history of whitehaven...
In 1600 Whitehaven was a small coastal village dependent on fishing, farming and salt-making, until the wealthy Lowther family began to capitalise on the rich seams of coal in the area. Several pits were sunk around Whitehaven to extract the 'black gold' and in some places the westerly dipping coal seams were followed under the Irish Sea for up to 5 miles.
The Whitehaven mines were among the most dangerous in the world for pit explosions - one of the worst being in May 1910 when 136 miners lost their lives at Wellington Pit.
The first quay was built in 1634 to export coal to Ireland but a growth in shipping between Europe, Africa, America and the West Indies necessitated the building of additional quays (or tongues) to sope with the burgeoning trade. By 1750 Whitehaven was the third most important port in the country after London and Bristol and plans were underway to create a gracious town with elegant Georgian houses, wide thoroughfares and new churches to reflect the town's wealth. Unfortunately, the American War of Independence (1775-1783) severely affected the important tobacco trade with Maryland and Virginia, and Whitehaven's sea merchants faced bankruptcy through contraction of markets and an increase in piracy on English ships. Although the war hampered trade, it fostered a major shipbuilding industry in Whitehaven that produced over 1000 wooden ships up to the late 19th century.
Coal mining continued as an important industry until the 1930s, followed by gradual closure of the pits. In 1943 the Marchon Chemical Works was built on the site of Ladysmith pit and became a leading producer of detergent powders. Its tall chimneys dominated the Whitehaven skyline for around 50 years until closure in 2005 and demolishment two years later. The flattened site is now earmarked for landscape restoration.
Today, improvements to the harbour area and sympathetic restoration of the town's Georgian buildings are part of an ongoing regeneration programme, the latest phase of which is to upgrade footpaths, cycleways and signage along the coast to St Bees and improve access to Haig Colliery Mining Museum, Saltom Pit and the RSPB reserve at St Bees. www.whitehavencoast.org.uk
The Trade Triangle
Whitehaven was involved in the slave trade through the trade triangle. Goods such as textiles, wool, weapons, metal goods and gunpowder were taken to Africa and traded for slaves. The ships then sailed with their human cargo to the plantations of the West Indies and America. Here the slaves were auctioned off and goods bought on the proceeds - sugar, rum, tobacco, coffee, tea and exotic spices. These imported foodstuffs gave rise to many Cumbrian specialities such as Cumberland Rum Butter, Grasmere Gingerbread and Cumberland Sausage. Merchant trade with the Americas also underpinned many industries in Cumbria including snuff-making, tea and coffee importers and blenders, cotton mills and Jefferson's rum warehouse in Whitehaven.
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones brought the American War of Independence to the British mainland. He was born at Kirkcudbright in southwest Scotland in 1747 and served his seaman's apprenticeship on board the King George slave ship based at Whitehaven. A series of violent events involving his crews led to him leaving for America where he became an officer in the American navy. During the American War of Independence and partly as an act of vengeance, he decided to attack Whitehaven harbour from the sea and set fire to its boats. Although the raid caused little actual damage (only one ship was set on fire), his daring deed has gone down in the annals of history as the last time the English mainland was invaded from the sea.
