Maryport in Cumbria may be a small harbour town, but it packs a punch when it comes to picturesque scenery, history and famous connections. A Roman settlement for about 250 years until 410 AD, Maryport was a fishing hamlet in the early 18th century but grew because of Britain’s mining industry.
Maryport gets its name from the wife of Humphrey Senhouse who in 1749 was given a green light from Parliament to develop a new town and harbour.
The town expanded at pace, with Fleming Square and Georgian properties built as part of a planned approach to its development, based on a grid system, like nearby Whitehaven.
By 1845, more than 300,000 tons of coal were shipped from Maryport, with other imports and exports including iron ore, timber, cattle and cotton.
Home to a number of master mariners, workers at Maryport’s shipyards also built 280 vessels between 1765 and 1914. White Star Line owner Thomas Henry Ismay was born in Maryport. It was his line which built the Titanic.
Maryport has a link with Mutiny on the Bounty leader, Fletcher Christian, and provided a setting for Wilkie Collins’s famous novel, The Woman in White, according to visitlakedistrict.com.
The town is rightfully proud of its long history and celebrates it at venues including Senhouse Roman Museum and the Maritime Museum.
Another attraction is the Lake Distict Coast Aquarium at Maryport Harbour, which reportedly boasts more than 2,000 specimens in over 75 display tanks.
Maryport also boasts sweeping views of the Solway estuary, with its bay recognised as being a good spot for windsurfing and kite-surfing.
Visitors to the town can take advantage of Maryport’s eateries, which include Her Citi – a café with a vintage clothing section – The Lifeboat Inn, Maryport Golf Club restaurant and The Harbourside Café.
There are two hotels in the town, Waverley Hotel and three star rated, The Golden Lion Hotel. Prices for a room for two at the time of writing are £80 and between £92 and £110 respectively.
You can get to Maryport by train with Northern services from Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness.
By car, the town lies on the A596 and is about seven miles from Cockermouth and roughly the same distance from Workington.
