Flood 1938 - Waterloo Bridge demolished, not replaced until 1963

Waterloo bridge over Cocker in flood 1938 It was a road bridge until 1938 and had a central support and lorries and Cumberland Motor Service buses drove over it, turned right into the garage next to the brewery buildings that are opposite the multi storey malting building. The garage was between the windmill (now demolished) and the brewery building.. After half of the bridge was washed away in this flood, it was not replaced as a footbridge until 1963, though other photos show tree trunk has been precariously balanced on the gap so risks may have been taken to cross at that point. On the far bank, the brewery side, the left building and the one beside it will later be demolished and this area is the confluence of the Derwent behind the building, and the Cocker here in flood, so the area is now a peaceful area called Riversmeet with seating and stone blocks with contemplative inscribed text. 1938

Floods Menu

Flood 1938 Fishing in Main Street Video

1938 Flood Cockermouth Film

Cockermouth, at the confluence of the rivers Cocker and Derwent, was heavily flooded in 1938. This cine film was taken in 1938 by my Grandfather Frank Haigh. After the flood section of the film ends keep watching because the film then shows that later in 1938 heavy snowfall cut off access to Cockermouth for a few days.

Thanks to John Dalzell who posted this on YouTube 26 Feb 2021  COCKERMOUTH FLOODS 1938 Movie 1 

https://youtu.be/a01umvleSoE?si=pwZDjxQtrz0slVse  

1938 July 29th Cocker destroys Waterloo (Barrel) bridge 3ft in Main Street

Very heavy rainfall occurred in the upper part of the catchment with a daily total of 6 to 7 inches as Borrowdale, 4 to 5 inches at Newlands and Braithwaite. As a summer flood, the inundation of agricultural land had a much more damaging effect than the more common winter floods. Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite were joined together but Keswick itself was free of floods. Thirlmere was so low that it was capable of taking all the flood water and did not overflow. Footbridges at Scafell Hotel and at Styhead were washed away and at Mountain View the water almost reached the houses. Traffic to Cockermouth was diverted to the Castle Inn side of Bassenthwaite to avoid deep flooding at Braithwaite and Portinscale.

In Cockermouth on this occasion the River Cocker alone was responsible for the flooding of the Main Street, although the Derwent later overflowed into the lower part of the town. The Main Street was flooded to a depth of 3 feet and Carlisle Journal reported it to be the worst flood there since 1918. The Cocker rose very rapidly. When shops were first opened there was no sign of a flood but early customers had to leave by the back to avoid the rising water.

The water rose over the Quaker Bridge connecting Lower South Street and Cocker Lane; it was pounded by tree trunks and it cracked in the centre and most of the steel railings and stone masonry were swept away.

The Waterloo Bridge aka Barrel Bridge between High Sand Lane/Waterloo Street and Brewery Lane on 29th July 1938 collapsed at 1330hrs and was not replaced until after WW2 had ended. That bridge was named because barrels were rolled over it from the manufacturing sites in Waterloo Street to the brewery, but the bridge was wide enough for motor traffic and had a central support and had paving stones for the wheels. Cumberland Motor Services buses and brewery wagons used the bridge until its collapse in 1938.

A large part of the town suffered losses and many houses and shops were damaged. Challoner Street was converted into a roaring torrent, three feet deep. On a lane off Market Street water was lapping the tops of ground floor doors. Horseman Street suffered from the backing up of drains. The proprietor of Huddart’s shop on the Keswick side of the Cocker Bridge had to leave for safety; he said that in 1918 the flood did not reach the top stair of the cellar whilst on this occasion it was 2 feet over it. The shop was later demolished and the business moved next door and is still there. A South Street resident of 50 years who had 4 feet of water in her living room said it was the highest experienced, the previous highest being in Oct 1918. A 15 lb pike was caught in the Main Street.

