Photographs of the former industrial harbour town of Workington and the neighbouring village of Seaton on the West Cumbria Coast.
Burrow Walls Roman Fort at Seaton near Workington on the West Cumbria Coast.
There were two forts on this site, the first (possibly called 'Maggis') was built in the 2nd century as part of a line of forts and watch-towers along the north-western coastline of Cumbria from Bowness-on-Solway.
The walls are thought to have belonged to a medieval hall, constructed from the Roman stones.
The remains of a medieval hall on the site of Burrow Walls Roman Fort at Seaton near Workington in Cumbria.
The hall is believed to have been constructed of stone from the Roman Fort.
Siddick Ponds Nature Reserve at Siddick near Workington on the coast of West Cumbria.
Siddick Ponds is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Nature Reserve (LNR). With a combination of extensive reedbeds, a freshwater pond and a brackish pond this is one of Cumbria’s most important bird sites.
Dunmail Retail Park lies nest to the reserve.
Siddick Ponds Nature Reserve at Siddick near Workington on the coast of West Cumbria.
Siddick Ponds is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Nature Reserve (LNR). With a combination of extensive reedbeds, a freshwater pond and a brackish pond this is one of Cumbria’s most important bird sites.
Workington Hall / Curwen Hall at Workington in Cumbria.
Ancestral home of the Curwen family who obtained a licence to crenellate in 1380 and owned by them until sold to the local council in the 1900s.
In 1568, Mary Queen of Scots suffered defeat at the Scottish Battle of Langside and fled across the Solway Firth in a fishing boat to Workington, where she spent the night as a guest of John Curwen at Workington Hall. She wrote a letter to Queen Elizabeth I from here. Two days later Mary was taken into protective custody at Carlisle Castle and remained imprisoned for 19 years until her execution in 1587.
John Christian Curwen was lord of the manor at Workington Hall from 1783-1828, a period during which the town prospered. Grade 1 Listed.
Workington Hall / Curwen Hall at Workington in Cumbria.
Ancestral home of the Curwen family who obtained a licence to crenellate in 1380 and owned by them until sold to the local council in the 1900s.
In 1568, Mary Queen of Scots suffered defeat at the Scottish Battle of Langside and fled across the Solway Firth in a fishing boat to Workington, where she spent the night as a guest of John Curwen at Workington Hall. She wrote a letter to Queen Elizabeth I from here. Two days later Mary was taken into protective custody at Carlisle Castle and remained imprisoned for 19 years until her execution in 1587.
John Christian Curwen was lord of the manor at Workington Hall from 1783-1828, a period during which the town prospered. Grade 1 Listed.
Workington Hall / Curwen Hall at Workington in Cumbria.
Ancestral home of the Curwen family who obtained a licence to crenellate in 1380 and owned by them until sold to the local council in the 1900s.
In 1568, Mary Queen of Scots suffered defeat at the Scottish Battle of Langside and fled across the Solway Firth in a fishing boat to Workington, where she spent her last night of freedom as a guest of John Curwen at Workington Hall. Grade 1 Listed.
Mill Stream leading to the former saw mill belonging to the Curwen Estate at Workington Hall in Cumbria.
Now a private house.
Mill Stream running through Curwen Park / Hall Park at Workington in Cumbria.
The Mill Stream, Curwen Park in Workington.
Mill Stream leaving Curwen Park to make its way down to the docks and the sea.
The weirs on The River Derwent at The Yearl, in Mill Field, Workington, Cumbria.
Sheep grazing on the banks of the River Derwent in Mill Field, Curwen Park Workington, Cumbria.
The houses at Barepot are on the far side of the river.
Fly fishing for salmon and sea trout in the River Derwent at Workington, Cumbria.
A view of Workington Bridge (or Calva Bridge) from the banks of the River Derwent in Mill Field, Curwen Park, Workington.
'Jane Pit was an undersea coal mine opened in 1844 by Henry Curwen. The engine house was built in 1843 and housed a pumping engine. Both the engine house and chimney have battlements. It is the finest surviving example of an ornate castellated style of colliery found in Cumberland. This style was used when large landowners built mine buildings.' (Historic England)
Workington Bessemer Stone at Workinton Railway Station in Cumbria.
