Thank you my dilemma has been solved.
The stopcocks were all in the airing cupboard with the cold water storage tank, which was empty, they were just nigh on impossible to see and get to.
My kitchen cold water tap is now quite explosive.
I have just moved into a new ground floor, 70s, purpose built flat and was told that the stopcock was to be located under the kitchen sink. It wasn't there. Now I am baffled as to where it might be as my kitchen taps do not work. What is even more baffling is that the cold taps in my bathroom do...