Observed from Derwent Mill Bridge the Cocker was riding 6 feet higher than the Derwent, pounding against the remains of Barrel Bridge. During the night the Derwent rose to flood properties, but in the meantime the Cocker had subsided. It was said that additional square arches added to the Goat Bridge kept most of the Goat free of floodwater and only houses at the lower end were affected.

After the flood hundreds of tons of gravel were found deposited near the junction of the Derwent and Cocker 100 yards below the wrecked Barrel Bridge. The Carlisle Journal published a page of flood photographs eg: Challoner Street transformed into a roaring torrent; Policeman assisting stranded shoppers; River Cocker overtopping the Barrel Bridge; Pedestrians viewing the flood from the corner of Station Street and Main Street; The broken Jubilee footbridge at the foot of Cocker Brow; The extreme turbulence of the Cocker flowing into the Derwent below Barrel Bridge; South Street leading to Challoner Street; Surging and turbulent flow over the remains of Barrel Bridge.

Workington escaped with little damage, although at the Workington Bridge Station, trains had to travel through water three feet deep which partly covered the platforms. The Grasslot area of Maryport was again flooded and even more seriously than in 1932.

The Rotarians of Cockermouth opened a Flood Relief Fund and many houses were supplied with coal.

Photos of Waterloo bridge over Cocker in flood 1938

Waterloo bridge over Cocker in flood 1938 It was a road bridge until 1938 and had a central support and brewery lorries and Cumberland Motor Service buses drove over it to the brewery buildings and garage opposite the multi storey malting building. After half of the bridge was washed away in this flood. A photos taken after the flood shows a tree trunk precariously balanced on the gap between Waterloo Street and the remaining central support, though this likely was to support a utility cable or pipe and not for walking on! In 1963 a footbridge replaced the destroyed road bridge, though the day of the official opening had to be delayed because another flood dislodged the new bridge and it had to be raised higher and was eventually opened by the Head Boy of Cockermouth Grammar School.

Record of Floods in Cockermouth – Cockermouth History

Click a pic for slideshow (Esc returns to this screen)

