Workington in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Workington, market town, seaport, and par., Cumberland, at mouth of river Derwent, 6½ miles N. of Whitehaven by rail - par., 7635 ac., pop. 16,154; township, 3355 ac., pop. 14,361; town, 3463 ac., pop. 14,371; P.O., T.O., 4 Banks, 2 newspapers. Market-days, Wednesday and Saturday. In the time of Henry VIII. Workington was a fishing village. Its prosperity commenced with the opening of coal mines in the reign of Elizabeth. Its industrial establishments comprise large iron-smelting works, and works for steel rails, iron plates, &c. There is a papermill. It has also some shipbuilding, and it carries on a considerable shipping trade. (For shipping statistics, see Appendix.) The harbour was improved by the construction of a break-water in 1873. Workington Hall, the seat of the Curwen family, gave shelter to Mary Queen of Scots on her flight from Langside in 1568.