub was built circa 1837 (the first reference to a pub on this site) and was acquired by the State Management Scheme in August 1916. It was pulled-down circa 1934 and replaced by this most striking Art Deco building, designed by the prolific Harry Redfern and built by J & R Bell. The new pub opened on 9 July 1935 and was still trading in 2004, but is now used by a martial arts club. A view of this building taken after closure of the pub, may be seen: Image] . Photograph is for record only - I have no connection with any organisation seen in this view and cannot advise on their products or services.

Another view of this striking Art Deco building. For the history of the former pub, see: Image'>Image .

Woods Newsagents, on the corner with South Street, used to contain a popular sub-post office. This closed in 2004, after the Post Office decided to prune its branches nationwide. On the wall of the shop can be seen Image

The plaque is on the wall outside Woods Newsagents Image The first British pillar boxes were trialled in the Channel Islands in 1852. Their success led to the introduction of boxes throughout the mainland, the first of which was erected here in Botchergate in 1853. To commemorate this event, a replica Victorian pillar box was set up in the town centre in 1989 Image For more information on the history of British post boxes see https://www.postalmuseum.org/discover/explore-online/postal-history/letter-boxes/# (and archived information sheet https://web.archive.org/web/20080725032212/http://www.postalheritage.org.uk/history/downloads/BPMA_Info_Sheet_Pillar_Boxes_web.pdf ).