1938 Waterloo Bridge Cocker flood Brewery Bridge from High Sand Lane now Riversmeet area p2
Waterloo Bridge Cocker flood Brewery Bridge about to be washed away taken from High Sand Lane the two buildings were demolished the one on the left is now Riversmeet area. 1938
1938 Waterloo Bridge Brewery Lane Cocker flood bridge demolished tree bridge people 1938 p2
Waterloo bridge over Cocker in flood 1938 It was a road bridge until 1938 and had a central support and lorries and Cumberland Motor Service buses drove over it, turned right into the garage next to the brewery buildings that are opposite the multi storey malting building. The garage was between the windmill (now demolished) and the brewery building.. After half of the bridge was washed away in this flood, it was not replaced as a footbridge until 1963, though other photos show tree trunk has been precariously balanced on the gap so risks may have been taken to cross at that point. On the far bank, the brewery side, the left building and the one beside it will later be demolished and this area is the confluence of the Derwent behind the building, and the Cocker here in flood, so the area is now a peaceful area called Riversmeet with seating and stone blocks with contemplative inscribed text. 1938
1938 Waterloo Bridge Brewery Lane Cocker flood bridge demolished tree bridge 1938 p2
Waterloo bridge over Cocker in flood 1938 It was a road bridge until 1938 and had a central support and lorries and Cumberland Motor Service buses drove over it, turned right into the garage next to the brewery buildings that are opposite the multi storey malting building. The garage was between the windmill (now demolished) and the brewery building.. After half of the bridge was washed away in this flood, it was not replaced as a footbridge until 1963, though other photos show tree trunk has been precariously balanced on the gap so risks may have been taken to cross at that point. On the far bank, the brewery side, the left building and the one beside it will later be demolished and this area is the confluence of the Derwent behind the building, and the Cocker here in flood, so the area is now a peaceful area called Riversmeet with seating and stone blocks with contemplative inscribed text. In this photo the bridge seems to be replaced with a tree trunk which may be used to support a water pipe across and not people. 1938
1938 Waterloo Bridge High Sand Lane Brewery Road Bridge Cocker flood now Riversmeet 1938 p2
Waterloo bridge over Cocker in flood 1938 It was a road bridge until 1938 and had a central support and lorries and Cumberland Motor Service buses drove over it, turned right into the garage next to the brewery buildings that are opposite the multi storey malting building. The garage was between the windmill (now demolished) and the brewery building.. After half of the bridge was washed away in this flood, it was not replaced as a footbridge until 1963, though other photos show tree trunk has been precariously balanced on the gap so risks may have been taken to cross at that point. On the far bank, the brewery side, the left building and the one beside it will later be demolished and this area is the confluence of the Derwent behind the building, and the Cocker here in flood, so the area is now a peaceful area called Riversmeet with seating and stone blocks with contemplative inscribed text. 1938
1938 Cocker flood Brewery Lane foundry chimney footbridge from High Sand Lane Derwent Mill p2
1938 Cocker in flood Brewery Lane on right foundry chimney beside the footbridge from High Sands Lane to the brewery all three builings on right demolished 1938
1938 High Sand Lane Waterloo Bridge flood horse cart by Victoria Gospel Hall Weslyan chapel 1938 p2
High Sand Lane Waterloo Bridge flood horse and cart takes milk churns beside the Victoria Gospel Hall which was the first Methodist chapel in the town and later was also a Primitive Methodist in 1932 and a Weslyan chapel now a business centre called The Vicky, after the Victoria name, and is a business centre for hire with the original balcony around the inside. This is the flood of 1938
1938 Cocker flood over Quaker bridge between South Street Croft Terrace and Cocker Lane p2
Cocker flood over Quaker bridge South Street footbridge between South Street Croft Terrace and Cocker Lane 1938
Cocker floods Quaker bridge South Street bridge Rubbybanks houses flooded 1938
Cocker floods Quaker bridge South Street bridge Rubbybanks houses flooded 1938
1938 South Street Cocker flood destroys bridge looking from Kirkbank to South Street 1938 p3
1938 South Street 4 Cocker flood Quaker Bridge of Joshia Hall for Quaker Meetings in Kirkgate 1938 p2
Cocker South Street bridge looking to Cocker Lane that goes up to Kirkgate – there had been a ford until the Quaker family Joshia Hall built this in 1877 for access to Quaker Meeting House in KirkgateCocker South Street bridge looking to Cocker Lane that goes up to Kirkgate – there had been a ford until the Quaker family Joshia Hall built this in 1877 for access to Quaker Meeting House in Kirkgate
