'Workington - Helena Thompson Museum'

Park End Road, Workington, CA14 4DE. Tel 01900 606155.
E-mail: whghtm@hotmail.co.uk

Location : Workington
Map - Ordnance Survey - NY 008285

The museum was bequeathed to the people of Workington by Miss Helena Thompson, a local philanthropist, in 1940. It houses displays of pottery, silver, glass, and furniture dating from Georgian times, as well as the social and industrial history of Workington and the surrounding area.

Helena had a special interest in the history of costume and needlework, and collected many examples of women's and childrens's dresses in the styles fashionable from the late 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century. A selection of these, along with jewellery and accessories are displayed.

There is a Georgian room, and a Victorian room, displaying decorative art and furniture from these periods. Upstairs in place of the bedrooms, is a large exhibition space housing the local history gallery. There is a display centred round the Curwen family, and showing a model of Workington Hall as it used to be. There are displays relating to the shipbuilding, pottery, brick-making, coal-mining, railway and steel industries.

Model of Workington Hall.

There are various special and touring exhibits throughout the year.

More information - www.htmworkington.com .