Harrington's History
Between Workington and Whitehaven lays the sometimes forgotten town of Harrington. Consisting of Harrington, High Harrington and Salterbeck, the town has seen many changes over it's chequered history.
The main quay was built by Squire Henry Curwen in 1760 which helped with the export of limestone and coal and led to the rise of the local shipbuilding industry. Unfortunately in the latter part of the 19th Century it's use declined diminished because of the decline of the manufacturing industry.
(The Curwen's were the Lords of the manor and lived at the now ruined, but once great manor house called Workington Hall.)
At one point Harrington had 5 railway stations so this shows you how busy a place it once was. It's industrial heritage is quite varied including, ship building, coal mining, steel making. It also had iron works and brick works. It also had a part in winning World War II, well ok that maybe an exaggeration but it certainly was involved.
There was a chemical factory which the elder population might still remember, as it used to spill out a warm aquamarine coloured water which was good for swimming, as long as you didn't go near the white foamy stuff that wasn't quite so nice! The factory was a magnesite plant owned by the Ministry of Aircraft Production. They used the harbour that they had closed and then turned it into a reservoir. They used to extract the magnesium from the seawater. The factory itself was a secret installation, wasn't on any maps and was disguised as a plain old iron works. It was one of only two in the country and the magnesium went to help make aircraft parts and incendiary devices.
On the site of the St Mary's Anglican Church (which stands on a little hill where the sea once lapped up at it). There has been a church since the Norman times and now it has beautiful stained glass windows that portray the towns industrial past. These engravings include shipbuilding, mining and there are even some of the wind farms!
The name Harrington has been spelled and pronounced in many different ways including among others, Haverington and Haverinqham.
Today the town is continuing to thrive and there are many proposed ideas for the continuation of the story of one of West Cumbria little gems.
