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St. Helens Street, COCKERMOUTH, CA13 9JG

Ordnance Survey documents indicate that a benchmark levelled at 53.670m above Newlyn Datum was verified in 1957 'at the junction of houses numbers 76 and 78 St Helens Street' which were houses previously at this location

This was the old main road into the town from the east, until it was bypassed some time before 1900. Colour-washed houses and a few pubs.

Also a venue for other clubs and activities.

HQ of the Cockermouth Detachment, Cumbria Army Cadet Force. It is next door to Cockermouth Leisure Centre.

The drill hall was built in 1886 for the Cockermouth Company of the Rifle Volunteers (a part-time defence force). Alongside its military role, the hall was also intended to be used by local people for gymnastics and athletics. An entertaining article in the Times & Star (14.09.2012 : http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/features/how-michael/who-wants-to-be-a-gymnast-not-the-cockermouth-menfolk-of-1889-1.995620?referrerPath=blogs# ) describes meetings of the Cockermouth Gymnastic Club held here around the turn of the 19th century. The hall and some land were bought by the Territorial Army Association in 1923, who sold it to Cockermouth Urban District Council in 1968 (historical information was found on the Papcastle website http://www.papcastle.org.uk/Papcastle%20History/Chapter%2014%20Charities.html ). See this photo Image for more information about the Volunteers.

The stone is on the front of the building shown here Image . It appears to have been altered at some stage. The drill hall was built in 1886, for the training of local part-time soldiers. The name for this body of men changed several times over the years - information can be found in Ray Westlake's book 'Tracing the Rifle Volunteers' http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tracing-Rifle-Volunteers-Military-Historian/dp/1848842112/ref=la_B001KDJXR2_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414785362&sr=1-6 . The 8th Corps of the Cumberland Rifle Volunteers was formed at Cockermouth in 1860. In 1880 it became 'L' Company of the 1st Cumberland RVC, renamed again in 1887 as 1st (Cumberland) Volunteer Battalion Border Regiment. Nationwide reorganisation of army reserves in 1908 saw the Volunteers and Yeomanry incorporated into a new 'Territorial Force'. The Cumberland Volunteers were redesignated as companies of the 4th Battalion Border Regiment. We would guess that the above inscription dates from around that time.

The centre has a swimming pool, sports hall, gym, studios and climbing wall (website https://www.cultureleisurelife.com/workington/Cockermouth ).

An old road that led into Cockermouth from Windmill Lane. It is now surrounded by large established housing estates, and comes out on Kirkfell Avenue after a gentle rise uphill. It is a dog walkers route into town and is no longer fit for motorised transport.