The Little Book of Cumbria – Maryport
Maryport history
Back in the early 18th century there was a small village along the Solway coast called Ellenfoot, as it was situated at the mouth of the River Ellen. At that time it was described as ‘the resort of a few miserable fisherman who had huts along the beach’.
That all changed within a few years as, in 1749, an Act of Parliament was passed to allow the creation of the present town. Humphrey Senhouse named the new town after his wife, Mary. The Senhouse family were landowners in the area and responsible for the development of the town and excavation of it’s Roman past.
Maryport then developed along the lines of Whitehaven before it, becoming an industrial centre. An iron foundry opened and the port developed, as did shipyards such as Wood’s yard and Ritson’s yard, which was famous for launching ships broadside into the River Ellen. By this time, coal mines were operating all around the town – at Ellenborough, Dearham, Gilcrux, Broughton Moor and Birkby.
By David Ramshaw
Photo by Jan Fialkowski
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