Cockermouth group's campaign ensures properties' heritage is listed

Over the years, the Civic Trust has proposed 27 properties in Cockermouth and district for inclusion on the Local Heritage List for the Allerdale area.

The Burroughs, Papcastle (Image: Cockermouth Civic Trust)

This list contains buildings that are recognised as being of local architectural or historic interest but do not warrant recognition at national level through Grade I or II listing.

"Being on the Local Heritage List does not provide the same level of legal protection as for Grade I or II listing, but does require the building’s heritage to be taken into account in the consideration by the council of any planning application," said chairman Phil Campbell.

Allerdale Borough Council previously approved four of the groups submissions: Papcastle Village Hall; Pump House, Papcastle; Grand Theatre, Station Street and 1-28 Waterloo Street.

"We are pleased that Cumberland Council has now approved more of our nominations," said Phil.

22 Kirkgate (Image: Cockermouth Civic Trust)

Those approved are: The Burroughs Papcastle; St Joseph’s Church, Hall and Priest’s House; Wheelwright’s Workshop, Smithy and Smithy House; 22 Kirkgate and Bank’s Court.

Regarding the latter, Phil said: "Through the passage by Banks Ironmongers at the end of Market Place is one of the most interesting yards in the town.

The former linen factory (Image: Cockermouth Civic Trust)

"It was originally a medieval burgage plot, the long garden at the rear of a Norman dwelling on Market Place, that led down to outbuildings such as stables on the back lane.

"In around 1790 during the Industrial Revolution, the owners of the town house built a factory down one side and workers’ cottages on the other side."

Linen was manufactured there until the process was moved to larger premises in around 1830.

"This is the only mill development of this kind remaining in Cockermouth, now being residential along with a pilates studio and bookstore," said Phil.

The Crown Street property includes the wheelwright’s workshop and smithy and Smithy House.

Over time, there has many blacksmiths in town, including on South Street, Challoner Street, St Helen’s Street, Main Street, (the ex Conservative Club site), and two on Crown Street.

"Very little now remains to be seen of this old industry except at these premises. It is one of the few blacksmiths still identified on the Ordnance Survey map for Cockermouth 1898.

"In the early 1900s the blacksmith was Mr Casson and the wheelwright was Mr Starkey. Trading probably ceased in the 1940s," said Phil.

The house and workshop buildings are still intact and the cast iron saucer used for mounting the metal tyres onto the wooden wheels is still inset into the original cobbled yard. 

"Wheelwrights not only made cartwheels, they often made and repaired carts and wooden implements, with the blacksmith providing the metal parts. It therefore made sense for wheelwrights to be located in close proximity to a blacksmith," said Phil.