Market Place 38 42 is now Percy House; here is Busy Fingers crafts and Solway Surplus Stores and Annie Scott ladies shop on the left. On right is lane to the Spread Eagle Inn. c 1950
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Market Place 38 42 is now Percy House; here is Busy Fingers crafts and Solway Surplus Stores and Annie Scott ladies shop on the left. On right is lane to the Spread Eagle Inn. c 1950
Market Place 38 42 Busy Fingers Wools before Percy House Gallery next to alley next to 34 Melias now Kitchen Co c 1950
Market Place 38 42 Castle Crafts before Percy House with lane on right leading to brewery after the lane passes through the Spread Eagle Inn c 1960
Market Place 38 42 Castle Crafts now Percy House Gallery with lane on right leading to brewery after the lane passes through the Spread Eagle Inn c 1950
Market Place 38 42 Percy House renovated roof 1970s. 44 Lakeland Electronics service and repairs. c 1970
Market Place 38 42 Percy House upstairs c 1970
Market Place 4 Gordon Dickson petrol station National Benzol who also hired cycles and ran taxis. Note that in these early days 1960s, petrol was supplied as part of a shop’s services, before today when the dedicated petrol station also has a shop outlet – reversal! Because the petrol pump was recessed in the shop front, with a pedestrian pavement between the petrol supply and the vehicle, the solution to fill the vehicle was either a long hose or a swing arm that swung over the pavement to the vehicle tank. However this was sometimes not long enough and there is a picture of a wagon that has driven its front onto the pavement so presumably its fuel tank was within reach. This is not to be confused with the lorry with the brake failure coming down Castlegate that ran into Ellwood’s filling station (now empty and next to Jacy’s)
Market Place 4 as Gordon Dickson National Benzole, Market Place 16 was John Dickson Esso filling stations.
Ellwoods petrol station was also in Market Place, the one with the arm that came out. Three petrol stations in Market Place. This number 4 is now Castle Antiques & Curios, number 16 is now Bamboo restaurant.
Is the post box still on the wall and used today? c 1960
Market Place 4 petrol station National Benzole with swing arm pump. Lady drummers. Please inform us if you know more. c 1960
Market Place 8 Billy Bowman music shop now in Lowther Went. 6 John Peel garage, 4 is Gordon Diclson National Benzole petrol station that was recessed in the building with a swing arm pump. c 1970
Market Place 4 Gordon Dickson petrol station John Peel Garage sold National Benzol petrol and also hired cycles and ran taxis. In these early days of 1960s, petrol was supplied as part of a shop’s services with residential building above and to the sides. Today the dedicated petrol station may also have a shop outlet but is usually a safe distance from dwellings
Because the petrol pump was recessed in the shop front, with a pedestrian pavement between the petrol supply and the vehicle, the solution to fill the vehicle was either a long hose or a swing arm that swung over the pavement to the vehicle tank. However this was sometimes not long enough and there is a picture of a wagon that has driven its front onto the pavement so presumably its fuel tank was within reach. This is not to be confused with the lorry with the brake failure coming down Castlegate that ran into Ellwood’s filling station (now empty and next to Jacy’s)
Ellwoods petrol station was Market Place 35, the one with the arm that came out, next to Jacy’s. So, three petrol stations in Market Place; Ellwood number 35; Gordon Dickson number 4 (now Castle Antiques); number 16 John Dickson (now Bamboo). Is the post box still on the wall and used today? c 1960
Market Place 4 Gordon Dickson petrol station John Peel Garage sold National Benzol petrol and also hired cycles and ran taxis. In these early days of 1960s, petrol was supplied as part of a shop’s services with residential building above and to the sides. Today the dedicated petrol station may also have a shop outlet but is usually a safe distance from dwellings
Because the petrol pump was recessed in the shop front, with a pedestrian pavement between the petrol supply and the vehicle, the solution to fill the vehicle was either a long hose or a swing arm that swung over the pavement to the vehicle tank. However this was sometimes not long enough and there is a picture of a wagon that has driven its front onto the pavement so presumably its fuel tank was within reach. This is not to be confused with the lorry with the brake failure coming down Castlegate that ran into Ellwood’s filling station (now empty and next to Jacy’s)
Ellwoods petrol station was Market Place 35, the one with the arm that came out, next to Jacy’s. So, three petrol stations in Market Place; Ellwood number 35; Gordon Dickson number 4 (now Castle Antiques); number 16 John Dickson (now Bamboo). Is the post box still on the wall and used today? c 1960
Market Place 4 looking west note National Benzole swing arm pump of the filling station in the shop front. John Peel garage taxi on right
Market Place 43 Cocker bridge Rydiards 1968
Market Place 44 by Cocker Bridge was audio visual now ELM Hair. The building on the left was double fronted until the Cocker flooded in August 1938 and destroyed the left part of the building. c 1970
Market Place 6 Billy Bowman Music Shop 4 John Peel Garage with petrol pump. Billy Bowman music shop moved to Lowther Went and this building became House of Beauty. Note the petrol pump inset into the wall in John Peel Garage which later became 6 Market Place Laundry Room. Next to it 4 Market Place is now Castle Antiques
Market Place 6 Smallwood furniture carpets next to the swing arm pump of Gordon Dickson National Benzole petrol c 1960
In the days when people came to Market by foot, cart, horse and cart, it took a long time to travel from the outlying villages with their produce to the Market Place for sale. It would have been unfair to the outlying villages to have sales starting earlier in the morning because Cockermouth residents could put their items for sale before the villagers arrived. So to make the selling fair, no sales or purchases could take place before 11am and the bell was rung to mark this legal starting time for selling and buying.