1938 South Street Cocker flood Quaker Bridge washed away sign for Graves Furnishings 1938 p2
South Street Cocker flood backs up from Cocker bridge and flows up Croft Terrace to South Street then down Challoner Street to Main Street. 1938
1938 South Street Cocker flood Quaker Bridge Graves Furnishings flood 1938 p2
South Street Cocker flood backs up from Cocker bridge and flows up Croft Terrace to South Street then down Challoner Street to Main Street. 1938
1938 South Street Cocker flood backs up from Cocker bridge and flows up Croft Terrace to South Street then down Challoner Street to Main Street
South Street 1 Cocker flood 1938 backs up from Cocker bridge and flows up Croft Terrace to South Street then down Challoner Street to Main Street
1938 South Street Cocker flood from Cocker Lane to Croft Terrace bridge damaged 1938 p2
1938 South Street Cocker flood from Cocker Lane to Croft Terrace bridge damaged The water rose over the Quaker Bridge connecting Lower South Street and Cocker Lane; it was pounded by tree trunks and it cracked in the centre and most of the steel railings and stone masonry were swept away. 1938
1938 South Street 3 Cocker flood 1938 looking from Quaker bridge up South Street in deep fast flowing water 1938 p2
South Street 1 Cocker flood 1938 backs up from Cocker bridge and flows up Croft Terrace to South Street then down Challoner Street to Main Street
1938 South Street 5 Cocker flood Quaker Bridge of Joshia Hall for Quaker Meetings in Kirkgate 1938 p2
Cocker South Street bridge looking to Cocker Lane that goes up to Kirkgate – there had been a ford until the Quaker family Joshia Hall built this in 1877 for access to Quaker Meeting House in Kirkgate. On the left is R Grave & Son House Furnishers who had a warehouse to the left and shop on the corner of Lorton Street and Station Road.
1938 Derwent bridge house on left two storey house on right later demolished 1938 p2
1938 Derwent bridge early glass slide. On the left is the large detached house of Wingate whose brother Orde Wingate commanded the Burma Chindits (see Wikipedia or read memoirs). The house on right is a two storey building that has now been demolished and replaced with a bungalow, why – what happened to it and when? Photo 1938
1938 Gote area Derwent flood 1938 p2
1938 Gote area Derwent flood. This is taken from Wakefield Road which is on the right, with Gote bridge behind the photographer. Imagine the force of the flow of the Derwent to be cascading over teh right of the photo, depositing the tree trunk in front of us. Follow the Gote (here a river) and at the top on the right is a building sticking out which was the Lowther Arms, existed from the early 1800s until the 1980s when it was converted into dwellings, but thankfully the frontage has the raised render moulding that once had the name of the Lowther Arms. The row of white building have been demolished. Behind the wall on the right now flats have been built, then they were flooded, then they were demolished and rebuilt with today’s flats. Behind the row of white houses you can see a building that may have been part of High Gote Mill but may not be, and is likely to have been demolished for the James Walker factory. 1938
1938 after flood Aerial Derwent Cocker meet shows Waterloo bridge damaged by 1938 flood p2
At the bottom left the white line is the mill race that powers the Gote mills. Opposite the mill race are buildings, the left one with the white front is the washerwoman’s house, with various photos taken from the other side of the Derwent, note the wall to the left under the castle that was washed away in floods of 2009, and the trees below the castle are now gone and reinforcing bars have been drilled into the bank to strengthen it. Beside the castle are the buildings of Jennings brewery with the iconic pyramid like roof with its ventilation tower that was part of the malting process. To the right of the brewery buildings is the river Cocker with Waterloo Bridge over it that has been locally known as Brewery Bridge (adjacent to the brewery) and Barrel Bridge (the barrels were made in High Sand Lane on the other side of the river. The bridge has a support in the middle that was an obstruction to the river flow so the whole bridge was removed in 1938 but the second world war intervened and the bridge was not replaced until 1963 but unfortunately when the new bridge was completed (without the centre support ) there was a major flood and the new bridge was washed off its foundations, so they raised the foundations of the bridge edges and moved the bridge onto the higher foundations, which were adequate until a later flood! Follow the river Cocker and note the pyramid roof of what is now the Town Hall which at that time was the Methodist church. Top right corner of photo shows Kirkbank council houses that were built in early 1930s.
