The Cumbrian Hotel

The Cumbrian Hotel, originally built as The County and Station Hotel and later The County Hotel, dates from 1852. It was designed by Anthony Salvin and constructed by Mr Robinson of Penrith at a cost of £11,900. An extension was added between 1866 and 1868 by Cory and Ferguson of Carlisle. George Head Head, a Carlisle banker, is commemorated by inscriptions and the date on the pediments.

The building is largely constructed of rusticated stucco with a chamfered plinth, rusticated pilaster quoins, a string course, sill band, and cornice. It has a graduated greenslate mansard roof with shaped pedimental dormers, and a C20 copper pavilion roof on a tower topped with an ornamental rail. Panelled stucco ridge and gable chimney stacks are also present. The main façade is three storeys and five bays, with a return of fifteen bays; further bays are situated to the left over an archway leading to Collier Lane, and a projecting five-storey, three-bay tower was added in 1866-8. The central entrance is a C20 glazed door set within a quoined segmental arch, sheltered by a glazed canopy. Above the entrance is a raised, pilastered bay surmounted by a segmental pediment bearing a decorative coat-of-arms. Sash windows with glazing bars are featured throughout, with cornice hoods on the first floor and pediments above the entrance. Smaller windows are found on the upper floors, with a festoon above the window over the entrance. The left bays include a C20 shop door and window, while the Collier Lane archway is quoined with a keystone. The return façade, added in the 19th century, has sash windows similar to the main façade but without a second-floor sill band and lacks pediments on the dormers. C20 bay windows and an overall signboard are also part of the exterior. The top storey features a five-round-headed window arcade set within a pilastered surround with balustraded aprons. A bracketed cornice and open fretted parapet complete the facade.

The interior, particularly the ground floor rooms with their elaborate ribbed plaster ceilings and the ballroom (part of the 1866-8 extension) which retains much original detail, are noteworthy. The hotel contains a labyrinth of cellars. The building was visited by Queen Victoria in 1853. An engraving from 1859 depicts the hotel with the Collier Lane arch, although some believe this feature may have been added later. Plans for the 1866 additions, including Fox and Barrett's fireproof floors, are held at Cumbria Council Record Office.