Workington is an ancient market and industrial town, situated on the coast of West Cumbria at the mouth of the River Derwent where it flows into the Solway Firth.

During the Roman occupation of Britain, the town was the site of a Hadrianic fort which formed part of the coastal defence system of the Roman Wall.

After the withdrawal of the Romans, it was in the 7th century AD that the Anglicans began to make use of this stretch of the coast, and the name "Workington" is said to be derived from "Weork" and "Wyre", an Anglican Chieftain.

It wasn't until the 18th Century that Workington expanded to become a major industrial town and port, with the exploitation of local iron ore and coalfields. Iron and steel manufacturing have always been a part of Workington's history. It was in Workington that Henry Bessemer first introduced his revolutionary steel-making process. In more recent years, with the decline of the steel industry and coal mining, the town is not the industrial hot spot it once was.

The original 18th century parts of Workington still exist, and take the form of Portland Square, Ramsay Brow and Pow Street, the latter of which is one of the main streets in the town centre.

The Curwens run throughout the history of Workington. The family were Lords of the Manor, and were powerful before the Norman Conquest with a male line unbroken to the end of the 18th century. They were masters not only in Workington, but over a large area of surrounding Cumbria. Curwen Hall, the 14th century heredetary seat of the Curwens, still remains in Curwen Park opposite Ramsay Brow. In 1568 the Hall was refuge for Mary Queen of Scots during her travel from Scotland before her imprisonment and execution.

Workington is twinned with Stadt Selm in Germany, Val-de-Reuil in France, and has a civic link with Curwensville in the USA.

Things to pass the time in Workington:
A bowling alley
A multiplex cinema
A sports centre
A pitch 'n' Putt course and driving range
Uhm...a McDonalds...

One nice thing is that it is on the coast, so it has a coastline. Workington doesn't have a beach, but it does have a bunch of green hills by the shore which are nice to walk on, even in winter. Provided you look the right way of course; Look west and you see the sea and on clear days the Isle of Man is visible. Look north and you can see south Scotland. However, look south and you can see industrial complexes down the coastline, look east and you'll see a scrapyard full of rusty metal. Lovely.