1980-2024 Main Street 02-42 from Cocker Court House to High Sand Lane

Main Street number 2 is known as The Old Courthouse. The original courts were held in the Moot Hall in Market Place which was demolished in 1826 and the stone was reused to build The Old Courthouse. The original bridge over the Cocker was low and narrow so after The Old Courthouse was built a new Cocker Bridge was built higher and wider in 1828. The imposing set of steps to the entrance of the Courthouse was known by locals attending court as “Walking up the seven steps!”. To the right of the steps on the wall is a plaque that came from the clock tower that had been erected at the junction of Main Street and Station Street in 1895. It had been erected in memory of Edward Waugh MP, but the clock tower was not in the centre of the road and though this may have been no problem in the days of horses and carts, it became an obstruction to motorised traffic (see the photo of the Rolls going round it the “wrong” way). So the clock tower was demolished in August 1932 and its commemorative metal plaque was put on the wall of the Old Courthouse and states: “In memory of Edward Waugh Esquire, the last representative in Parliament of the ancient Borough of Cockermouth. Erected by subscription 1893” Below it is a plaque explaining : “The above plate was attached to the Edward Memorial Clock, removed from Main Street Aug 1932” Various courts were held at The Old Courthouse 2 Main Street until moving in the early 1950s to the building that is now known as Manor House Hotel (was Grecian Villa etc). The Old Courthouse, lay empty for several years, until in the 1970s it was converted into flats, shops, an antiques centre, and a restaurant that was accessed by descending to a cantilevered metal walkway suspended over the (sometimes raging) Cocker. Now after recent floods that suspended walkway has been demolished and part of the rear building has been swept into the river Cocker. Floods of the Cocker undermined the foundations and the building is now closed and the rear has collapsed and some demolition is imminent. c 2000

1980-2024 Main Street Menu

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Main Street 10 Police Station alley on right was to old police station before this replaced a pub p4
Main Street 8 10 Police Station before moving to Lamplugh Road Before this police station was built, the Horse and Harness pub was on this site. There had been a police station behind this location, accessed by a narrow alley that is still seen at the left of the Art and Craft shop at number 6. Before that, the first police station was in Challoner, once known as Kitty Went, “Kitty” being the local name for the lockup. The Horse and Harness Inn which was demolished to make way for this new police station in 1894. When the pub was demolished it exposed the gable end of the next building which later had a painted advert for “Fletchers Fearless Clothing”. The police building was no longer suitable for modern times, and a new police station was built on Lamplugh Road and the old police station was replaced by a pub called “Coppers”.
Main Street 10 Police Station with Fletchers Fearless Clothing sign p4
Main Street 8 10 Police Station before moving to Lamplugh Road Before this police station was built, the Horse and Harness pub was on this site. There had been a police station behind this location, accessed by a narrow alley that is still seen at the left of the Art and Craft shop at number 6. Before that, the first police station was in Challoner, once known as Kitty Went, “Kitty” being the local name for the lockup. The Horse and Harness Inn which was demolished to make way for this new police station in 1894. When the pub was demolished it exposed the gable end of the next building which later had a painted advert for “Fletchers Fearless Clothing”. The police building was no longer suitable for modern times, and a new police station was built on Lamplugh Road and the old police station was replaced by a pub called “Coppers”.
Main Street 12 Mottram Hair pollarded trees flood 2009 p4
Main Street 12 Mottram Hair. 14 was Mikado Cafe now Rootz 16 was Mrs Rutherford Antiques now The Bridal Shop Note the pollarded trees and shops damaged by the flood in 2009 but there was another flood in 2015. p4
Main Street 12 Tony Marks hair was Mottram 14 Rootz p4
Main Street 12 Tony Marks hair, was previously Mottram hair. 14 Rootz was Mikado Cafe.
