button to main menu   Old Cumbria Gazetteer
placename:- Whitehaven
parish Whitehaven borough, once in Cumberland
county:- Cumbria
building/s -- market town;
coordinates:- NX974182
10Km square:- NX91
place code:- Whth

1Km square NX9718

photograph

Whitehaven -- Whitehaven -- Cumbria / -- 14.10.2005
photograph

Whitehaven -- Whitehaven -- Cumbria / -- 15.7.2008

text:- Mason 1907 (edn 1930)

Page 25:-
...
A coal-field stretches from Wigton to Whitehaven. Maryport, Workington, and Whitehaven are all busy towns among the collieries, ...
date:- 1907
period:- 1900s

old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 67 2)

OS County Series (Cmd 67 6)

County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.
County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.

placename:- Whitehaven
building/s
date:- 1890=1899
period:- 19th century, late; 1890s

old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H

Map of the English Lakes, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1850s-60s.
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WHITEHAVEN
blocks, settlement, and a minimal street plan

placename:- Whitehaven
date:- 1850=1869
period:- 19th century, late; 1850s; 1860s

old map:- Ford 1839 map

Map of the Lake District, published in A Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by William Ford, published by Charles Thurnham, London, 1839.
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WHITEHAVEN

placename:- Whitehaven
county:- Cumberland
date:- 1839
period:- 19th century, early; 1830s

descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843)

Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by William Ford, published by Charles Thurnham, London, et al, 1839; published 1839-52.
...
THE order in which the Lakes should be visited, if seen in any prescribed order at all, can be pointed out much more easily than satisfactorily. Lancaster and Kendal in the south, Carlisle and Penrith in the north, formerly offered the readiest facilities of access to this Northern Elysium; but since the improvement of steam navigation, Whitehaven and other ports have become equally suitable as starting places. One advantage, however, remains in favour of the old routes, that the direct lines are better, especially for carriages, although to the pedestrian this will not be a matter of any great importance.
Page 78:-
...
Four miles will carry you from the quiet, studious cloisters of Saint Bees, into the midst of the bustling and commercial activity of Whitehaven. The piers and coal-pits are the chief objects of
Page 79:-
notice here. The Earl of Lonsdale has also a large mansion, called the Castle. The tourist from Dublin, Liverpool, or Glasgow, may land here and penetrate into the Lakes by way of Egremont, Gosforth, Wast Water, over the Stye Head into Borrowdale, and thence to Keswick or Ambleside.
Page 172:-
...
WHITEHAVEN is a well-built town. During the last century, it has risen into importance in consequence of its vicinity to the extensive coal-mines of the Earl of Lonsdale. The harbour is large and safe, being protected by an extensive pier, built after a design by Sir John Rennie. Upwards of 140,000 chaldrons of coals are annually exported.
Page 173:-
There are three churches in the town, a Scotch church, and several dissenting meeting-houses. Steam-packets ply between Dublin and Whitehaven regularly, as well as Liverpool, the Isle of Man, and Scotland. This town sends one member to Parliament. Population, 11,393; market-days, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; inns, Black Lion, Golden Lion, and Globe.

placename:- Whitehaven
date:- 1839
period:- 19th century, early; 1830s

descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834)

Guidebook, Concise Description of the English Lakes, later A Description of the English Lakes, by Jonathan Otley, published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland, by J Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirky Lonsdale, Cumbria, 1823 onwards.
image OT01P163, button   goto source.
Page 163:-
... Coal is raised at Greysouthen, Gilcrux, and Plumbland; and there are extensive fields of coal beneath the town of Whitehaven, at Workington, ...
date:- 1823
period:- 19th century, early; 1820s

source:- Otley 1818

New Map of the District of the Lakes, in Westmorland, Cumberland, and Lancashire, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Jonathan Otley, engraved by J and G Menzies, Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, published by J Otley, Keswick, Cumberland now Cumbria, 1818; pblished 1818 to 1850s.
image OT02NX91, button   goto source.
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WHITEHAVEN

placename:- Whitehaven

old text:- Camden 1789 (Gough Additions)

