WORKINGTON, Cumberland, a market-town and sea-port, in the parish of Workington, is situated on the left bank of the river Derwent, about a mile from its entrance into the sea in St. George's Channel, in 54° 39' N. lat., 3° 33' W. long., distant 32 miles S.W. from Carlisle, 306 miles N.N.W. from London by road, and 330 miles by the London and North-Western and connected railways vitt Carlisle. The population of the town of Workington in 1851 was 5837. The living is a rectory in the archdeaconry of Richmond and diocese of Chester.
Workington is indebted for its prosperity chiefly to the collieries in its neighbourhood, which furnish the principal article of export. Timber and flax are imported to a considerable amount. Ship building, rope- and sail-making, and block-making employ some of the iuhabitants. The manufacture of straw-plait in imitation of Leghorn is carried on. There are extensive iron-foundries, hat.works, brew eries, malt-kilns, dye-works, chemical-works, timber-yards, nail-works, and flour-mills. The river Derwent is here crossed by a stone bridge of three arches, built in 1763. Workington possesses a safe and capa cious harbour, with a breakwater and extensive quays. The custom house and commodious warehouses are situated on the quays. The
number of vessels registered as belonging to the port ou December 31st 1854, was, under 50 tons 3, tonnage 83 ; above 50 tone 92, tonnage 18,466; with one steam-vessel of 18 tons. The number and tonnage of vessels entered and cleared at the port during 1354 were :—Inwards, 126, tonnage 8625 ; outwards, 1210, tonnage 103,116.
St. Michael's, the parish church, was rebuilt about 1780 in a semi gothic style; St. John's chapel, erected in 1825, is in the Tuscan order of architecture. There are chapels for Wesleyan Methodists, Inde pendents, English Presbyterians, and Roman Catholics; National, British, Infant, and Roman Catholic schools; a School of Industry for girls; a savings bank; a mechanics institute, a subscription library and news-room ; a theatre ; assembly-rooms ; and a dispensary. A lock-up and justice-room has been recently built. The principal market, for corn and provisions, is held on Wednesday, and a less important market on Saturday. Fairs, held in May and October, have lately been revived. Races are held annually. From Workington there is a branch railway to Cockermouth, of which the terminus is situated near the new quay.