Main Street 18 20 in 2024
Main Street 18 20 in 2024
Main Street 2 Court House by the Cocker 2000 p4
Main Street number 2 is known as The Old Courthouse. The original courts were held in the Moot Hall in Market Place which was demolished in 1826 and the stone was reused to build The Old Courthouse. The original bridge over the Cocker was low and narrow so after The Old Courthouse was built a new Cocker Bridge was built higher and wider in 1828. The imposing set of steps to the entrance of the Courthouse was known by locals attending court as “Walking up the seven steps!”. To the right of the steps on the wall is a plaque that came from the clock tower that had been erected at the junction of Main Street and Station Street in 1895. It had been erected in memory of Edward Waugh MP, but the clock tower was not in the centre of the road and though this may have been no problem in the days of horses and carts, it became an obstruction to motorised traffic (see the photo of the Rolls going round it the “wrong” way). So the clock tower was demolished in August 1932 and its commemorative metal plaque was put on the wall of the Old Courthouse and states: “In memory of Edward Waugh Esquire, the last representative in Parliament of the ancient Borough of Cockermouth. Erected by subscription 1893” Below it is a plaque explaining : “The above plate was attached to the Edward Memorial Clock, removed from Main Street Aug 1932” Various courts were held at The Old Courthouse 2 Main Street until moving in the early 1950s to the building that is now known as Manor House Hotel (was Grecian Villa etc). The Old Courthouse, lay empty for several years, until in the 1970s it was converted into flats, shops, an antiques centre, and a restaurant that was accessed by descending to a cantilevered metal walkway suspended over the (sometimes raging) Cocker. Now after recent floods that suspended walkway has been demolished and part of the rear building has been swept into the river Cocker. Floods of the Cocker undermined the foundations and the building is now closed and the rear has collapsed and some demolition is imminent. c 2000
Main Street 2 Court House The Old Court House with various antiques and businesses c 2000 p4
Main Street number 2 is known as The Old Courthouse. The original courts were held in the Moot Hall in Market Place which was demolished in 1826 and the stone was reused to build The Old Courthouse. The original bridge over the Cocker was low and narrow so after The Old Courthouse was built a new Cocker Bridge was built higher and wider in 1828. The imposing set of steps to the entrance of the Courthouse was known by locals attending court as “Walking up the seven steps!”. To the right of the steps on the wall is a plaque that came from the clock tower that had been erected at the junction of Main Street and Station Street in 1895. It had been erected in memory of Edward Waugh MP, but the clock tower was not in the centre of the road and though this may have been no problem in the days of horses and carts, it became an obstruction to motorised traffic (see the photo of the Rolls going round it the “wrong” way). So the clock tower was demolished in August 1932 and its commemorative metal plaque was put on the wall of the Old Courthouse and states: “In memory of Edward Waugh Esquire, the last representative in Parliament of the ancient Borough of Cockermouth. Erected by subscription 1893” Below it is a plaque explaining : “The above plate was attached to the Edward Memorial Clock, removed from Main Street Aug 1932” Various courts were held at The Old Courthouse 2 Main Street until moving in the early 1950s to the building that is now known as Manor House Hotel (was Grecian Villa etc). The Old Courthouse, lay empty for several years, until in the 1970s it was converted into flats, shops, an antiques centre, and a restaurant that was accessed by descending to a cantilevered metal walkway suspended over the (sometimes raging) Cocker. Now after recent floods that suspended walkway has been demolished and part of the rear building has been swept into the river Cocker. Floods of the Cocker undermined the foundations and the building is now closed and the rear has collapsed and some demolition is imminent. c 2000
Main Street 2 Court House walkway above the Cocker c 2000 p4
Main Street number 2 is known as The Old Courthouse. The original courts were held in the Moot Hall in Market Place which was demolished in 1826 and the stone was reused to build The Old Courthouse. The original bridge over the Cocker was low and narrow so after The Old Courthouse was built a new Cocker Bridge was built higher and wider in 1828. The imposing set of steps to the entrance of the Courthouse was known by locals attending court as “Walking up the seven steps!”