Cousin Charley's May Festival - Market Place - Cockermouth, Cumbria - Mosaics on Waymarking.com

Mosaic on the pavement of Market Place, Cockermouth, celebrating 'Cousin Charley's May Festival' of 1898. The main piece consists of light and dark granite depicting a hot air balloon. Also inset dark granite lettering, which reads -
COUSIN CHARLEY'S
MAY FESTIVAL
THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1898
GRAND PROCESSION AT NOON

"James Ratcliffe Bleasdale (Cousin Charley) died on the 7th of June 1922. He was the editor of the West Cumberland Times and was responsible for organising Cousin Charley's Children's Carnival and May Festival on Thursday, May 5, 1898.

It was a red letter day in the social calendar for many West Cumbrians, not to mention those who travelled in to take part in the proceedings. Good news for the railway company which laid on special excursions for the occasion. From Ravenglass, Penrith, Carlisle, Workington, Whitehaven and all points between people came. Passengers could leave Workington at either 9.30am or 9.35am, depending on which of the two stations they chose to use. Last train from Cockermouth was at 9.30pm. The cost of a third class same day return was one shilling from Workington station, but only nine pence from Workington Bridge Station a difference of Twenty five per cent. So which station did canny Workingtonians turn up at? No prizes for answering that one.

The frail and the nervous were advised to use the low station to avoid the crush. But for a 25 per cent price difference most will have headed for the Bridge Station.

The carnival was a major event. It boasted a long list of prestigious patrons and patronesses. It was a list of the great and the good of the time. The Countess of Lonsdale; Mrs Senhouse, Netherhall; Mrs Hartley, Armathwaite Hall; William Fletcher, Brigham Hill; W Ainsworth, The Flosh; J G Dees, Floraville, Whitehaven and a host of others.

The grand procession started just after noon, consisting of “cousins” dressed in striking costumes. The main features of the parade were: The May Queen, with her followers; The Morris Dancers, which featured a group of 50 juvenile jumpers; The Cuban War, which depicted the Americans storming a fort in Cuba; Robinson Crusoe and Family; Britannia, Queen of the Ocean, and Andre and his balloon - plus several brass bands. Once the parade had reached the Sandair, the May Queen was crowned, followed by Morris Dancing and a musical extravaganza.

It was a great day for escaping from the grim realities of the outside world. The economy was going through a sticky patch. The Americans were at war with the Spanish. It was doom and gloom in the Far East. There was trouble in Ireland. No wonder the local populace was ready to let its hair down.

The following poem was printed in the paper entitled “Cousin Charley’s Day”.

“But now from dear old Cockermouth we must at length depart,
True joy and satisfaction fill each tender little heart,
And as on pillows soft and white our weary heads we lay,
We see again in dreams the sights of Cousin Charley's Day."

SOURCE - (visit link) (p 27)

Address: near # 17 Market Pl. Cockermouth , Cumbria England CA13 9NH Specific visit requirements: Not listed Related web site: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
To visit a waymark listed in this category, please add to your log a picture taken by you. To complete this basic visit requirement, each owner is free to propose particular visit requirements (see optional variable) if you can't provide a picture.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.