Workington before c. 1700 GAZ Workington

Workington appears to have been a centre of some significance from an early date, as suggested by the wealth and early foundation of its church (attested by finds of Northumbrian age sculpture) and the fact that it became the focal point of the fee of Workington (also covering Harrington, Winscales and Seaton, on the coast, and Lamplugh and Kelton inland).  By the early 12th century it seems to have been part of the extensive estates of Ketel son of Eldred; his descendants took the surname Curwen (from Colvend in Galloway) and Workington became the seat of the Curwens from the 13th to the 20th century.  The original male line ended on the death of Henry Curwen in 1778, when the estate passed to his daughter Isabella, who married John Christian (1756-1828) of Ewanrigg, who added the surname Curwen to his name. 

By the 16th century Workington was a port and a small fishing community – ‘where shyppes cum to wher ys a lytle prety fyssher town’ as John Leland described it – particularly noted for its salmon fishery at the mouth of the Derwent.  In 1569 there were plans for a new dock, between the existing ‘harborye for botes’ at the mouth of the Derwent and the ‘fyssh houses’ on the shore.  There was also a salt pan on the coast and the earliest record of coal shipments from west Cumberland was from Workington to Ireland in 1604-5.  In 1573 the town obtained a market charter, reflecting the growth of trade.  Sir Daniel Fleming, writing in 1671, said that Workington had a ‘good haven for ships which carry forth coals, salt and other commodities’.  In 1688 Thomas Denton valued the salmon fishery at £300 per year and suggested that sea fish and wildfowl were also exploited.  He valued Curwen’s coal mines at £200 per year.  Of Workington Hall and its extensive demesnes, he wrote: ‘I do not know of any one seat in all Brittain so commodiously scituate for beauty, pleasure & plenty as this place is’.