Main Street in about 1899, a carnival or festival parade with horse drawn carriages festooned with decorations, even the carriage wheels are decorated. The second horse drawn carriage seems to have the carnival queen elevated on her throne. This event may be Cousin Charley’s parade. Observe the line of people on the right that seem to wheel around the Neddy clock. This event seems to include a large proportion of the population in approximately 1899.
The clock tower was built in 1895 c 1899
1850-1900 Main Street Menu
Main Street 42-46 1895-1932 "Neddy" Clock Tower
Main Street clock tower built 1895 demolished 1932 with bunting God Save The King likely 1911 Edward Coronation
Main Street parade of Carnival Queen on horse drawn float by clock tower built 1895 demolished 1932. This is likely to be what was known as Cousin Charley’s parade named after Charley the editor of the Times and Star of West Cumberland and was the forerunner of Cockermouth Carnival c 1910
Main Street. The National Provincial Bank is on the right. The clock tower with railings is so significant that gentry pose, gentry identified by the status of their hats. Note the earliest tree on roadside, 100 trees were planted in 1887 for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. At a later time four gas lamps were placed at the corners of the railings around the clock tower. c 1899
Main Street 46 National Provincial Bank. clock tower with group of men arranged beneath. c 1899
Main Street 46 is the National Provincial Bank. To the left of the bank is 48 50 a three storey building that was demolished to be replaced by the current two storey building that was Lloyds TSB bank, then Waugh & Musgrave Solicitors, now in 2025, empty.
This photo captures the changing times; the drivers of horse drawn carts stare at this new horseless vehicle! Apparently at that time they could drive and ride on either side of the street, what could go wrong?! The clock tower was demolished in 1932 Photo c 1900
Main Street parade by the clock tower which was built in 1895 and demolished in 1932. The horse drawn lavishly decorated cart transports the throne on which sits the carnival queen with her attendants. She is guarded by a parade of with parade of boys in uniform with (hopefully) imitation rifles. This likely to be the parade organised by “Cousin Charley” which was the predecessor to the Cockermouth Carnival. Cousin Charley was the editor of the West Cumberland Times. c 1905
Main Street 46 at the junction of Main Street and High Sand Lane eventually became the National Provincial Bank. The clock tower was built in 1895 and has fancy railings which eventually were melted for war armaments. The men around it are wearing hats that indicate status – from cloth cap to bowler hat to top hat to the highest top hat. c 1920
Main Street clock tower and statue of Lord Mayo in the distance, with horse and carts. Note that in this early period of motor vehicles the clock tower was not in the centre of the road so vehicles could go either side with potential for traffic accidents. When motor vehicles became numerous and replaced horses the clock tower was removed.
Note that the shops on the right are south facing and so face the sun, and before the days of colour fast dyes the clothing in the window displays were likely to fade – so blinds protect the goods from the sun. Also at this time walking in the sun was something to be looked down on because one’s skin could go tanned and which was associated with the poor people who worked outdoors which gave them tanned skin. How times change! c 1899
Main Street 42 is Taylor Chemist and on the other side of High Sand Lane is the National Provincial Bank. Here the clock tower built in 1895 has become an obstruction to motorised traffic so is being demolished in 1932 with timber scaffolding being erected. Note barrels on the corner, what were they for? Barrels had been located in some places so that the horse manure could be collected – good for the garden.
Main Street clock tower and statue of Lord Mayo shows horse and carts and a chauffer driving a Rolls Royce open top car round Neddy clock c 1900. Note all the shops facing south have blinds because the sun could bleach clothing etc. Note that in this early period of motor vehicles the clock tower was not in the centre of the road so vehicles could go either side with potential for traffic accidents when motors replaced horses, so the clock tower was removed. c 1899
Main Street clock tower demolition scaffolding around the clock tower locally known as the Neddy Waugh Memorial Clock. August 1932 when the clock tower is being demolished.
Main Street clock tower demolition built 1895 demolished August 1932. The bell of the clock is now at the rear of All Saints Church. The cast iron tower went as scrap to Leeds. Locally known as the Neddy or Waugh clock. The clock tower was an obstruction to the new motor vehicles that replaced horse transport. Note four workers 16 observers.
Main Street 46 National Provincial Bank. Photo taken after 1932 when the clock was taken down, but before 1940 when the railings were taken down. On the corner of High Sand Lane and Main Street the National Provincial Bank joined with the District Bank and the Westminster Bank in Station Street to form the National Westminster Bank branch in what was the Public Hall in Station Street that was demolished to make the new bank. That site in Station Street is now a fast food Dominos & Costa. The bank corner with High Sand Lane is now an ice cream shop. Note the shop blinds on the north side of Main Street, the sun doesn’t shine as much on the other side!