Key Dates
Milestones in the Digital Dig Team calendar
Excavation at Jane Pit
DigVentures will be running an excavation with local volunteers to explore the workings of the pit and the nearby miners cottages. We'd love for you to join our team!
Tragic accident closes Jane Pit
The sea breaks into the mine killing 100 miners, forcing Jane Pit to close.
A new seam of coal is identified
Located under the sea, Jane Pit becomes responsible for mining the rich source of coal, contributing substantially to the town's economy.
Jane Pit engine house is built
The iconic engine house is built in the ornate castellated style of colliery architecture that was popular with the land owner in the 19th century
Jane Pit is opened
Jane Pit is sunk and is open for business!
Working mining 65,000 tons of coal in a year
At the peak of coal mining in Workington, miners were extracting the equivalent weight of 430 blue whales of coal in a year!
Workington begins to mine coal on an industrial scale
The coal mining industry expands rapidly in Workington, bringing many changes to the town. Housing was forced to expand quickly and port industries were established such as ship building so that the town could trade it's coal.
Mary Queen of Scots stays in Workington
Following her defeat at the Battle of Langside, Mary Queen of Scots escaped and crossed the Solway Firth. She stayed in Workington as an honoured guest of Workington Hall
Workington is known as Weorcinga tun
Derived from three Anglo-Saxon words, Weorc (likely a man's name), ingas (meaning sons or people of), and tūn (meaning estate or settlement)
Roman occupation and Workington
Workington's roots lie firmly in the Roman occupation of the area. Roman's built forts along the Cumbrian coast as defences against raiding parties of tribes of Scoti and Caledonii from modern day Ireland and Scotland
