The Elephant Inn (Photographs) was run by William Ducksbury from about summer 1885 until November 1889 when it was auctioned after a dispute with the tax man followed by the refusal of magistrates to renew the license. The annual rent was £70 (~£5,700 at 2003 prices - (using Consumer Price Inflation since 1750) ). In December 1889 and August 1891 William Ducksbury received letters from an uncle John Cockroft (who had left Kendal to go and work in Snohomish (1, 2) Washington State) advising him to sell because of the 'dangers' of running a pub. He had already just sold the business and then made a failed attempt to obtain a pub licence in Liverpool, received a court summons and then went to sea as a steward. He sailed from Liverpool to Philadelphia on the 'SS Ohio', Ships discharge papers. He then dissappeared until about 1900 before reappearing back in Liverpool. In 1917 he inherited £300 from Henry Cockroft, (presscutting, will).
John Cockroft from Kendal was killed in a fall from scaffolding and died 2 July 1892 aged 61 he was buried in woodlawn cemetry, Snohomish county, presscutting )

Obituary : William died on the 28/02/1935 from a seizure aged 79, at the Manor Park Hotel, Keswick. He and his wife celebrated their golden wedding in 1933 having been married on 17/11/1883 at St Andrews church, Penrith. He was born in Kendal and spent his early life at the County Hotel, Lancaster, with his Uncle Mr (Samuel) Ducksbury. Left Lancaster and moved to Penrith and for nine years was in the service of Mr Edward Parker, Carleton Hill, during which time he married.Then for approximately 9 years he was with the Ratcliffe family of Levens hall, who moved around. Returning to Westmorland, he worked for Mr Marshall of Patterdale hall and in March 1897, he took over the Glenridding hotel (calling it the Milcrest hotel (more photos) - now the Best Western hotel) and ran it for 30 years, leaving shortly after Kepplecove tarn burst its banks and flooded the hotel. He then bought the Manor House at Keswick and ran it as a hotel. Whilst at Glenridding he was a keen follower of the Ullswater fox hounds and was a committee member of the Sheep dog trials.