Origins

by Joseph Jackson.

Penrith, its modern name is a corruption from either Penrhyd, meaning headland by the ford probably referring to the river crossing below its slopes at Brougham or Penrhudd, meaning “Red headland” referring to the bright red sandstone of its geological makeup. The latter interpretation is often seen as the correct one and pronunciation does support this it is simply impossible to say. Rather than meaning “hill” Pen means a headland and, in this case, refers to the position of the hill at the head of the sandstone Triassic ridge. There is no archaeological evidence of any major pre or post-Roman settlement in the area now covered by the town of Penrith, the hill probably had a few small farmsteads on it but the area of what is now the town centre was mostly marsh fed by several small streams. Just to the north of the modern town in the area now called Thacka is a flat basin which during the 9th century was a shallow tarn which over the centuries has silted up but would have once offered fishing resources. Penrith is comprised of distinct areas the earliest archaeological evidence for settlement in Penrith is its monastic centre dating to the 9th century. There are several names within Penrith of Norse origin; Scaws, Thacka (originally Thackhay yat) Sandgate and Middlegate, Wetherriggs and Pategill (Patghyll in Cumbric). Scaws is potentially an early settlement site, it sits on a small plateau on the slope of Penrith. Scaws is a corruption and the Norse word Skali meaning “main hall”. It would be logical for a Norse settlement to be placed there it was next to the Roman road and the slope of the hill gave the site good drainage.

Penrith was originally a collection of small Norse/ British settlements and farmsteads surrounding the wet and marshy low ground around Dog Beck and Strickland Beck with the monastic site taking up the low but raised ground around St Andrews and Friar Gate.

Penrith is notable for the number of street names ending in “gate” this is the Norse word for Street or road. Thacka in the past known as Thackhay Gate comes from the Norse word Virki Hay (meaning make hay) and probably refers to the old hay meadows that once existed there.

Penrith’s origins as a town are entirely Norse this was also proven when DNA test revealed that the town has the largest proportion of Norse descendance in England while York has the largest proportion of Danish descendance. The evidence of this can also be seen in the old local dialect which is largely based on old Norse.

The Norse had originally entered Cumbria as raiders under the leader of the Great Viking Army, Ivar the Boneless and his brother Hafdan. It was Hafdan who allegedly attacked the monastery at Dacre causing the monks to move east and establish a new monastery at Penrith in the mid to later 9th century. Surviving pieces of stone work such as the stone cross which now sits near the entrance to St Andrews Church support this date. Ivar went on to establish some of Cumberland and all of Westmorland into part of his kingdom which included the east of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Cumbria and the Outer Hebrides. There is name place evidence to remember Ivar, such as Ivegill or Ivars stream.

At some unknown date the town took on the name of its hill “Penrith” and the hill locally became known as Beacon Hill. Penrith has a unique history in Britain, not only does it have strong Norse roots but its area played a major role in the creation of England. Brougham and Maybrough Henge are the nations birthplace, the river Eamont was the border between England and the kingdom of Strathclyde then from 1018 to 1091 the border between England and Scotland. Penrith became the first town travellers came to in Scotland yet besides this its people and culture remained strongly Norse.

Penrith today make little of its amazing early history and roots and perhaps it should celebrate them more.

If you have an interest in the Viking Period there is a new Viking re-enactment group called the Black Wolves who are a national group and now have a branch in Cumbria. If you are interested in joining or for more details then contact me at josephjackson1969@yahoo.co.uk

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