Cockermouth Businesses

[Gigi]

Hello All,

My Robinson ascendents apparently owned a tailor's/outfitter's shop and also a cabinet maker's/undertaker's business in Cockermouth. This would be probably been around the 1860s. Has anyone heard of either of these two businesses or knows anything about them?

Thanks in advance,

Gillian

[bobgraham]

It's late and I'm old so you'll have to excuse the rambling but if you try www.historicaldirectories.org or something very similar I think it is Leicester University has digitised all the Kelly's and similar for the whole country.
The site is not easy to navigate but take your time and you will find every business in Cockermouth around the time your looking at.
I have found that one gets too much information on surnames but you should get lucky with the businesses
bob

[Gigi]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your reply. I did try historical directories and did find Palmer Robinson Cabinet maker/undertaker, however, no tailor's shop. I have a picture. I'll try and post it tomorrow.

When I ask the family one or two have vaguely heard of the two businesses. I would like to try and find out more about them.

Gillian

[Gigi]

Here is a photo of Robinson's shop Cockermouth. Does anyone know anything about it?

Can anyone give the photo an approx date?

Thanks,

Gillian

[bobgraham]

Hi again,
it's even later and I'm even older but that photo looks to be 30's and the directories site seems to stop in 1910. I've checked the cumberland news site (cumberland-news.com) as they claim to have an old photo archive. It seems to go back to the 2005 floods or I'm doing something wrong.
Being old and decrepit I had missed your reference to 1860's so i looked back myself - I did say it wasn't an easy site.
1858 Kelly's Robinson, Tailor, Main St
1858 Kelly's Robinson, Draper, 11 Market place
1873 Kelly's Robinson, Linen and woolen draper, 11 market place (gone up in the world)
Can't help with first names but a search of the 1861 and 1871  census by address might pull you something up
bob

[Gigi]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for looking in the directories. Not an easy job! Yes I could lookup addresses on the census. I reckon the shop was in Main Street. I'll see what I can find.

Gillian

[bobgraham]

In case we are both wrong, I am contacting an 80 year old relative life long relative to see if it is a 1930 photo.
Unlike us 60 year olds the 80's aren't wired up so it may take a day or two.
Any longer than that and we are into a seance as i haven't spoken to him in a while.
:>}
bob

[Gigi]

Thanks Bob

[scotmum]

A few other clues in picture that may help:

They sold Cumberland Tweeds and had a sign ourtside which seems to read as 'Castlebank Dyeworks' (mind you, these dyeworks seem to have been in Scotland, so probably just highlighting fact that they sold their products).


Interestingly, in a far earlier timescale of 1811, there was a Robinson who was a  grocer & woollen-manufacturer. Maybe this shop was a development of that down the generations.