Back of Grade II listed courthouse collapses into river
Back of Cockermouth’s Grade II listed courthouse collapses into river after years of safety warnings
- It was declared unsafe in 2021 after the river eroded a stone section underneath
The back of Cockermouth’s Grade II listed courthouse has collapsed into a river after years of safety warnings.
Part of the 194-year-old Listed Old Courthouse building in Cockermouth, Cumbria has collapsed into the River Cocker.
Shocking photos taken today show that a whole section of the devastated building had crumbled, with debris seen scattered in the river below.
No-one is understood to have been injured.
The Grade-II Listed riverside building was due to be featured on on BBC TV renovation show Homes Under The Hammer.
The back of Cockermouth’s Grade II listed courthouse has collapsed into a river after years of safety warnings
Part of the 194-year-old Listed Old Courthouse building in Cockermouth, Cumbria has collapsed into the River Cocker
The Grade-II Listed riverside building (pictured before its collapse) was due to be featured on on BBC TV renovation show Homes Under The Hammer
The building was declared unsafe in November 2021 after the fast-flowing river eroded the stone section underneath it.
It was purchased at auction for £51,000 last year by London property consultant Samiul Ahmed, who planned to spent more than £100,000 to make it safe.
He announced in March that he had been working alongside local builders, designers and heritage groups and said structural engineers have assessed the damage
Cockermouth’s Civic Trust group had previously warned about the safety of the Old Courthouse.
In April this year, their architectural advisor said the building remained ‘highly vulnerable to further collapse’.
A Cumberland Council spokesperson said earlier this week that the local authority was ‘aware’ of the building’s condition.
The building (pictured today) was declared unsafe in November 2021 after the fast-flowing river eroded the stone section underneath it
Cockermouth’s Civic Trust group had previously warned about the safety of the Old Courthouse
Speaking on Wednesday, the spokesperson said: ‘We fully appreciate the concerns raised about the current state of the building.
‘We are aware of the continued deterioration and are doing all we can within our powers to find a solution to the issues. This includes securing independent expert advice.
‘This a complex issue and we are endeavouring to work with the owner of the property, and partners, to find a speedy and amicable resolution.
‘Officers from various departments within the council are working together to support this work.’
Cumberland Council have been contacted for an updated statement.
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