Britannia, or A Chorographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by William Camden, 1586, translated from the 1607 Latin edition by Richard Gough, published London, 1789.
Page 180:-
...
Below St. Bees and in its parish is Whitehaven a handsome regular town, so called from the white rocks and cliffs. It is chiefly beholden for its improvement to sir John Lowther, who took his title of distinction from it, and whose descendants have a considerable estate here. It contains 1200 inhabitants, and has 190 great ships, mostly employed in the coal trade; three chapels, four meeting-houses, and a good artificial harbour with a long pier. The collieries lie at the foot of an hill 80 fathoms deep, by an easy descent bricked and vaulted. The town and collieries produced a revenue of 16,000 a year to the late sir James Lowther, who had here a magazine of oats, which he always sold to the colliers at 5s. per bushel Cumberland or three Winchester measure
Whitehaven in 1566 had but six houses and only one pickard of eight or nine tons; in 1582 twelve small ships. Sir Christopher, 2d son of sir John Lowther, purchased the lands of St. Bees priory here, and settled here and died 1644. The late sir James lived to see about 11000 inhabitants, and about 260 sail ships of near 30,000 tuns burthen. Thirty of them are employed in foreign trade and the rest in the coal trade, and export yearly above 20,000 tuns. He devised his estates here to sir William Lowther of Holker, bart. who dying the next year was succeeded in the said estates, reckoned 14,000£. a year, by the present sir James Lowther, created earl of Lonsdale 1780. ...

placename:- Whitehaven
person:- : Lowther, John, Sir
person:- : Lowther Family
person:- : Lowther, James, Sir; Lonsdale, Earl of
date:- 1789
period:- 18th century, late; 1780s

descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821)

Guide book, A Guide to the Lakes, by Thomas West, published by William Pennington, Kendal, Cumbria once Westmorland, and in London, 1778 to 1821.
image WS21P295, button   goto source.
Account of Ennerdale, late 18th century
Page 295:-
Within these few years, several visitors of the lakes extend their tour, by taking in Whitehaven, ...
image WS21P307, button   goto source.
Mrs Radcliffe's Ride over Skiddaw, 1794
Page 307:-
...
[on Skiddaw] ... Whitehaven, and its white coast, were distinctly seen; ...
date:- 1760; 1794
period:- 18th century, late; 1760s; 1790s

old map:- Bowen and Kitchin 1760

New Map of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, Emanuel Bowen and Thomas Kitchin, published by T Bowles, John Bowles and Son, Robert Sayer, and John Tinney, 1760; published 1760-87.
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Whitehaven Mar. Thur.
blocks, street plan, town, market

placename:- Whitehaven
market town
date:- 1760
period:- 18th century, late; 1760s

old map:- Mackenzie 1760s

thumbnail MCK5P4, button to large image
WHITEHAVEN

placename:- Whitehaven
date:- 1760
period:- 18th century, late; 1760s

descriptive text:- Simpson 1746

The three volumes of maps and descriptive text published as 'The Agreeable Historian, or the Compleat English Traveller ...', by Samuel Simpson, 1746.
image SMP4P181, button   goto source.
...
Whitehaven is a Market Town, ... so called from a great Rock of hard white Stone, standing on the W. Side of it, and the Haven which shelters the Vessels that enter into it from Tempests and Winds. It anciently belong'd to St. Bees, which we shall speak of hereafter.
The Town of Whitehaven is grown up by Encouragement of the Lowther Family, from a small Place
image SMP4P182, button   goto source.
to be very considerable for its Coal Trade, which of late Years is so much increas'd, that, next to Newcastle, it is the most eminent Port in England for that Trade. The City of Dublin, and all the Towns of Ireland on that Coast, and some Parts in Scotland, and the Isle of Man, are wholly supply'd from hence. It is frequent in Time of War, on Occasion of cross Winds, to have 200 Sail of Ships at a Time go from this Place to Dublin loaded with Coals. And Sir James Lowther, particularly, is said to send from hence to Ireland, annually, as many Coals as brings him in near 20,000 l. a Year.
Here is likewise a good Trade for Salt; and by the Increase of Shipping here, and the Advantage the Place has received from two Acts of Parliament in Queen Anne's Reign, to mend and improve the Harbour, and another in his present Majesty's, in 1740, for the same Purpose, and to repair Roads leading to it, the people are led into Merchandizing, and it is now on all Accounts reckon'd a considerable trading Town; tho' in Mr. Camden's Time, it was of so little Consequence that he takes no Notice of it, and his Continuator but little.
The King has several Officers here to look after the Customs. It is 227 Miles computed distant from London, and 289 measured. The Market is kept on Tuesdays, and the Fair is annually on the 1st of September.
image SMP4P197, button   goto source.
... Whitehaven, Sir James Lowther's, the other Representative in Parliament for this County. ...

