Maps 1864-1923 Cockermouth before and after railway & Station Street
The 1864 maps are from https://maps.nls.uk/view/101092003
Compare Cockermouth 1864 with Cockermouth 1920 using the two maps below. In 1864 the new railway from Cockermouth to Keswick and Penrith (CKPR) was complete but not fully operational, note the empty fields above the station. Sixty years later in 1920 the railway was transporting coal from the North East to the steelworks of Workington, and sending livestock to markets and passengers for commerce and leisure.
1864 Railway before Station Road and Station Street were built
Above: Map 1864 Railway before Station Road and Station Street were built NLS 102340848
The 1864 map above is from https://maps.nls.uk/view/102340848
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Below: 1923 after Station Road and Station Street were built
Map 1923 after Station Road and Station Street were built NLS 101092003
The map above is from: https://maps.nls.uk/view/101092003
Note that Sullart Street and Gallowbarrow names have switched. The buildings of the Workhouse still exist. Schools and the agricultural buildings have been built on Fair Field Fairfield and Kittyson Lane has been replaced by Station Road and Station Street. Kittyson Lane had to be blocked off when the animals came from their holding pens on the left to the auction mart on the right of Kittyson Lane. The War Memorial was built after the First World War and continues to be a focus for our community on Remembrance Day. Cockermouth Station has multiple sidings and photos on this website show the cattle and sheep pens for transporting them to markets. Note the turntable. The railway line is now a greenway footpath and the new residential complex is named The Sidings.
The map above is from: https://maps.nls.uk/view/101092003
The map below shows the original Cockermouth Station is now a Goods Station and Coal Depot and there are photos showing these activities. The railway crosses the road over the bridge that remained after the railway was closed. Eventually the Goods Station area will become Lakes Home Centre and car park, but the track beside the left bank of the river is still accessible and immediately behind the end of the Lakes Home Centre perimeter you can see where the Derwent burst through its embankment, flowed to join the Derwent by the new bridge, and flooded the land above the route of the old railway.
Map 1923 Cockermouth Railway Junction Goods Station NLS 102340848
The development of Cockermouth is illustrated by comparing items on the map of 1864 and the map of 1923. In those 60+ years the following happened:
Changes on maps in the period 1864-1923 when railway arrives Cockermouth expands
1887 June 21st Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee marks the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s accession on 20 June 1837 at Westminster Abbey to which 50 European kings and princes were invited. [Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria – Wikipedia]
1887 June 21st Quaker Footbridge opened on Jubilee Day. This was also know as Cocker Lane Footbridge, Jubilee Footbridge. It was opened only three weeks after the laying of the foundation stone on 2nd June. The cost was £129-6s-3d. Josiah Hall, one of the Quakers largely responsible for the bridge, opened it immediately after the laying of the foundation stone of Victoria Bridge, pointing out that the Local Board had turned down the plans two years earlier but had since changed that decision. The bridge was replaced by a later bridge in 1984. The bridge replaced a ford which was only closed in the 1930s. [Bradbury 209]
1887 June 18th Waterloo Bridge joins Waterloo Street with the brewery, it was also known as Barrel Bridge because beer barrels were rolled over the bridge to the brewery.
1887 June 21st Jubilee Day the foundation of Victoria Jubilee Bridge was laid. [Bradbury 133]
1887 Cumberland roads and bridges under responsibility of a Surveyor
1896 April 7th Unveiling the granite drinking fountain, surmounted by the bronze figure of a child, a memorial to the poet Wordsworth and his sister, in Harris Park. This has been moved to Sullart Street opposite Wordsworth House. [Bradbury 133]
1897 June 22nd Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee marks the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s accession on 20 June 1837 [Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria – Wikipedia] Jubilee Arch in Crown Street erected to commemorate the event. [Bradbury 133]
A committee of ratepayers arranged church services, processions, bands, food and games, a concert in the Public Hall [at that time the Public Hall was in Station Street but was later demolished and NatWest bank built but the site is now fast food] Add to these the firing of a salute, speeches and toasts, bellringing, nuts, Jubilee mugs and medals, bunting and flags and Cockermouth’s celebration was complete.
Over the signature of Isaac Mitchell, chairman of the committee, a telegram was sent to the Queen: “The inhabitants of Cockermouth in public meeting assembled, congratulates her Majesty on this day, and wish her a long life and happiness”. Also a Jubilee Anthem, set to the tune of the National Anthem, was written by Rev J T Pollock. [Bradbury 133]
Cumberland Sheet LIV.NE Revised: 1923, Published: 1926
https://maps.nls.uk/view/101092003
Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland visit https://maps.nls.uk/
