It was business as normal for a law firm in Cumbria –  just 24 hours after a historic building next door partially collapsed into a river.

The back of the Grade II-listed Old Courthouse building in Cockermouth, which sits on the River Cocker, collapsed at around 5am on Sunday. There were no reports of injuries.

Cumbria and Northumberland firm Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors told the Gazette that its office in Main Street, Cockermouth, sits next door to the historic building – the office frontage adjoins that of the Old Courthouse and partially at the rear of the building. The team heard about the collapse from media and social media reports on Sunday morning.

Cartmell Shepherd

Cartmell Shepherd's office in Main Street, Cockermouth

Cartmell Shepherd's assistant practice manager, Lindsay Berry, lives locally and coordinated the firm’s response, liaising with the building landlord and relevant authorities who were in the process of assessing the damage.

By Sunday lunchtime, Cumberland Council confirmed that Cartmell Shepherd’s office was safe and that staff could work from the office on Monday.

Nearby Cocker Bridge, which links Main Street and Market Place, was closed as a precaution while assessments were carried out. The local Chamber of Trade launched a campaign to ensure people were aware of alternative routes through the town, which Cartmell Shepherd supported by reposting on their social media channels.

The firm said it remains in touch with the relevant authorities so that staff are up to speed with the latest building developments.

In an update yesterday, Cumberland Council said a structural assessment of the historic building is underway and a LiDAR survey will be carried out using a drone to provide a 3D map. Some debris landed in the river, but the river is still flowing.

 

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