Main Street 37 - 43 Brown Cow to Appletree Wordsworth

Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel walls painted like Tudor timber. Why are household items in the street? c 1950

Some Pubs Main Street

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Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel selling John Peel Ale. Walls are painted like Tudor timber. Why are household items in the street? c 1950

Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel on the corner of Station Street.

This flood of November 1932 was so strong, the water flowing so fast that the temporary signpost that had been at the bottom of Station Street was washed to the extreme right side of this photo. You can see on the extreme left of the photo the metal posts that had been put there when the “Neddy” clock tower had been removed and the sign post was supposed to be placed there – some force of water flowing from the Cocker!

39 was McKay plumber (now Health food shop)

41 was the Huntsman Hotel (now Hunters bar)

43 was the Appletree Hotel, later renamed Wordsworth Hotel after the original Wordsworth Inn had been demolished to make the junction of Crown Street/Main Street/Sullart Street wider. This building is now  offices of WestLakesRecruit.co.uk.

This is the flood of November 1932

Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel with flower beds dividing the wide street.

Main Street 41 is the first location of Barclays Bank in the 1960s before moving to the imposing building on the other side, to 30 Main Street and now, in 2025 closed.

Main Street 41 building is now the North Lakes Health Store. To the right is 43 the Huntsman Hotel, now called Hunters.

Note Cockermouth’s first flower beds in the 1960s which have become an attractive feature of our town.

On the right of the photo are the gates that leads to the yard where you could take your horse while you were at the hotel further right, called The Appletree but later named Wordsworth. The large yard is still in use with private parking and a private development of mews cottages. c 1960

Main Street 37 Brown Cow on the corner of Station Street  in the flood of 1938. The flood would be from the overflow of the Cocker and, similar to more recent floods, will have flowed down Challoner Street.

The Players Please is an advert to encourage the purchase of cigarettes, an anachronism no longer seen!

Main Street 37 junction with Station Street, the Brown Cow is no longer Brown Cow Hotel. 

Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel John Peel Pale Ale Workington Brewery not Jennings c 1960

Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel Robt J Graham Proprietor, perhaps standing in the doorway in Station Street. The picture is taken from an advert in which the Brown Cow Hotel is described as Family & Commercial (were other hotels for commercial travellers only)

The proprietor is a wine and spirit merchant and the hotel advertises Bass Burton Ales, so not one of the Jennings pubs. Taken from advert in a publication of 1930.

Main Street 37 junction with Station Street. Opposite the Brown Cow Hotel is the signpost in road.

There had been an ornate clock tower approximately on this site but the clock tower was removed in 1932 because it was offset, not in the centre of the road, thus an obstruction to motorised vehicles.

After the clock tower was removed, a wooden finger post with direction signs was put in its place. However in the 1938 flood the wooden signpost was swept away and floated down Main Street! There are photos of the flood and the floating signpost on this site. Obviously a more substantial signpost was required, likely built in the 1950s.

Note the absence of the pedestrian crossing in quieter times! Note the sign to the A594 Maryport to Penrith trunk road before the building of the A66 in 1970s. This photo c 1950

Main Street 37 outside the Brown Cow the Melbreak foxhounds and foot-pack meet c 1940.

There are no horses, this is ordinary folk with the fittest running along the fells if necessary to gather the hounds.

Note the generations from small children to the elderly who support the local foxhound foot-pack. 

Main Street and Station Street junction. On the left is Main Street 35 H B Burns, now Strolling 4 Shoes.

On the right is Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel.

Crowds look at flood that comes from the Cocker, down Challoner Street and flows behind the photographer down High Sand Lane. 

There had been a clock tower here, locally known as Neddy, but it was removed after the 1932 flood.

