Description

CARLISLE

NY4055NW COURT SQUARE
671-1/12/105 (South side)
13/11/72 The Cumbrian Hotel
(Formerly Listed as:
COURT SQUARE
County Hotel)

GV II

Hotel built as The County and Station Hotel, latterly The
County Hotel. Dated and inscribed on pediments G.H.H. (George
Head Head, a Carlisle Banker) 1852; by Anthony Salvin; 1866-8
extension by Cory and Ferguson of Carlisle. Partly rusticated
stucco on chamfered plinth with rusticated pilaster quoins,
string course, sill band and cornice. Graduated greenslate
mansard roof with shaped pedimental dormers; C20 copper
pavilion roof on tower with ornamental rail to apex. Panelled
stucco ridge and gable chimney stacks.
Main facade, 3 storey, 5 bays with 15-bay return; further 2
bays at left over archway of Collier Lane; left projecting
5-storey, 3-bay tower is an 1866-8 addition. Main facade has
central C20 glazed doors up steps in quoined segmental arch,
under a glazed canopy. Raised pilastered bay above surmounted
by a segmental pediment with decorative coat-of-arms. Sash
windows, those on upper floors with glazing bars; cornice
hoods on first floor, pedimental over entrance; second floor
smaller windows, that over entrance with festoon; shaped
dormers. Left bays have C20 shop door and window; the archway
is quoined with head keystone; sash windows similar to facade
but without second floor sill band and dormers without
pediments.
Return of facade was added C19. C20 bay windows but original
rusticated pilasters and overall signboard. Top storey has 5
round-headed window arcade in pilastered suround with
balustraded aprons. Bracketed cornice and open fretted
parapet.
INTERIOR: The main rooms have elaborate ribbed plaster
ceilings on ground floor; the ballroom which forms part of the
1866-8 extensions is of particular interest retaining much
original detail, but otherwise rooms extensively altered to
meet modern requirements. A labyrinth of cellars.
HISTORY: The Carlisle Journal, 20 December 1851 records "the
building of the new hotel in Court Square has this week been
let by tender to Mr Robinson of Penrith. The cost is to be
»11,900". Queen Victoria visited the hotel for a meal in 1853
(Cumberland News, 30 December 1983). Meason (1859) gives an
engraving of the hotel with the Collier Lane arch (some think
this was added later see Robinson (1986)). For further details
see Allibone (1988). An 1865 photograph shows that the tower
had not yet been built. Plans for the 1866 additions, using
Fox and Barrett's fireproof floors are in Cumbria Council
Record Office, CA/E4/766 and 773.
(Carlisle Journal: 20 December 1851; Cumberland News: 30
December 1983; Meason, George: Illust. Guide to the Lancaster,
Carlisle and Caledonian Railways: 1859-: P.56; Robinson, Peter
W: Rail Centres: Carlisle: 1986-: P.97-8; Allibone, Jill:
Anthony Salvin: 1988-: P.183-184).

Listing NGR: NY4026255556

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26504733

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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