Hi again, In case you've never heard of it, there is a great site on Carlisle's history at
www.cumberlandscarrow.com. There is a page of maps. There are two maps, the second is in 1790. If you look at the bottom right-hand corner you will see the very top of Botchergate and if you magnify the page using 'tools' there is a place behind that could be Water Gate Lane, but it seems to be spelt with 'y's in it, so possibly Water Gayt Layne(?). Have a look and see what you think. There are a few other excellent page of Carlisle's pubs and other history.
If you have 'google earth' you can have a look at Water Street now. There is a roundabout at one end and at the other you will see that it curves and follows the wall built for the railway station. If you then compare that with the map, you will see that the possible site for Water Gate Lane is directly on top of the railway station now.
There is a book called 'Carlisle in Camera', I can'tsee an ISBN number on it, but maybe you could get a copy from your library(?), on page 33 there is a photograph of Mill Street after the Viaduct was built. (Incidently, if you do go on google maps - follow Water Street along the railway station wall and go as far as you can to the end and this was the site of Mill Street. You will see a building with a light coloured 'loop' on the side, this is the city bath's and the loop is the water chute!).
The lanes area of Carlisle at that time was extensive. It stretched from Devonshire Street all the way down into Rickergate, (just outside the city wall's), and on the other side fron behind the town hall, again into Rickergate. There were 8 - 10 thousand people living in the lanes, some with one open end and some with two. There may have been one or maybe two 'privvies', (toilet's) per lane, with up to 200 user's of them. There was of course no water closet's then, they had cesspit's which were emptied by farmer's every so often. That along with the Stable's, piggeries and cow shed's made for very unsanitary conditions, leading to outbreaks of Typhoid and Dysentry a few times.
Again there is a book with photographs of the lanes, it is 'Images of England, Carlisle, from the Kendal collection', ISBN 0-7524-2486-6, the pictures are on page 75. Would you believe these houses were still occupied in 1964!?! One of the pictures is of inspectors visiting, to try to get the residents to agree to the compulsary purchase order! (Note the tin bath outside the door!!). Anyway it's now late so I'll stop now. (Once I get started....), See you later, Morskaj.