placename:- Whitehaven
person:- : Lowther Family
person:- : Lowther, James, Sir
date:- 1746
period:- 18th century, early; 1740s

old map:- Badeslade 1742

A Map of Westmorland North from London, scale about 10 miles to 1 inch, and descriptive text, Cumberland similarly, by Thomas Badeslade, London, engraved and published by William Henry Toms, Union Court, Holborn, London, 1742.
Whitehaven Market Thursd: Fair September 1st.

placename:- Whitehaven
date:- 1742
period:- 18th century, early; 1740s

descriptive text:- Defoe 1724-26

Travel book, Tour through England and Wales, by Daniel Defoe, published in parts, London, 1724-26.
Under this shore, the navigation being secured by this cape of St. Bees, is the town of Whitehaven, grown up from a small place to be very considerable by the coal trade, which is encreased so considerably of late, that it is now the most eminent port in England for shipping off coals, except Newcastle and Sunderland, and even beyond the last, for they wholly supply the city of Dublin, and all the towns of Ireland on that coast; and 'tis frequent in time of war, or upon the ordinary occasion of cross winds, to have two hundred sail of ships at a time go from this place for Dublin, loaden with coals.
They have of late fallen into some merchandizing also, occasioned by the great number of their shipping, and there are now some considerable merchants; but the town is yet but young in trade, and that trade is so far from being ancient, that Mr. Cambden does not so much as name the place, and his continuator says very little of it.

placename:- Whitehaven
date:- 1724=1726
period:- 18th century, early; 1720s

descriptive text:- Defoe 1724-26

Travel book, Tour through England and Wales, by Daniel Defoe, published in parts, London, 1724-26.
... and the sea [Irish Sea] itself seemed desolate and wild, for it was a sea without ships, here [Lancaster and Cumberland coast] being no sea port or place of trade, especially for merchants; so that, except colliers passing between Ireland and Whitehaven with coals, the people told us they should not see a ship under sail for many weeks together.

placename:- Whitehaven
date:- 1724=1726
period:- 18th century, early; 1720s

old map:- Morden 1695 (Cmd)

Maps, Westmorland, scale about 2.5 miles to 1 inch, and Cumberland, scale about 3 miles to 1 inch, by Robert Morden, 1695.
image MD12NX91, button   goto source.
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Whitehaven
Circle, buildings, towers.

placename:- Whitehaven
county:- Cumberland
date:- 1695
period:- 17th century, late; 1690s

old map:- Ogilby 1675 (plate 96)

Road book, Britannia, strip road maps, with sections in Westmorland and Cumberland etc, scale about 1 inch to 1 mile, by John Ogilby, London, 1675; and a general map of England and Wales.
image OG96Bm00, button   goto source.
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In mile 0, Cumberland.
Turnings left:-
to Whithaven

placename:- Whithaven
date:- 1675
period:- 17th century, late; 1670s

old map:- Jansson 1646

Map, Cumbria et Westmoria, or Cumberland and Westmorland, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Jansson, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1646; published 1646-1724.
thumbnail JAN3NY01, button to large image
Whithaven
Buildings and tower.

placename:- Whithaven
county:- Cumberland
date:- 1646
period:- 17th century, early; 1640s

old map:- Speed 1611 (Cmd)

Maps, The Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, and Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, London, 1611; published 1611-1770.
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Whithave~
circle, building, tower

placename:- Whithaven
date:- 1611
period:- 17th century, early; 1610s

old map:- Saxton 1576

Map, Westmorlandiae et Cumberlandiae Comitatus ie Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by Christopher Saxton, London, engraved by Augustinus Ryther, 1576; published 1579-1645.
image Sax9NX92, button   goto source.
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Church, symbol for a parish or village, with a parish church.
Whithaven

placename:- Whithaven
county:- Cumberlandia
village
date:- 1576
period:- 16th century, late; 1570s