. To the right of the steps on the wall is a plaque that came from the clock tower that had been erected at the junction of Main Street and Station Street in 1895. It had been erected in memory of Edward Waugh MP, but the clock tower was not in the centre of the road and though this may have been no problem in the days of horses and carts, it became an obstruction to motorised traffic (see the photo of the Rolls going round it the “wrong” way). So the clock tower was demolished in August 1932 and its commemorative metal plaque was put on the wall of the Old Courthouse and states: “In memory of Edward Waugh Esquire, the last representative in Parliament of the ancient Borough of Cockermouth. Erected by subscription 1893” Below it is a plaque explaining : “The above plate was attached to the Edward Memorial Clock, removed from Main Street Aug 1932” Various courts were held at The Old Courthouse 2 Main Street until moving in the early 1950s to the building that is now known as Manor House Hotel (was Grecian Villa etc). The Old Courthouse, lay empty for several years, until in the 1970s it was converted into flats, shops, an antiques centre, and a restaurant that was accessed by descending to a cantilevered metal walkway suspended over the (sometimes raging) Cocker. Now after recent floods that suspended walkway has been demolished and part of the rear building has been swept into the river Cocker. Floods of the Cocker undermined the foundations and the building is now closed and the rear has collapsed and some demolition is imminent. c 2000
Main Street 2 Court House washed into the Cocker 2023 p4
Main Street number 2 is known as The Old Courthouse. The original courts were held in the Moot Hall in Market Place which was demolished in 1826 and the stone was reused to build The Old Courthouse. The original bridge over the Cocker was low and narrow so after The Old Courthouse was built a new Cocker Bridge was built higher and wider in 1828. The imposing set of steps to the entrance of the Courthouse was known by locals attending court as “Walking up the seven steps!”. To the right of the steps on the wall is a plaque that came from the clock tower that had been erected at the junction of Main Street and Station Street in 1895. It had been erected in memory of Edward Waugh MP, but the clock tower was not in the centre of the road and though this may have been no problem in the days of horses and carts, it became an obstruction to motorised traffic (see the photo of the Rolls going round it the “wrong” way). So the clock tower was demolished in August 1932 and its commemorative metal plaque was put on the wall of the Old Courthouse and states: “In memory of Edward Waugh Esquire, the last representative in Parliament of the ancient Borough of Cockermouth. Erected by subscription 1893” Below it is a plaque explaining : “The above plate was attached to the Edward Memorial Clock, removed from Main Street Aug 1932” Various courts were held at The Old Courthouse 2 Main Street until moving in the early 1950s to the building that is now known as Manor House Hotel (was Grecian Villa etc). The Old Courthouse, lay empty for several years, until in the 1970s it was converted into flats, shops, an antiques centre, and a restaurant that was accessed by descending to a cantilevered metal walkway suspended over the (sometimes raging) Cocker. Now after recent floods that suspended walkway has been demolished and part of the rear building has been swept into the river Cocker. Floods of the Cocker undermined the foundations and the building is now closed and the rear has collapsed and some demolition is imminent. 2024
Main Street 2 Court House with plaque from Main Street demolished clock tower c 2000 p4
Main Street number 2 is known as The Old Courthouse. The original courts were held in the Moot Hall in Market Place which was demolished in 1826 and the stone was reused to build The Old Courthouse. The original bridge over the Cocker was low and narrow so after The Old Courthouse was built a new Cocker Bridge was built higher and wider in 1828. The imposing set of steps to the entrance of the Courthouse was known by locals attending court as “Walking up the seven steps!”. To the right of the steps on the wall is a plaque that came from the clock tower that had been erected at the junction of Main Street and Station Street in 1895. It had been erected in memory of Edward Waugh MP, but the clock tower was not in the centre of the road and though this may have been no problem in the days of horses and carts, it became an obstruction to motorised traffic (see the photo of the Rolls going round it the “wrong” way). So the clock tower was demolished in August 1932 and its commemorative metal plaque was put on the wall of the Old Courthouse and states: “In memory of Edward Waugh Esquire, the last representative in Parliament of the ancient Borough of Cockermouth. Erected by subscription 1893” Below it is a plaque explaining : “The above plate was attached to the Edward Memorial Clock, removed from Main Street Aug 1932” Various courts were held at The Old Courthouse 2 Main Street until moving in the early 1950s to the building that is now known as Manor House Hotel (was Grecian Villa etc). The Old Courthouse, lay empty for several years, until in the 1970s it was converted into flats, shops, an antiques centre, and a restaurant that was accessed by descending to a cantilevered metal walkway suspended over the (sometimes raging) Cocker. Now after recent floods that suspended walkway has been demolished and part of the rear building has been swept into the river Cocker. Floods of the Cocker undermined the foundations and the building is now closed and the rear has collapsed and some demolition is imminent.