Main Street 37 Brown Cow 39 plumber 41 Huntsman 43 Appletree Nov flood 1932 p2
Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel 39 was McKay plumber (now Health food shop) 41 Huntsman Hotel (now Hunters bar) 43 Appletree Hotel (renamed Wordsworth Hotel now WestLakesRecruit.co.uk). Observe on the right is the signpost from Station Street was washed to this point in the flood November 1932
Main Street 37 Brown Cow 41 Barclays Bank first location now Healthstore 43 Hunters c 1960 p3
Main Street 37 Brown Cow; 41 Barclays Bank first location in the 1960s before moving to the imposing building on the other side, to 30 Main Street. This building is now the North Lakes Healthstore. To the right is 43 the Huntsman Hotel, now called Hunters. Note Cockermouth’s first flower beds in the 1960s which have become an attractive feature of our town. On the right of the photo are the gates that leads to the yard where you could take your horse while you were at the hotel further right, called The Appletree but later named Wordsworth. c 1960
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 37 Brown Cow Hotel 2024 Google
Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel 2024 Google
Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel John Peel Pale Ale Workington Brewery not Jennings c 1960
Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel John Peel Pale Ale Workington Brewery not Jennings c 1960
Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel Robt J Graham 1930 p2
Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel Robt J Graham. Described as Family & Commercial (were other hotels for commercial travellers only) The proprietor is a wine and spirit merchant ad the hotel advertises Bass Burton Ales, so not one of the Jennings pubs. From advert of 1930
Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel with signpost in road c 1950 p3
Main Street 37 Brown Cow Hotel with signpost in road. The signpost replaced the clock tower after it was removed in 1932 becuase the clock tower was offset and an obstruction to motorised vehicles. So after the clock tower was removed, a finger post with signs was put in its place. however in the 1938 flood the signpost was swept away and floated down Main Street! So obviously a more substantial signpost was required, likely in the 1950s. Note the absence of the pedestrian crossing in quieter times! Note the sign to the A594 Maryport to Penrith trunk road before the building of the A66 in 1970s. This photo c 1950
Main Street 37 Brown Cow Melbreak foxhounds footpack meet c 1940 p2
Main Street 37 Brown Cow Melbreak foxhounds footpack meet c 1940. Note the generations from small children to the elderly who support the local footpack. There are no horses, this is ordinary folk with the fittest running along the fells if necessary to gather the hounds.
Main Street 37 Brown Cow pub 39 Health Food shop where Barclays Bank first sited p4
Main Street 37 Brown Cow pub 39 Health Food shop where Barclays Bank first sited. Note the finger pointer road sign has been removed and a pedestrian crossing made.
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 43 Appletree Hotel to be Wordsworth Hotel 45 Tom Winter c 1960 p3
Main Street 43 Appletree Hotel not yet renamed Wordsworth Hotel until Sullart Street widened by Wordsworth Tavern being demolished 45 Tom Winter clothing then Lees Chinese. The Appletree was one of the hotels with a livery stable behind and horses would go through the archway to stables behind where feed and care were available. The carts would remain on the street, see other photos. c 1960
Main Street 41 Huntsman 43 Appletree became Wordsworth Station Street signpost Nov flood 1932 p2
Main Street flood 41 Huntsman Hotel 43 Appletree Hotel later renamed Wordsworth after Wordsworth tavern demolished to widen Sullart Street. Note the road sign had been moved by the force of the flood from bottom of Station Street where it temporarily replaced the clock tower that had been demolished in 1932 before a stone plinth for the signpost was built. November flood 1932
Sullart Street 1h Crown Street 1c Wordsworth Tavern demolition 1965 p3
Sullart Street Crown Street corner had the Wordsworth Tavern making the entrance to Sullart Street very narrow, like the Kirkgate entrance to Market Place. This apparent casual demolition in 1965
Sullart Street 1j Crown Street 1d Wordsworth Tavern demolition 1965 p3
Sullart Street Crown Street corner had the Wordsworth Tavern making the entrance to Sullart Street very narrow, like the Kirkgate entrance to Market Place. This apparent casual demolition in 1965
Sullart Street 1g Crown Street 1f Wordsworth Tavern demoliton 1965 p3
Sullart Street 1 from Crown Street. Wordsworth Tavern which was on the right and had caused the road to be very narrow has been demolished. 1965
Main Street 43 Wordsworth Hotel was The Appletree Hotel c 1980 p3
Main Street 43 Wordsworth Hotel was previously The Appletree Hotel but after Wordworth Tavern was demolished to make Sullart Street wider this changed its name and claimed the Wordsworth name. Tom Little of Maryport outfitter took over the Tom Winter after Winter’s daughter ceased. Joe Fisher estate agent before …. c 1980
Main Street 43 Wordsworth Hotel with Mayo and All Saints spire c 1980
Main Street 43 Wordsworth Hotel with Mayo and All Saints spire c 1980

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