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Workington in Cumberland County England History and GeographyWORKINGTON, a parish in ALLERDALE ward above Darwent, county of CUMBERLAND, comprising the market town and sea-port of Workington, the chapelry of Great Clifton, and the townships of Little Clifton, Stainburn, and Winscales, and containing, exclusively of seamen, 7188 inhabitants, of which number, 6439 are in the town of Workington, 34 miles (S.W. by W.) from Carlisle, and 310 (N.W. by N.) from London. The only historical circumstance of interest connected with Workington is its having been the place where, in 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots, landed, when she sought an asylum in England, after her escape from the field of Langside: she was hospitably entertained at Workington Hall (the apartment she occupied being still called the Queen's chamber), until Queen Elizabeth gave directions for her removal to Carlisle castle. The town is situated on the southern bank of the Derwent, near its influx into the sea; and, in addition to the older part, which is narrow and irregular, contains some more recent streets, in which are many handsome and well-built houses: it is not lighted, and is badly paved with pebbles, but well supplied with water from the Derwent. There is a small theatre in Christian-street, and an assembly and news room in the Square. The Hall, the ancient seat of the Curwens, occupies an eminence on the south side of the river, commanding beautiful views of the surrounding country, the sea, and Scotland. Upon the Cloffocks, an extraparochial meadow, or island, situated north-east of the town, on the banks of the Derwent, races are annually held in August. A handsome stone bridge, of three arches, crosses the river, at the entrance into the town from Maryport, which was erected, in 1763, at the expense of the county. The trade principally arises from the exportation of coal to Ireland, in which more than one hundred vessels are employed. There were belonging to the port, in 1828, one hundred and twenty-six, with a burden amounting, in the aggregate, to nearly twenty thousand tons. The harbour has been secured by the erection of a breakwater within these few years, and is now one of the safest on the coast: the entrance is lighted with gas. Great improvement has been also effected by enlarging the quays, owing to the indefatigable exertions of the late Mr. Curwen. The collieries give employment to about five hundred persons; the mines are drained by an engine of more than one hundred and fifty horse power. There are three ship-builders' yards, in which vessels of from three hundred to four hundred tons' burden are constructed, besides two patent slips: the manufacture of cordage and other articles connected with the shipping is carried on, though not so extensively as formerly; there is also a manufactory for imitation Leghorn hats, giving employment to upwards of four hundred men, women, and children, during the summer months, in the preparation of the straw, which is grown in the neighbourhood: the manufacturer has received a patent for the invention. The salmon fishery, for which Camden mentions this place to have been famous, although not so productive as in his time, is still pursued in the Derwent and along the coast. The markets are on Wednesday and Saturday, that on the former day being the principal: it is a large corn market, and has recently been removed to Washington-street: there is another market-place, for butter, poultry, &c., which is connected with convenient shambles for butchers' meat. The fairs, on the 18th of May and October, have nearly fallen into disuse. Manor courts are held occasionally, and the county magistrates hold petty sessions, every Wednesday, at the Public office in Udale-street. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Richmond, and diocese of Chester, rated in the king's books at £23. 5., and in the patronage of Henry Curwen, Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, and rebuilt in 1770, is a handsome structure, in the later style of English architecture, with a square tower, situated at the west end of the town. A chapel of ease, dedicated to St. John, has recently been erected, under the auspices of His Majesty's commissioners for building churches, the first stone of which was laid on the 15th of April, 1822: it is a handsome building of the Tuscan order, with a portico and cupola, and contains one thousand four hundred and ninety sittings, of which nine hundred and ninety are free; the expense was upwards of £10,000. There are places of worship for Independents, Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists, Presbyterians, and Roman Catholics. A free grammar school was founded, in 1664, by Sir P. Curwen, and endowed, in 1672, by Thomas Curwen; but, in consequence of a discovery that the endowment was void, from the circumstance of Mr. T. Curwen having only a life interest in the property so assigned, the school has ceased to exist. A school in the Square was founded, in 1808, by the late Mr. Curwen, when the free grammar school was broken up: it is a very commodious building, and affords instruction to about two hundred boys and sixty girls, who pay a small weekly sum each. There is also a school of industry, established in 1816, for thirty girls. A dispensary has ben recently formed, and there are several benevolent institutions for clothing the poor, supported by voluntary contributions. On an eminence near the sea, at a short distance hence, are the remains of an ancient dilapidated building, called the Old Chapel; which, as it commanded an extensive view of Solway Frith and the Scottish coast, was probably used as a watch-tower, to guard against the incursions of the Scots. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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