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Introduction

When friends came up to stay I’d planned to take them to Workington’s very own museum, the Helena Thompson museum. Hubby and I had already been several years ago with my parents on their first visit up to Workington, and it wasn’t the most exciting attraction I’ll admit. Things were made worse by my mum accosting the museum guide and talking for half an hour about the place being used as a wedding venue. Have no idea why since we were already married and wouldn't have wanted to get married there anyway!

It’s FREE and within easy walking distance of my house, with opportunities to visit pubs on the way back. However, my friends arrived later than anticipated, so the museum trip was cancelled.

A year later and my parents and family friends were staying with us and we were out doing a spot of shopping in Workington. Since they’d arrived a bit earlier than anticipated we had some spare time so wandered up to the Helena Thompson museum – and with a relatively expensive weekend ahead it was nice to have something to do which wouldn’t cost anything. I hope you enjoy my short review of the museum!

About Helena Thompson and the museum

I have a guidebook from the museum bought the first time we went (I noticed it was on sale for £3 which is quite excessive for what it is – there were also some other slightly overpriced souvenirs on sale there), which has a picture of Helena on the front.

The museum (which is a Grade 2 listed Georgian house) was where Helena Thompson lived for over 70 years (and her family associated with the house since the late 18th Century), until she died in 1940. When she died she gave the house as a gift to the people of Workington on the condition that it would be made into a museum for Workingon, and a meeting place for women. Initially the house was used as a hostel for evacuated children in the Second World War, but the museum opened in 1949. It’s a really nice house actually…I wouldn’t say no to living there!

More history can be found on the website (www.htmworkington.com) – in fact all of the information in my guidebook is on the website, so really there was no point buying it!

Over her life Helena Thompson did a lot of good for the local area including founding a maternity ward in Workington Infirmary (not that there’s a maternity ward in Workington now).

What’s Inside?

You enter the museum through the front door of the house, and on the ground floor there are three rooms to look at.

Costume Gallery – probably the most impressive section of the museum with various examples of women and children’s dresses (and accessories) from the late 18th century to the early 20th century, with notes about them. Looking at the dresses it strikes me how much thinner we used to be!

Victorian Room – a fairly small room (used to be the dining room) and some nice enough furniture for those who like to look at this sort of thing!

Georgian Room – contains various pieces of artwork, and glassware from 1714 to 1830 – mainly things which belonged to the Thompson family, and a nice mirror.

Going upstairs we noticed the flocked wallpaper, a hideous green colour…..upstairs there are two main rooms to look around (not all of the rooms are open as part of the museum)

Curwen Room – an interesting display about local history, particularly farming.

Long Gallery – various artefacts relating to industry, particularly ship building, coalmining, and the steelworks – Workington’s famous for manufacturing railway tracks. There’s information about the history of local schools and churches, a general history of Workington government, and sports.

Plenty of things to look at including quite a collection of birds’ eggs, and lots to read on displays if you have the inclination to do so!

Back downstairs there’s other rooms (one a meeting room) and there are various events and exhibitions which take place and lace making, embroidery and craft classes. Details can be found in the museum.

Outside there’s a nice garden – this can be used as a wedding venue and a fair sized marquee could fit out there. In the museum there were some photos of weddings which have taken place there.

Did we enjoy it?

We probably spent about 40 minutes at the museum including having a brief sit in the garden and enjoying a bit of rare sunshine.

There’s some interesting stuff in the museum, and I think our guests enjoyed it. We could have spent longer if we were going to read everything on display. But I don’t think anything really jumped out at us as being amazing!

Is it worth visiting?

It’s certainly worth having a look if you’re out and about in Workington and at a loose end. I imagine that lots of school trips go there, and it could be useful for teaching children about the history of the local area although it could be made a bit more exciting I'm sure!

Obviously it’s a bonus that it costs nothing to visit the museum, although we did put a donation in the donations jar.

However, as far as museums go it isn’t the most exciting place to visit, and I wouldn’t suggest that people go out of their way to visit.

Opening Times and Getting there

Open Tuesday to Sunday 1:30-4:30pm
In July and August open Tuesday to Sunday 10:30am-4:30pm
Closed on Mondays, but open at other times by arrangement.

There are various groups which use the museum as a venue, and of course you can get married here if you so desire.

It’s fairly easy to find – if you approach from the main road into Workington (A595) there’s 2 signposts (postcode’s CA14 4DE for those with Sat Nav). There’s a good sized car park too. If you’re coming to Workington on the train, the museum’s at the other end of town, probably just under a mile to walk, and up a bit of a hill.

Find out more at www.htmworkington.com or phone 01900 606155.