Main Street 47 Restaurant now Lees Fish and Chips man fishes in Main Street flood 1938 p2
Main Street 47 Restaurant now Lees Fish and Chips. Main catches fish in Main Street 1938 See: https://cockermouthhistory.uk/floods/flood-1938-fishing-in-main-street-video/ Comments from this film on YouTube: … My Grandad, George Lowden, used to tell me about this flood and how a friend of his caught a 12lb Pike in Main Street… … Ive just shown this film to my mother, she tells me the story of her father (my Grandfather) James Walker Serginson (Jimmy to his friends) he’s there with the Salmon he caught on Main street! She fondly remembers his Sowester water proof hat and cape. 3 mins in! …
Main Street 42 Taylors Chemist is now New Bookshop 40 Elsie Ray clothing flood 1938 p2
Main Street 42 Taylors Chemist is now New Bookshop 40 Elsie Ray clothing. Note the signpost is now substantial because the flood of 1932 washed away the temporary signpost. Flood 1938
Main Street 37 Brown Cow 41 Huntsman Station Street signpost moved by the August flood 1938 p2
Main Street 37 Brown Cow 41 Huntsman Station Street flood signpost has been moved in August flood 1938
Main Street 23 Globe Hotel 31 Allison Chemist Druggist flood 1938 p2
Main Street 23 Globe Hotel 25 Dixon off licence; 27 Miss Leech confectionery; 29 Haigs Pork Butcher; 31 Allison Chemist Druggist. Because pigs ate anything, they could end up with pathogens that were harmful to humans, so a specialist butcher and abattoir was licenced to protect the human food chain. Allison changed their shop front in 1934 according to Vera Lowrey. Flood 1938
Main Street 35 H B Burns Station Street 37 Brown Cow crowds look at flood 1938 p2
Main Street 35 by Station Street H B Burns now Strolling 4 Shoes 37 Brown Cow crowds look at flood. Clock tower removed 1932 flood August 1938
Main Street 23 Globe Hotel RAC AA Challoner Street flow from Cocker flood 1938 p2
Main Street 23 Globe Hotel shows RAC and AA signs indicating that the hotel that once catered for horse drawn transport with stables in the rear yard is now catering for the new horseless carriage – the car. Note the force of water down Challoner Street from Cocker flood pre 1940 when the railings were removed from Mayo and after 1932 when the clock tower was removed. Flood 1938
main street
Main Street 47 Restaurant now Lees chippy 49 newsagent now Fagans flood 1938
Challoner Street to Main Street Anchor pub club Cocker floods from South Street flood 1938 p2
Challoner Street floods towards Main Street. Anchor pub club on the right. The landlord of the Anchor in the 1960s was Eppie Gibson, former rugby league player for Workington Town and Whitehaven, he was a teacher at one of the schools in Whitehaven. Here the Cocker flow floods from South Street flood 1938
Challoner Street floods from Cocker to South Street then to here to Main Street flood 1938 p2
Challoner Street flood 1938 the flow of water down the Cocker became restricted by Main Street bridge so it backs up and flows up Croft Terrace to South Street then down here to Main Street. Challoner Street floods towards Main Street. Anchor pub club on the right. The landlord of the Anchor in the 1960s was Eppie Gibson, former rugby league player for Workington Town and Whitehaven, he was a teacher at one of the schools in Whitehaven. Here the Cocker flow floods from South Street flood 1938
Main Street 23 Globe Hotel 31 Allison Mayo railings clock tower gone thus flood 1938 p2
Main Steet 23 Globe Hotel 31 Allison flood Mayo railings clock tower gone so flood 1938
Main Street 23 Globe Hotel 31 Allison Chemist Challoner Street flow from Cocker flood 1938 p2
Main Street 23 Globe Hotel Challoner Street note the force of water from Cocker coming down Challoner Street note gas lamps possible 1938 flood
Main Street 35 H B Burns 31 Allison Chemist junction with Station Street Flood 1938 p2
Main Street 35 H B Burns 31 Allison Chemist junction with Station Street Flood 1938 Main Street 35 H B Burns 31 Allison Chemist junction with Station Street Flood 1938. The crowds in station street may be looking at four posts of unknown purpose. The clock tower was demolished in 1932. What is the reason for the very high apparent telegraph post above the roof – what height is this?! Flood 1938
Main Street 35 H B Burns in flood by Station Street August flood 1938
Main Street 35 H B Burns in flood by Station Street August flood 1938
Main Street 35 H B Burns Station Street now Strolling 4 Shoes flood August 1938 p2
Main Street 35 H Burns in flood now Strolling 4 Shoes flood to Station Street August flood 1938
Main Street 35 H B Burns Station Street with road sign August flood 1938 p2
Main Street 35 by Station Street H B Burns now Strolling 4 Shoes 37 Brown Cow side view crowds look at flood. Clock tower removed 1932 flood August 1938
Main Street 55 Electricity House is now Fletcher Christian pub flood 1938
Main Street 55 Electricity House is now Fletcher Christian pub flood 1938

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