{"id":1195,"date":"2020-02-23T17:23:38","date_gmt":"2020-02-23T17:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/crimesofthecenturies.com\/?p=1195"},"modified":"2025-07-15T15:39:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T14:39:17","slug":"14-king-street-penrith-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crimesofthecenturies.com\/index.php\/2020\/02\/23\/14-king-street-penrith-history\/","title":{"rendered":"14 King Street, Penrith"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was good to see this week that the the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald<\/em> has been saved<\/a>, after going into voluntary administration a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n

Established in 1860, the Herald is an independent weekly broadsheet newspaper covering a large area of East Cumbria, including the towns of Penrith, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen, Keswick & Alston. Their website is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The present home of the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald<\/em> in Penrith is at 14 King Street: in a building that\u2019s a familiar part of the landscape now, but has been rebuilt or substantially remodelled from days gone by.<\/p>\n

14 King Street in the 1860s<\/h2>\n

Old postcards from the first decades of the 20th century show the old building as it was (next door down from the Mitre Hotel).<\/p>\n

The Cumberland & Westmorland Herald<\/em> has one here<\/a>:<\/p>\n

In 1869,14 King Street was the home of John Simpson, leather merchant.<\/p>\n

In February 1869, John Simpon\u2019s advert in the Herald was for sewing machines: those of Jones & Co, of How, and of Wheeler & Wilson. For which John Simpon\u2019s was an agent.<\/p>\n

These sewing machines \u2018seldom get out of order and are easy to learn\u2019.<\/p>\n

The advert ran pretty much unchanged for years, though by 1871, Wilson, Jesper and Co, were also selling the same sewing machines at 1 and 2 Middlegate.<\/p>\n

John Simpson was looking for a (leather trade) apprentice in 1876. John had been a currier in Sandgate in 1861 and lived in Arthur Steet in 1871 and 1881. He died in 1895.<\/p>\n

The era of the motor car begins<\/h2>\n

So, by September 1905, life had moved on, and 14 King Street was the home of the Graphic Motor and Engineering Co Ltd.<\/p>\n

Garage, inspection pit, spare parts, petrol, cars for hire. Repairs executed by experienced mechanicians. Agents for Brouhot and Dechamps cars.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In December 1905, the Graphic Motor and Engineering Co Ltd were exhibiting \u2018the famous Brouhot cars at the Paris salon\u2019. And promising they could supply \u2018any make of motor car\u2019.<\/p>\n

As there were only 23,000 cars on Britain’s roads by the end of 1904<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>it must have seemed a very modern and exciting business to many folk in Penrith. Unless they disapproved of the new-fangled inventions!<\/p>\n

The \u2018famous Brouhot cars<\/a>,\u2019 by the way, only lasted until 1911,\u00a0<\/span>which is why they don\u2019t seem so famous to us today!<\/p>\n

\"King<\/p>\n

Keeping up with the times<\/h2>\n

By January 1906, the Graphic Motor and Engineering Co Ltd were boasting (still in the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald<\/em>) that they were \u2018up-to-date with all the latest improvements\u2019.<\/p>\n

These included: \u2018electric light to inspection pit\u2019.<\/p>\n

By 1913, the garage was proclaiming: \u2018tyres a speciality\u2019 (which somehow makes me think of Wallace and Gromit!).<\/p>\n

Enter Armstrong and Fleming<\/h2>\n

At what point Graphic shut its doors, I don\u2019t know. But in 1919, tractor drivers and tractor ploughmen wanting good wages were invited to apply to T H Scales, 14 King Street, Penrith.<\/p>\n

And a photo from circa 1920 shows \u2018Armstrong and Fleming garage and repairs\u2019 \u2013 with the building incorporating the Herald Printing Works.<\/p>\n

In August 1941, Armstrong and Fleming, of 14 King Street, Penrith, were advertising for a \u2018junior lady clerk\u2019.<\/p>\n

And in 1954: STANDARD VANGUARD Saloon. July 1952. for Sale; 7.000 miles; fitted heater, mats and seat covers: condition new; open to any trial or Inspection. \u2014Apply Fleming. Armstrong and Fleming Ltd.. 14. King Street. Penrith. Tel. Penrith 2371.<\/p>\n

The familiar 14 King Street<\/h2>\n

By now, the landscape of King Street had changed: the old number 14 looks more like that inhabited by the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald<\/em> today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"14
14 King Street, a couple of years ago (middle). What was the Mitre Hotel is the main building in this picture.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pears & Elliott, the other side of the Mitre Hotel, shut up shop in 1954. The buildings (which has been the Bell and Bullock pub till 1900) were bought by J & J Graham, grocers<\/a>. Who sold them to Armstrong and Fleming \u2013 who demolished them to make way for a new garage.<\/p>\n

There are stories to be told about that: for another time.<\/p>\n

You can see (and indeed order a print of, should you wish) a circa 1955 postcard of King Street, at the Francis Frith<\/a> collection.<\/p>\n

2021 update<\/h2>\n
\"herald
The Herald building, summer 2021<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Plans have been submitted to Eden District Council for the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald\u2019s former printworks at King Street, Penrith to be transformed into a \u201cdrinking establishment\u201d which also serves food and offers hotel rooms. More details can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure lots of people know more about when the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald took over fully at 14 King Street. Always happy to update posts with new information.<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was good to see this week that the the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald has been saved, after going into voluntary administration a fortnight ago. Established in 1860, the Herald is an independent weekly broadsheet newspaper covering a large area of East Cumbria, including the towns of Penrith, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen, Keswick & Alston. Their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cumbria-history"],"yoast_head":"\n14 King Street, Penrith - Cumbrian Characters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Curriers and sewing machine shop, garage, and the home of the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald, 14 King Street has long played a big role in Penrith life.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/crimesofthecenturies.com\/index.php\/2020\/02\/23\/14-king-street-penrith-history\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"14 King Street, Penrith - 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