Cumbrian Towns: Spotlight On Maryport
In the latest of our ‘Spotlight’ series we discover a quaint coastal town with a rich past and a wealthy future.
It was in the 1700s that Maryport began to thrive. A local landowner Humphrey Senhouse began developing the town as a port and in 1749 an Act of Parliament was passed allowing the creation of the town. It was Humphrey Senhouse who gave the town the name Maryport, naming it after his wife Mary.
The town was home to a glassworks, paper mill and iron works in the mid-late 1700’s but none of them lasted and it was not until 1765 when William Wood opened the first shipyard that the town began to truly prosper. The town’s second shipyard was opened a few years later in 1780, by John Peat with a third yard following in 1810 opened by the brothers Joseph and Isaac Middleton. Joseph Middleton was the great-grandfather of Thomas Henry Ismay, the founder of the White Star Line – the shipping company who built the Titanic.
This is by no means Maryport’s only claim to fame. The potato riots that spread across the country and led to the introduction of rationing in 1918, actually began one market day in the west Cumbrian town in January 1917. It was home to Lieutenant Edward Smith, the youngest ever recipient of the Victoria Cross, as well as Douglas Clark, the former world champion of Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling.
Overflowing with history as it is, Maryport is not short of places in which to explore this rich heritage. The Maritime Museum and the Senhouse Museum are both bursting with stories just waiting to be explored. This year will see the final installment of the Maritime Museum’s First World War exhibition, marking the centenary of the end of the war.
Maryport Maritime Museum’s Linda Wyatt said: “We get enquiries from all over the world from people who want to trace their ancestors. Sailors back in the 19th century would sail off to Japan or somewhere and set up a family. It’s fascinating really.”
For a small town of only 11,000 people Maryport harbours an impressive interest in the arts scene, with a huge offering of clubs and groups covering topics such as history, art and operatics. It has been painted by L.S Lowry and renowned local artist Percy Kelly, meanwhile the famous annual Maryport Blues Festival has brought names such as Jools Holland, Dionne Warwick and Elkie Brooks to the town.
In the midst of all this, a sense of community is prevalent. Last year the Ewanrigg Local Trust launched ‘Hug a Mug’ the first mental health project of its kind in Cumbria and throughout the year the Maryport Town Council work closely with the local school to organise free community events.
Lisa Douglas from Maryport Town Council explained: “There’s a community feeling about Maryport as well, everybody knows everybody and everybody is willing to help everybody, it’s that kind of town.”
But with renowned tourist attractions such as the Lake District Coast Aquarium, it’s not just locals who enjoy Maryport during the summer months. Fleming Square retains its 18th century character with its stone cobbled central square and the attractive Georgian and Victorian architecture make it a worthwhile port of call for visitors to The Lakes.
Lisa added: “The town centre is looking better thanks to Allerdale Borough Council, who provided grants for business owners to decorate and paint their shopfronts. We’re already seeing the impact from that and they are looking to upgrade the promenade through the Coastal Community Group.
“There’s all sorts of new ventures coming to the town. The future looks bright.”
Photos by David Lister, Jan Fialkowski, Jen Spiers and Gary McKeating
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