The Market Bell The Butter Bell or His Grace’s Bell. This was rung to open the market and was last officially used in 1910. It had been stolen in June 1977 when scaffolding had been erected but then returned. 1879 regulation stated: “It is put in pain that no butter shall be sold or carried out of ye markett before ye hour of 11 o clock and at that time ye skavander shall give notice by the bell belonging to His Grace and in default 6 shillings and 8 pence” Bradbury p88 Illuminated photo c 1960
In the days when people came to Market by foot, cart, horse and cart, it took a long time to travel from the outlying villages with their produce to the Market Place for sale. It would have been unfair to the outlying villages to have sales starting earlier in the morning because Cockermouth residents could put their items for sale before the villagers arrived. So to make the selling fair, no sales or purchases could take place before 11am and the bell was rung to mark this legal starting time for selling and buying.
The bell is being rung by Harry Knight who was an active Cockermouth person who kept this tradition going even after trading hours became more flexible.
The Market Bell The Butter Bell or His Grace’s Bell. This was rung to open the market and was last officially used in 1910. It had been stolen in June 1977 when scaffolding had been erected but then returned. 1879 regulation stated: “It is put in pain that no butter shall be sold or carried out of ye markett before ye hour of 11 o clock and at that time ye skavander shall give notice by the bell belonging to His Grace and in default 6 shillings and 8 pence” Bradbury p88 c 1960
In the days when people came to Market by foot, cart, horse and cart, it took a long time to travel from the outlying villages with their produce to the Market Place for sale. It would have been unfair to the outlying villages to have sales starting earlier in the morning because Cockermouth residents could put their items for sale before the villagers arrived. So to make the selling fair, no sales or purchases could take place before 11am and the bell was rung to mark this legal starting time for selling and buying.
The bell is being rung by Harry Knight who was an active Cockermouth person who kept this tradition going even after trading hours became more flexible.
Market Bell rung by Town Crier in costume. The Market Bell The Butter Bell or His Grace’s Bell. This was rung to open the market and was last officially used in 1910. It had been stolen in June 1977 when scaffolding had been erected but then returned. 1879 regulation stated: “It is put in pain that no butter shall be sold or carried out of ye markett before ye hour of 11 o clock and at that time ye skavander shall give notice by the bell belonging to His Grace and in default 6 shillings and 8 pence” Bradbury p88 c 1960
Market Place 7 Joy Kwan Chinese takeaway currently Little Basil Chinese takeaway. c 1960
Market Place market bell being rung by Harry Knight. The Market Bell The Butter Bell or His Grace’s Bell. This was rung to open the market and was last officially used in 1910. It had been stolen in June 1977 when scaffolding had been erected but then returned. 1879 regulation stated: “It is put in pain that no butter shall be sold or carried out of ye markett before ye hour of 11 o clock and at that time ye skavander shall give notice by the bell belonging to His Grace and in default 6 shillings and 8 pence” Bradbury p88 c 1950
Market Place Castlegate to Main Street traffic jam before bypass c 1960
Market Place Castlegate to Main Street traffic jam before bypass c 1960
Market Place J B Banks shop museum part of collection of signs. Although this photo is from about 1980s, the collection of items has grown continuously and is the best folk museum collection of any historic town, please visit and give a voluntary donation to encourage the continuation of this fine local museum.
