Workington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Workington | |
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| Population | 35,000 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Allerdale |
| Shire county | Cumbria |
| Region | North West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WORKINGTON |
| Postcode district | CA14 and CA95 |
| Dial code | 01900 and 01946 for South Workington |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | Workington |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| List of places: UK • England | |
Workington is a town on the west coast of Cumbria, England at the mouth of the River Derwent. The area around Workington has long been a producer of coal and steel.
Workington had a population of around 25,000 people in 1991 and is an industrial town. It is the seat of Allerdale Borough Council, which is one of three borough councils in Cumbria. It now has a population of around 75,000
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[edit] History
Mary, Queen of Scots after the defeat of her forces at the Battle of Langside fled to England by crossing the Solway Firth, and landed in the vicinity of Workington . She spent her first night in England as an honoured guest in Workington Hall, but was soon moved on to Carlisle Castle.
[edit] Workington Estates
Workington consists of lots of housing estates and areas. These incude; Northside, Seaton, Siddick, Stainburn, Derwent Howe(CA95), Town Centre, Ashfield, Banklands, Frostoms(Annie Pit), Clay Flatts(CA95), Port and Oldside(CA95), Mossbay, Moorclose, Salterbeck, Westfield, Harrington, High Harrington, Broadacres and Grayson Green, Distington, Bridgefoot, Winscales and Lillyhall.
[edit] Jameaters
The insult 'Jam Eaters' is used as part of the rivalry with local town Whitehaven. Supposedly, this term arose from the mining days because miners from Workington were richer than those from Whitehaven and could afford more exotic sandwich fillings, hence the Whitehaven miners being labelled with the term. Whitehaven are the real jameaters.
Jameaters - the term
The jibe "Jameater" arises not from the preserve being exotic, rather it a poorer substitute than meat, the sandwich filling of choice.
[edit] Steel Works
Workington was the home of Distington Engineering Company (DEC) the engineering arm of British Steel Corporation (BSC), which specialised in the design of Continuous Casting equipment. DEC had an engineering design office, engineering workshops and a foundry. In the 1970s as BSC adapted to a more slipstreamed approach to the metals industry the engineering design company was separated from the workshops and foundry and re-designated as Distington Engineering Contracting. Employing some 200 people its primary purpose was the design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of continuous casting machines.
[edit] Carl George Dalton
Carl George Dalton (d.21.06.1987) once lived in Workington Hall, Master Dalton the last remanding titled member of the Curwen Family and then moved onto Ribble Hall, Preston. The Curwen family however is still remembered in Workington to the present day. (The Curwen family has branches extending into present-day New England and in the Midwestern United States (Wisconsin and Illinois)).
[edit] Sport in Workington
Workington has a non league and former professional football team, Workington Reds, currently playing in the Conference North. The local proffesional rugby league team are former Challenge Cup winners Workington Town, whilst there is also a professional speedway team, the Workington Comets.
Workington is home to a tradition known as "Uppies and Downies", an historical version of football, dating to Medieval times. The goals are about a mile apart, one being a capstan at the harbour, and the other the park wall of Workington Hall. There were traditionally no rules, except those suggested by cunning and skill, while brute force is of the greatest importance. The 'Uppies' attempt to hale the ball over the park wall; the 'Downies' over the capstan. Whoever is successful in doing so wins a sovereign, given by the owner of Workington Hall. Workington still holds annual Uppies and Downies matches every Easter, raising money for various local charities.
[edit] Transport
Workington is linked by the A596 road to Maryport and (via the A595 road) to Whitehaven, and by the A66 road to Cockermouth, the M6 motorway, Penrith and County Durham. The town has bus connections to other towns and villages in West Cumbria, Penrith, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, as well as the rail connection provided by the Cumbrian Coast Line to Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, with occasional through trains to Newcastle, Lancaster and Preston.
[edit] Workington Regeneration
Workington has recently seen a massive town centre redevelopment plan in operation, which has demolished the former Co-op building and a former Tesco outlet [1] for a new shopping centre known as Washington Square, including a new car park. Work began three years ago, resulting in the opening of the £45 million pound Centre in August 2006 where the main attraction has been a new Debenhams to cater for West Cumbria. Next, River Island, HMV and BB's Coffee and Muffins are other stores which have come to Workington for the first time. Workington is also getting a brand new Tesco Extra. It will be placed on the towns Cloffolks site. The tesco extra will be the biggest Tesco in Cumbria and the 2nd biggest in the UK.
Retailers nearby, especially Marks and Spencer have been under threat, where the Workington store is proposing a new £2 million refit.
New monuments were also built in the town, including a metallic, modern clock, which has been subject to both heavy criticism and admiration.
