38,40 AND 42, MARKET PLACE

38,40 AND 42, MARKET PLACE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1327092
Date first listed:
26-Jul-1974
List Entry Name:
38,40 AND 42, MARKET PLACE
Statutory Address:
38,40 AND 42, MARKET PLACE
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Date:
2006-03-27
Reference:
IOE01/15415/01
Rights:
© Mr Martin Cann. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1327092
Date first listed:
26-Jul-1974
Date of most recent amendment:
26-Oct-1989
List Entry Name:
38,40 AND 42, MARKET PLACE
Statutory Address 1:
38,40 AND 42, MARKET PLACE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
38,40 AND 42, MARKET PLACE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Cumberland (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Cockermouth
National Grid Reference:
NY 12259 30745

Details

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 07/12/2012


NY 1230
1/77


MARKET PLACE
Nos 38, 40 and 42


Formerly listed as: MARKET PLACE, Nos 40 to 46 (even)


GV
II*


Former house, converted into shops and empty at time of inspection (September
1989). Early to mid-C16, refurbished and extended in 1958, with mid-C19 altera-
tions. Rubble rendered to front range, much patched in brick to rear; Welsh
slate gable-end roofs. Plan and development. Originally a 3-room, cross-
passage plan with external stair turret to rear of passage; in 1598 the house,
believed to be the residence of the Percy family's agent in Cumberland, received
a plaster ceiling to the principal 1st floor room, and it may be that the rear
wing (forming an L-shaped plan overall) was added at this time. 2 storeys
throughout. Exterior. front elevation: regular 3-window hornless sash range,
1st floor with sashes in reveals, 2 with 16 panes, the third with 4; ground
floor with 3 mid-C19 shopfronts (pilasters and cornices, 2-light plate-glass
windows) and contemporary half-glazed and panelled doors. Left-hand end brick
stack; stone coping high above present roof-level indicates original use of the
thatch.
Rear: Main range with no windows; C19 lean to; stair turret in angle between
range and wing, rebuilt in brick, under catslide. Rear wing with much brick
infill: 3 1st floor windows with sashes in reveals, 2 with revised stone
surround; ground floor with modern doorway, another doorway blocked in brick,
and window to right. End stack, part rendered. Clear masonry joint between
front range and wing visible from side alley (E).
Interior: Much early work survives. Ground floor flagged throughout, but
substantially re-arranged when converted to shops (although retaining the origi-
nal 3 units). 1st floor. Principal room (to left): Plaster ceiling (damaged)
dated 1598, single ribs forming connected quatrefoils containing various devices
(fleur de lys, animals, the Percy crescent, and the initials AM with knot);
large royal coat of arms over blocked fireplace. Stairs (later c.1800) with
turned balusters. Dividing this room from the next is a plain plank and muslin
screen. Centre room with stone 4-centred arched doorway in rear wall (origi-
nally leading into stairs, now removed). Simple slate fire surround to right-
hand room. Rear wing: fireplaces with simple stone surrounds, one with oven.
1st floor: one room with cyma recta moulded plaster cornice and (original)
plain plaster ceiling. Roof: possibly of 2 builds from E to W (left
to right) 2 trusses with pegged and morticed principals and cambered ties; third
truss (over plank and muslin screen), king-post and queen struts; 4th truss,
principals and cambered tie; 5th truss, principals with collar. This building
is a remarkable survival in Cumbria of a C16 town house with 2 plaster ceilings,
plank and muslin screen, intact roof structure and various other features survi-
ving, and with an attractive mid-C19 front elevation in addition.

All the listed Bulildings in Market Place form a group with Kirkgate Corner,
St Helen's Street.


Listing NGR: NY1226130747

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
71732
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of 38,40 AND 42, MARKET PLACE

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 24-Jun-2026 at 00:44:30.

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End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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