Main Street 22 20 shows the warehouse doors p4
Main Street 22 grocer now Tarantella restaurant. The three storey building still has warehouse doors to the left of the arched windows and was originally Joshia Hall grocers. Hall was a Quaker and was instrumental in getting the footbridge over the Cocker at the end of South Street and the bridge is still known locally as Quaker Bridge.
Main Street 22 Josiah Hall grocer warehouse storeroom doors still here p4
Main Street 22 was grocer store of Josiah Hall who built the footbridge over the Cocker to facilitate access to Quaker Meeting House at the top of Kirkgate. Main Street 22 grocer now Tarantella restaurant. The three storey building still has warehouse doors to the left of the arched windows and was originally Joshia Hall grocers. Hall was a Quaker and was instrumental in getting the footbridge over the Cocker at the end of South Street and the bridge is still known locally as Quaker Bridge.
Main Street 28 Toymaster is now card shop and Walkers jewellers are still there
Main Street 28 Toymaster is now card shop and Walkers jewellers are still there
Main Street 30 Barclays Bank building upper rear detail p4
Main Street 30 Barclays Bank building upper rear detail note the odd shape at the rear
Main Street 30 Barclays Bank building upper rear Walker jeweller Wishes card shop p4
Main Street 30 Barclays Bank building upper rear Walker jeweller Wishes card shop p4
Main Street 30 Martins Bank became Barclays 28 I Craig 32 Walter Willson c 1970
Main Street 30 Martins Bank became Barclays 28 I Craig 32 Walter Willson c 1970
Main Street 30 Martins Bank became Barclays Bank 28 Toymaster shop
Main Street 30 Martins Bank became Barclays Bank 28 Toymaster shop
Main Street 4 Savings Bank Building 1846 clock made by Christoper Tatham on roof p4
Main Street 4 Savings Bank Building 1846 clock made by Christoper Tatham on roof. The Savings Bank adjoined the Courthouse and was built in 1846 and the bank remained there and became part of the Trustee Savings Bank – TSB and later moved to 50 Main Street. The building also housed the Mechanics Institute which provided lectures, classes, discussions, a newspaper reading room and a band. There were 240 members in 1858. Note at the bottom of the clock “Tempus Fugit”
Main Street 4 Savings Bank Building built 1846 with clock made by Christoper Tatham on roof p4
Main Street 4 Savings Bank Building 1846 clock made by Christoper Tatham on roof. The Savings Bank adjoined the Courthouse and was built in 1846 and the bank remained there and became part of the Trustee Savings Bank – TSB and later moved to 50 Main Street. The building also housed the Mechanics Institute which provided lectures, classes, discussions, a newspaper reading room and a band. There were 240 members in 1858.
Main Street 44 The New Bookshop on the right
Main Street 44 The New Bookshop on the right
Main Street 6 looking to Market Place p4
Main Street 6 looking to Market Place. Originally this was John Allison’s grocery and is now the Art and Craft shop. To the left of the shop is an alley that was the entrance to the police station that had been built to replace the original one in Challoner Street, but this one was replaced in 1894 with the building to the left of the alley which was Cockermouth Police Station until 2000s when the police station moved to another new police station on Lamplugh Road and the old police building to the left of the picture became a bar called “Coppers” See Bradbury Public Buildings page 11.

1980-2024 Main Street Menu

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Sources and thanks and permissions and copyright are shown on appropriate pages and/or in the About section. If someone can prove they have sole copyright and ownership of all rights to the negative and positive prints of a photo and its digital copy, and if they then want to have their name acknowledged after providing their clear evidence of ownership of sole copyright then I will acknowledge that right. Otherwise this personal project, made at my own expense, is my voluntary, free to access website made with goodwill to the community, so that the site gives free access to our community’s historic information. For those who desire to stop some photos being seen, review your motives; some photos were given to the local history centre and have been hidden for 20 years – why? I don’t have access to them. Surely when the community give photos to a local centre for free, the photos should be available to the public to view with free access and free sharing by digital reproduction on which we can add our own descriptions on our own websites and Facebook pages and other sharing sites? Please read the acknowledgements and thanks on the About section – there are some astounding links including the National Library of Scotland’s (NLS) zoomable historic maps, and sites of rail and coal historic sites and … see About. Perhaps the links will stimulate you to do your own research for your own personal education like this site that I made for personal research and education.