Main Street clock tower and Mayo in 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 motors replaced horses, so 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 their wares in the window were likely to fade, and 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
1900-1945 Main Street Menu
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Main Street 46 Air Raid Shelter. The single brick building with a concrete roof may not have saved those sheltering in it. After the floods of this century a large underground flood attenuation pond was built near this place, another type of protection for Cockermouth. c 1945
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 44 parade clock tower built 1895 demolished 1932 carnival queen with parade of children. This likely to be Cousin Charley parade which was the predecessor to the Cockermouth Carnival. Cousin Charley was the editor of the West Cumberland Times. c 1905
Main Street clock tower and Mayo in 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 motors replaced horses, so 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 their wares in the window were likely to fade, and 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 clock tower and Mayo with horse and carts chauffer driving 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 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 42 Taylor Chemist clock tower demolition built 1895 demolished 1932 timber scaffolding being erected note barrels on the corner, what were they for?
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 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!
Main Street 46 became the National Provincial Bank, but at this time, no indication. The clock tower built 1895 has fancy railings and men around it are wearing hats that indicate status – From cloth cap to very top hat. c 1920
Main Street 50 George Irving portable radio in 1931. https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/amplion_cabinet_battery_portable.html advert 1931
Main Street 54 Harris Ward 52 George Rydiard shoes 50 George Irving records and radios. 54 later became Northern Rock Building Society and is now Greggs baker.
52 was George Rydiard shoes which became Dennis Pattinson shoes (see Main Street 56 58) and is now the animal charity shop.
50 George Irving has an advert to sell records and wireless sets including the new Portable Wireless Set but in 1931 the “portable battery” Advert 1931. Flood 1932
Main Street 56 58 note the archway to Kings Arms Lane with Luchini Regency Cafe which is now Cusack’s Cockermouth Travel. Cusack bought the shop from Luchini and developed the properties behind and made the pictorial history wall. 56 and 58 were purchased by Twiname and demolished and a new building made for Boots The Chemist. c 1940
Main Street 56 Dennis Lothian shooting fishing shop and Straughton ladies outfit shop are to the right of the arch which is no Kings Arms Lane and Lothian and Straughton building were demolished so that a new building was built for Boots the Chemist. Mayo without railings. Traffic signpost points up Station Street to Millom. c 1950
Main Street 56 Railings round Mayo were removed in 1940. On right is Lothion and Straughton in the building that was later demolished and replaced with a new building for Boots chemist. Note the arch to Kings Arms Lane and the clock on the wall outside Croasdell chemist. Note roof sign for Mayo furnishing and the small size of trees. Flood 1931 or 1932
Main Street 56 Railings round Mayo were removed in 1940. On right is Lothion and Straughton in the building that was later demolished and replaced with a new building for Boots chemist. Note the arch to Kings Arms Lane and the clock on the wall outside Croasdell chemist. Note roof sign for Mayo furnishing and the small size of trees. Flood 1931 or 1932
Main Street flood. On the right is the archway entrance to Kings Arms Lane. Note the large clock on the wall above 64 Main Street at a time when few people could afford expensive watches. The railings around Mayo statue were removed in 1940. flood 1931 or 1932
Main Street 60 advert George Blackburn family grocer c 1906
Main Street 60 JW Brandwood Family Grocer with arch to right that is now Kings Arms Lane. 64 Croasdell Chemist with the sign on the roof that had been painted as Mayo Furnishing, probably to recognise the erection of the statue of Mayo in 1875. The photo show the changing transport at this time as a car passes the horse drawn cart in the flood 1918
Main Street 60 from an advert for George Blackburn Wholesale and Retail Grocer, Provision Merchant, & Italian Warehouseman. Goods delivered by own (horse and) carts in town and country. 60 Main Street. This is taken from a 1906 publication and a later advert in a publication shows the same shop in 1911 named as J W Brandwood. The photo in this collection named “Main Street 60 Brandwood Grocer 64 Croasdell Chemist horse cart flood 1918 p2” shows Brandwood with a house window adjacent to the arched entrance to Kings Arms Lane. This shop later was Luchini ices then Paul Cusack developed Kings Arms Lane and expanded Cockermouth Travel shop front over the widow at the side. c 1906
Main Street 60 J W Brandwood Family Grocer and High class Italian Warehouseman teas of finest quality agent for Lipton and Home and Colonial Teas advert 1911
Main Street 60 J W Brandwood Family Grocer and High class Italian Warehouseman teas of finest quality agent for Lipton and Home and Colonial Teas. Note the advert of Carrs Celebrated CC Flour which was imported in grain ships from Canada to Silloth, though previously the flour mill had been in Maryport by the harbour but was moved to Silloth because of the amount of coal dust in the air from ships loading coal at Maryport – for pictures and info visit maryporthistory.uk From advert of 1911
Main Street 60 Kings Arms Lane behind a parade of Sangers Elephants Circus. The 3 storey building on the right was Lothian and Straughton later demolished for Boots the Chemist c 1900
