PENRITH, Cumberland, a market-town and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of Penrith, is situated in a fertile vale at the south extremity of Inglewood Forest, in 54° 40' N. lat., 2° 45' W. long., distant 17 miles S. by E. from Carlisle, 283 miles N.N.W. from London by road, and 282 miles by the North-Western•and Lancaster and Car lisle railways. The town is under the management of a Local Board of Health. The population of the town of Penrith in 1851 was 6668. The living is a vicarage, with the curacy of Trinity annexed, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Carlisle. Penrith Poor-Law Union con tains 39 parishes and townships, with au area of 181,236 acres, and a population iu 1851 of 22,307.
Penrith is an ancient town, situated at the foot of a hill, and contains many well-built houses. The town is lighted with gas. Tho parish church is a spacious Grecian building, after the model of St. Andrew's, Holborn, London; it was rebuilt, except the tower, in 1720. In the churchyard is an ancient monument consisting of two pyramidal stones about 12 feet high. A new church in the style of the 13th century,
consecrated in 1850, and chapels for Wesleyan Methodists, Independ ents, United Presbyterians, Quakers, and Roman Catholics are in the town. The Free Grammar school, founded in 1564 by Queen Elizabeth, had 21 scholars in 1852, of whom two were free scholars. There are also In Penrith, Free, National, British, Industrial, and Infant schools; a school supported by the Wesleyan Methodists; a mechanics institute and reading-room, and a savings bank. Tuesday is the market-day. Several cattle fairs are held in the course of the year. There is hero a house of correction. A county court is held in the town. In olden times Penrith was several times pillaged, and twice burned by the Scots. The Beacon, which stands on a high mount about a mile from the town, commands a view of the country for more than 100 miles In circumference.