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Workington

Workington is a town and port situated on the west coast of Cumbria at the mouth of the River Derwent.  Situated within the borough of Allerdale, the town is 32 miles southwest of Carlisle and 7 miles west of Cockermouth. The area around Workington has historically been a producer of coal, steel and high grade iron ore.

Workington is an ancient market town, situated at the mouth of the River Derwent. During the 18th Century, the town became a major industrial town and port when iron ore and coal was mined in the area.

Since those early days, Workington has evolved into a modern town with one of the safest multi-storey car parks in the UK, a massive public art programme and pedestrianised streets and walkways.

Combining the old with the new, if you want to explore Workington´s history, take a trip to Curwen Park. The Curwen family name has been linked to the history of the town for over 700 years, and the remains of Curwen Hall can still be seen.  Take a tour of the Helena Thompson Museum, which houses a scale model of the Hall.

The town was historically linked with mining, shipping and manufacturing, and in 1573, Queen Elizabeth granted the Lord of the Manor a market and fair charter. Corn, potatoes, turnips and livestock were sold. Workington remained a fishing village until the 17th Century, when the development of the coal industry and the impending Industrial Revolution changed the town for the better.

Iron ore, which acts as a magnet for steel and iron makers, drew plenty of industry to the area, and provided the impetus for Workington´s growth as a major industrial centre.  Most of the coal seams reached far into the sea. During the 18th and 19th Centuries, more than 30 pits were in operation around the town, and Workington remained the centre of steel production in the northwest of England for 100 years.

Workington was also a major port town, and a major shipbuilding yard was among the town´s main employers.  A total of 244 ships were produced in Workington, and the last one was launched in 1938. Lime, coal, tinplate and steel rails were all exported from the harbour at Workington, and Lonsdale Dock was opened in 1865. A breakwater was constructed in 1873.
 
Workington is still well known for its eccentrically-British mass football game which takes place on the outskirts of the town every Easter weekend. A hand-made leather ball is thrown from a bridge and players fight to score a goal at Workington Hall or Harbour, depending who you are playing for. The game was originally played between the Colliers, known as the Uppies, and the Sailors, known as the Downies.

 
 
The Curwen family moved to Workington around 1250, and provided 28 High Sheriffs of the County of Cumberland, and held 18 terms in Parliament. Henry Curwen (1661-1725) was a Jacobite Rebel, who experienced an unexplained death. His ghost is still said to haunt the ruins of Curwen Hall. A later owner of the Hall was John Christian Curwen, a cousin of the celebrated Fletcher Christian of ´Mutiny on the Bounty´ fame.

Mary Queen of Scots sought refuge at Workington Hall after her armies were defeated in 1568, not realising it would be her last day as a free woman. She wrote to Queen Elizabeth from here, and the letter is now in the British Museum.
 
Situated on the west coast of Cumbria, south of the Solway Firth, Workington, is the largest town on Cumbria's west coast, and still retains its industrial past. Struggling with urban decay, many of its past buildings were demolished and major parts of the town have been modernised and reformed to make the town what it is today.

If you are planning to stay in Workington, you will find a vast range of accommodation to choose from in and around the town.  Accomodation in Cockermouth, Keswick, and closer to the centre of the Lake District in Windermere, Bowness and Ambleside ranges from 5-star luxury hotels, stylish boutique hotels and a number of excellent bed and breakfast accommodation and guest houses.  You can also find a wonderful range of walking trails, attractions and some of the most beautiful scenery in England, close to Workington and Carlisle.

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