Looking back at Fisher Street in Carlisle through the years

Some of the more famed buildings include the Fisher Street Presbyterian Chapel. The Quaker meeting house, which was at first in Abbey Close from 1653 to c.1660; re-established in the city in 1693 but a new meeting house on Fisher Street, was built 1702 and replaced by one on another site in Fisher Street in 1776.

This, in turn, replaced by the present meeting house on the former burial ground at end of Fisher Street in 1963. English Presbyterian chapel, or formerly known as ‘old Scotch’ Presbyterian chapel was built on Fisher Street in the 1730s. This was when the congregation removed their former chapel near west wall and rebuilt in 1894. It was later demolished in 1986. 

The First Methodist chapel was built in Fisher Street in 1786 and replaced by the new chapel on the site of present Methodist Central Hall, Fisher Street, 1817.

The Mechanics’ Institute was established 1824 in Castle Street; and subsequently housed in the Athenaeum, Lowther Street which was built 1840, also containing large lecture hall, exhibition hall and museum. However, the institute moved to Fisher Street in 1850.

Some businesses which are included in the collection include Wesley Owen book shop on Fisher Street, which closed after 35 years in business in 2010. The ladies in this picture are Sara Turnbull, Anne Fisher, Sue Mason and manager Jenny Beattie who had been at the shop since it opened.

Other pictures include Brickyard music venue on Fisher Street, the venue opened in December 2002.