History

Nathan Arnison (1795-1896) was a farmer’s son, born at Harescough, Renwick and in 1823 he settled in Penrith as a linen and woolen draper. Two of his sons, George & Thomas, joined him in the firm N. Arnison & Sons in Penrith, another son set up Arnison & Co drapers in Sheffield and two other sons William Burra and Charles Nathan practiced at Arnison & Co Solicitors in Penrith.

His obituary of 1896 recalls that in addition to practicing as a solicitor he held various other offices:

• Superintendent Registrar of births, deaths and marriages
• Clerk to the West Ward Magistrates at Hackthorpe and Shap
• Clerk to the Guardians of the Penrith Union
• A volunteer in the Inglewood Rifles as Major
• Agent to Lord Brougham and Vaux
• Correspondent to the Managers of the Girls National School
• Chairman of the Burial Board and local Board of Health
• Advisor to the Penrith Baths and Wash Houses Joint Stock Company
• President of the Literacy and Scientific Society

His obituary of 1911 recalls that in addition to practicing as a solicitor he held various other offices:

• Superintendent Registrar of births, deaths and marriages
• Clerk to the West Ward Magistrates at Hackthorpe and Shap
• Member of the Penrith Board of Guardians
• Member of the Penrith Rural Sanitary Authority
• Clerk to the Highway Board
• Clerk to Penrith, Plumpton, Clifton and Cliburn
• School Boards prior to the schools being handed over to the County Education Committee
• Agent to Lord Brougham and Vaux
• Land Tax Commissions for Leath Ward

His obituary of 1947 recalls that in addition to practicing as a solicitor he held various other offices:

• Clerk to the West Ward Magistrates at Hackthorpe and Shap
• Agent to Lord Brougham and Estate
• Chamber of Trade Secretary
• Penrith Cottage Hospital Secretary
• Army – Captain in the local volunteer Corps 1914-1918
• Special Constable – Inspector

His obituary in 1989 recalled that in addition to practicing as a solicitor he held the following offices:

• Governor and Clerk to the Governors of Sedbergh School
• Trustee of Sedberghian Trust Fund
• Supporter of Ullswater Foxhounds and Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.

His obituary in 1992 recalled that in addition to practicing as a solicitor he held the following offices:

• Clerk to the West Ward Magistrates at Hackthorpe and Shap
• President of the Fell & Rock Club 1960/61
• Captain of Rugby XV in 1927/28
• President of Lake District Ski Club 1963/64
• At the age of 70 he was the oldest man to climb Mount Kenya
• Chairman of Penrith Anglers Association

Some of the many offices Charles held:

• Clerk to the West Ward Magistrates at Shap
• Territorial Army – Major
• Founder Chairman of the friends of the Kings Own Royal Border Regiment Museum
• President of the Penrith Chamber of Trade
• President of the Carlisle and District Law Society
• Special Constable with Cumbria Constabulary
• Chairman of the Penrith Conservative Club

We are proud of our beautiful Georgian offices. Although the building has been around since 1750, our records begin in 1852. During its lifetime, the building has been occupied by a wealthy family of leather workers, the Hindsons, and then a highly respected surgeon, Thomas Law. After this it was divided into three and became a boarding house. In 1884 it was sold to Mr Charles Arnison.

The house had a large garden which was well stocked with fruit trees. The land was sold in 1892 and the St Andrew’s Parish rooms were built on the site in 1894. Electricity was installed in 1958 but the gaslights were not removed until the 1960s “just in case the electricity failed”.