source:- Lloyd 1573

Map, Angliae Regni, Kingdom of England, with Wales, scale about 24 miles to 1 inch, authored by Humphrey Lloyd, Denbigh, Clwyd, drawn and engraved by Abraham Ortelius, Netherlands, 1573.
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Wythaven

placename:- Wythaven
date:- 1573
period:- 16th century, late; 1570s

old map:- Gough 1350s-60s

Reproduction of the Gough Map of Great Britain, reduced size, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, 1875; and a full size line reproduction, with added transcriptions of placenames, 1935.
thumbnail Ggh1Cm, button to large image
thumbnail Ggh2Cm, button to large image

placename:- Withaven
county:- Cumberland

market notes:- see:- Owen: 1792: New Book of Fairs

see:- : 1889: Market Rights and Tolls: HM Government

see:- Bowen, Emanuel & Kitchin, Thomas: 1760: New Map of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland

Market day Thursday given on Bowen and Kitchin's map, 1760.
Market listed by Owen, 1792.
Market listed by HM Government, 1888.
market town
date:- 1792; 1888; 1760

A limerick from a Dorothy L Sayers story, Whose Body?


road book:- Cary 1798 (2nd edn 1802)

Road book, Cary's New Itinerary, by John Cary, published by G and J Cary, 86 St James's Street, London, 1798-1828.
thumbnail C38317, button to large image
page 317-318
Whitehaven
market town, post office
INNS. Whitehaven, George, Globe, King's Arms.
thumbnail C38319, button to large image
page 319-320
Whitehaven
market town, post office
INNS. Whitehaven, as p.318
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page 798
At WHITEHAVEN, for the ISLE OF MAN. / The Packet Boat carrying the Letters to and from the Isle of Man sails from Whitehaven once a Week, and returns as often.

placename:- Whitehaven
date:- 1802
period:- 19th century, early; 1800s

old print:- Linton 1852

Guide book, A Handbook of the Whitehaven and Furness Railway, guide to the Lake District etc, by John Linton, published by Whittaker and Co, London, etc, 1852.
thumbnail LN1E02, button to large image
Print, engraving, Whitehaven from behind Corkickle, Cumberland, drawn by R Shepherd, engraved by W H Lizars, Edinburgh, published by Whittaker and Co, London, and by R Gibson and Son and by Callander and Dixon, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1852.
Frontispiece to A Handbook of the Whitehaven and Furness Railway, by John Linton.
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-
R. Shepherd delt. / W. H. Lizars sculpt. / WHITEHAVEN. / from behind Corkickle.

placename:- Whitehaven
date:- 1852
period:- 19th century, late

old print:- Rose 1832-35 (vol.3 no.25)

Engravings - Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland Illustrated; from drawings by Thomas Allom, George Pickering, and H Gastineau, described by Thomas Rose, published by H Fisher, R Fisher, and P Jackson, Newgate Street, London, 1832-35.
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Print, uncoloured engraving, Whitehaven, Cumberland, drawn by G Pickering, engraved by T Jeavons, published by Fisher, Son and Co, London, 1832-35.
vol.3 pl.25 in the set of prints, Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland Illustrated.
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-
G. Pickering. / T. Jeavons. / WHITEHAVEN, CUMBERLAND.

placename:- Whitehaven
date:- 1832=1835
period:- 19th century, early

old print:-
thumbnail PR0077, button to large image
Print, uncoloured engraving, Whitehaven, Cumberland, drawn by W H Bartlett, engraved by J C Redaway, published 1840s.
Probably from Findens Views of the Ports, Harbours, Coast Scenery, and Watering Places of Great Britain, as continued by W H Bartlett.
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-
W. H. Bartlett. / J. C. Redaway. / WHITEHAVEN, / (with St. Bees-head.)

placename:- Whitehaven
person:- shepherd
date:- 1840=1849
period:- 19th century, early

old map:- Unknown 1690

Sketch map, Whitehaven, Cumberland, about 1690, perhaps redrawn by J Wilson.
thumbnail M006P, button to large image
Whitehaven

placename:- Whitehaven
date:- 1690
period:- 17th century, late; 1690s

hearsay John Fletcher Miller was born here, 1816. He recorded the weather in The Lakes, having 35 rain gauges on the fells. He determined that Sty Head was the wettest place in England. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, 1850; died 1856.

Old Cumbria Gazetteer - JandMN: 2008

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