WHITEGATE. [Coax.] WIllTEHAVEN, Cumberland, a market-town, sea-port, parlia mentary borough, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of St. Bees, is situated on the western coast, on a level inlet between rocky and precipitous cliffs, in 54° 33' N. lat., 3° 35' W. long., distant 38 miles S.W. from Carlisle, 294 miles N.N.W. from London by road, and 340 miles by the North-Western and connected railways rid Carlisle. The population of the parliamentary borough in 1851 was 18,916. The town is governed by 21 trustees, elected triennially, who have also the management of the harbour. The borough returns one member to the Imperial Parliament, The living is a perpetual curacy in the archdraconry of Richmond and diocese of Chester. Whitehaven Poor Law Union contains 23 parishes and townships, with an area of 93,713 acres, and a population in 1851 of 35,579.
In the reign of Elizabeth, Whitehaven was a small fishing village, containing six houses. It is now a well-built town, with considerable commerce, and its shipping business is important. The town is lighted with gas, and is supplied with water from Ennerdaie Lake. In the vicinity are extensive collieries, some of which are wrought to the extent of two miles under the sea. Some of the coal-seams are eight feet and others are eleven feet thick. The harbour is commodious; it is tidal, but by means of a pier, constructed by Sir John Rennie, there is a depth of nine feet of water at low tide. There is a patent slip for the repair of large vessels. The port possesses two forte for its protection, and also two batteries of 42-pounders, all of which were repaired after the piratical attack of Paul Jones in 1771. At. the entrance of the harbour are two lighthouses. The manufactures
are of sail-cloth, linen, check, earthenware, candles, soap, &c. There are large rope-works and extensive ship-building yards. Coal is exported, chiefly to Dublin and other Irish ports. Communication by steam-vessels is maintained with Liverpool, Belfast, Dublin, and the Isle of Man.
There are in Whitehaven three churches of the Establishment; chapels for Wesleyan, Primitive, and Association Methodists, Inde pendents, English Presbyterians, United Presbyteriaue, Baptists, Quakers, and Roman Catholics; a Marine school ; National, British, and Infant schools; a mechanics institute ; a news-room and library; and a savings bank. The market-house is a neat building ; there are a custom-house, a house of correction, an infirmary and dispensary, saltwater baths, and a theatre. Petty sessions and a county court are held. The market days are Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. A fair or great market is held on August 12th. The northern approach to the town is through a gateway of red freestone, above which is a railway for coal-waggons; and at the south-east end of the town is a esatellated mansion of the Earl of Lonadale, called the Castle.
The number and tonnage of vessels registered as belonging to the port of Whitehaven on December 31at 1354 were—Under 50 tons, 13 sailieg.vessels, tonnage 335, and one steam-vessel of 37 tons; above 50 tone, 173 sailing-vessels, tonnage 29,540, and 4 steam-vessels, ton nage VP. During 1854 there entered and cleared at the port, inwards, C21 sailing-vessels of 27,060 tons, and 317 steam-vessels of 75,113 tons; ontwanls, 3223 sailing-vessels of 238,401 tons, and 331 steam %easels of 7e,017 tons.