Dispensary

The former Dispensary, now unoccupied, was built in 1857 by John Hodgson of Carlisle. It is constructed from calciferous sandstone ashlar on a squared plinth and features a modillioned eaves cornice. The slate roof, which is not visible from the ground, has coped gables and original ridge brick chimney stacks with moulded stone caps. The building is two storeys high and consists of four bays. It has a left panelled door with an overlight set within a pedimented pilastered doorcase. The ground floor includes sash windows in stone architraves, which are topped with pediments. A central inscribed stone plaque at eye level notes the founding of the dispensary in 1782 and the renovation of this building in 1934. The Carlisle Journal from March 26, 1858, mentions the opening of this building, and the plans dated 1857 can be found in the Cumbria County Record Office. For further historical context, see WP Honeyman's work from 1982. Illustrations of the building can be found in the Journal of the North West Civic Trust from Spring 1985.