Sculpted by Shaun Williamson to commemorate the Workington steel workers. The stone is sculpted from hard carboniferous limestone, the stone used to smelt the ore.
The Steel Works closed in 2006
Curwen's Column, sculpted by Edward Allington (1951–2017) stands on Pow Street, Workinton, Cumbria.
The huge column, made of steel rails from Workington Steel Works, is dedicated to John Christian Curwen.
The Howe at Workington overlooking the Solway Firth and Irish Sea, Cumbria.
The Howe at 52m / 171ft is composed of slag from the old Workington Steelworks 1870- 2006.
The 2015 Crucifix on The Howe overlooking the town of Workington on the West Coast of Cumbria.
The Crucifix on The Howe at Workington, Cumbria.
Local man, Peter Nelson built the 3m tall crucifix in 2015 as a tribute to his late wife without planning permission, but local support persuaded the council to allow it to stay.
View towards the Solway Firth and South Pier Lighthouse from the slag bank footpath at Workington in Cumbria.
South Pier Lighthouse at Workington, marking the start or finish of the Coast to Coast cycle route.
Billy Bumbley's Hut on the southern quayside of the River Derwent at Workington in Cumbria.
This stone hut was built in the early 19th century as a shelter for a dock worker who alerted sailors to the water level in the estuary.
Billy Bumbley's Hut on the southern side of the Derwent Estuary at Workington in Cumbria.
This stone hut was built in the early 19th century as a shelter for a dock worker who alerted sailors to the water level in the estuary.
Coastal navigation beacon on the bank of the Derwent Estuary in Workington, Cumbria.
The eastern end of Workington Harbour and the 18th century old steam sawmill with chimney.
The Arch, North Beach, Workington on the Solway Firth, West Cumbria.
The hole in the industrial slag has been naturally eroded by the sea.
The Arch, North Beach, Workington on the Solway Firth, West Cumbria.
The hole in the industrial slag has been naturally eroded by the sea.
Early morning, Washington Square Shopping Centre in Workington, Cumbria.
The Lookout Clock in Workington, Cumbria.
Sculpted in 2006 by Andy Plant, the design is modelled on a camera obscura. A revolving minute hand sits on the large steel sphere – the minute numbers denoted on the ground and the hours on a ring above the sphere.
A camera is installed on the end of the minute hand, and on every hour, a panoramic view of the town’s skyline can be seen through viewing windows on the sphere, as the hand rises into the air.
The 2006 'Coastline' sculpture by Simon Hitchens in Washington Square, Workington, Cumbria.
This polished Shap granite and resin sculpture represents the meeting of land and sea with the paving stones forming a map of the West Cumbrian coastline. Workington is represented by the 4m tall centrepiece. At night, the area is lit with small blue lights showing where the coastline lies.
St Michael's, the Parish Church of Workington, Cumbria.
The oldest parts of the church are 12th century, with much 18th century alterations. A fire in 1887 caused much damage, and then another in 1994 led to the church being closed for seven years. It was reopened and rededicated in 2001.
The chancel and East Window in St. Michael's Church, Workington.
This stunningly vibrant window was designed in 2001 by Roy Coomber of Pendle Stained Glass Ltd.
St John's Church on Washington Street, Workington..
St Johns was built in Neoclassical style to a design by Thomas Hardwick. The design was based on that of St Paul's in Covent Garden, London.
The Cenotaph in Vulcan's Park, Workington.
The two faces shown iin this photo show a soldier carrying a wounded comrade and a tribute to the local steel industry workers. The other faces show a soldier bidding farewell to his family and a tribute to the local miners.
The Helena Thompson Museum on Park End Road, Workington.
This Georgian house, bequeathed to the town by the late Helena Thompson is now both a museum and community venue.
The Art Deco Workington Bus Station, built in 1926 by Cumberland Motor Services.
Britain’s first purpose-built covered bus station.
The 1920 Art Deco Oxford Picture Theatre on Oxford Street, Workington.
The building is currently a Wetherspoons pub called the Henry Bessemer, named after the man who invented the Bessemer process for the manufacture of steel.
The old Workington Brewery founded by John Christian Curwen in 1792.
Brewing ceased in 1988.