Inside

This weekend is Heritage Open Weekend when lots of places all over the country open their doors to celebrate and share local  treasures. This year Appleby has really gone to town, with eight places opening their doors, a leaflet and map produced and there is even a minibus to take people from one place to another. 

We spent a couple of hours this morning visiting some places (in between shopping) and interesting they were too - a few historic houses, Appleby Grammar School Library, where we were shown round and were told the history of the school and the exploits of some of its former pupils, including the ones with a link to George Washington. 

But most interesting of all was the chance to go inside the Moot Hall and see the Council Chambers and some of the treasures they have there. (The first Extra is the outside of the Hall, which many people will have walked/ driven past as they pass through Appleby). Today we could climb the steps at the front and go through into the Council Chamber. My photo shows the wonderful Mayoral Chair, made in Appleby from wood from the old bridge. It is beautifully carved, a fine piece. The desks came from the old school. The walls are covered with pictures of past mayors, the earliest being John Robinson 1760-1, although the earliest recorded mayor was in 1264. We were given lots of fascinating information by an ex-Lord Mayor. For example, on display were some of the old measures that were used to ensure fair trading in the market. We learnt about quarts and bushels and pecks (see second extra). The gallon measure and the huge bushel measure were made from bell metal - they were extremely heavy. 

The Moot Hall was built in 1596 and, probably uniquely, the council chamber is still used for its original purpose.