CURWEN CASTLE Workington

[@valeriacurwin2895]

Thank you for sharing this, it would be wonderful to see it restored.

[@RavenFalcon94]

thanks for these fab photos!!!! As a 60's born workingtonian, i've never seen curwen hall in all it's glory, what a fabulous building and a disgusting shame that the council have let it fall into rack and ruin. it could have been a fantastic tourist attraction.

[@francistaylor7339]

Bravo! Enjoyed the video, enjoyed the book. Its so good people take the time to keep history alive in the minds of people. After WW2 was a dark time for our grand houses. Allerdale BC's neglect of an asset to their town is rather shame full. Still it is good to see the bones of Curwen Hall, and all those alterations and additions over the centuries.

[@ascpeace]

I would love to visit there someday, connect to my family roots.

[@carolevans5285]

And mine? Curwen is my maiden name

[@BUZZELLIOTT]

I agree with your comments here, it is a real shame that it has been allowed to deteriorate over the years into its present condition, but even in its current state, I believe that it could, and should be restored back to its former glory. Instead of wasting money on a shared sports stadium that not many seem to want, why not put the funds into Workington hall. Maybe some of the funding could be raised from Enlish Heritage or the National Lottery? Something should be done before its too late!

[@CharlesCurwen]

@dickie98 Hello Dickie, I am a Curwen as well. What does the Allerdale Council need in order to develop the the castle into an historic monument?

[@TallysVids]

Great photos. Sad that the hall has ended up in this state. I did read somewhere that the hall was given to the Council, to use as a Town Hall. The timing couldn't have been worse as shortly after World War 2 broke out. I suppose we will never know, what the hall could have ended up like, if World War 2 never happened. I can remember as a kid (early 80's) we used to regularly wander around in the hall as back then there were no bars up at the windows and you could just basically walk in. I remember at the back of the hall on the right handside, there was a stone stairway/landing, and a drop of around 20 feet (as there was no wall there anymore due to the hall's ruined state). I think around 1983 a young lad sadly fell off the back wall and died, and shortly after the bars were put on the windows/openings. Pretty sure the poor young lad who fell was one of Sinclair's The Jewellers sons, of the Sinclair's jewellers in Workington.

[@daveadams4128]

great images there marra

[@BUZZELLIOTT]

A small glimpse of how it could still have been under the right guidance, what a shame it was not looked after properly.

[@halcurwen-walker]

Well I came over for a bit of a look around and there is not much happening with the old home at all. I guess that there is just so much in the way of this beautiful old architecture over there that the locals fail to fully appreciate its real value. It will be past the point of no return before long. Such a shame,

[@valeriacurwin2895]

Do you have any record of what became of the items in the home?

[@dazoosocialworker]

I hope to one day visit. This is the home of my ancestors. I am from Michigan, in the United States. I hope all is well with whoever reads this.

[@tigerwa]

I went there today :) it was a shame to see how much it has deteriorated just over the last 10 years and how the council seem to be totally disinterested in it, it could be a serious asset to the town and it is just being left to the vandals.

[@LouisDeeYT]

I went inside the other day (video on my channel) still got chains in the dungeons and the original door down there 😀

[@Chrisindapurplehouse]

My dad saw a guy on a horse like a guy in period costume or something he looked away then the person was gone I know someone who got a stone threw at him by no one and my cousin got a massive scratch across his torso I've experienced stuff too I always used to close my eyes when passing curwen hall I was so scared of the place now I actually love it and want to see stuff

[@Chrisindapurplehouse]

It's so typical for this kind of thing to happen so many things are allowed to be destroyed by time and vandlism I want it restored too

[@doctorj2u2]

@BULLFROGBUZZ Thank you so much for the book recommendation and the video. I am another very distant relative via America (New York, New Orleans).

[@bertgreenwell4138]

Very amusing. I am as well and also from New York and now living in New Orleans (albeit from Kentucky originally). But to be fair, I'm sure there are 1,000s of us if not more.

[@sadrobokiller4]

my nans(deceased) brother(deceased too) used to steal slate from the roof off of curwen castle, he saw a 'grey lady' he describes, and fell from the roof, he saw her on the top floor... I'm still creeped by this...

[@BUZZELLIOTT]

I would recommend the Book that these pictures are taken from:- 'WORKINGTON HALL & THE CURWENS' - It is available on eBay for £9.99, Worldwide Postage - the sellers ID is:- NEWSOL ......... Good Luck!

[@barbarahulme]

theres a link to an article posted from feb this year saying the council are going to reopen it - Im not sure if they are planning on restoring it or not though

[@BUZZELLIOTT]

In an alternative parallel universe I imagine all the tourists travelling from Keswick to Workington on a vintage steam train to visit Curwen Hall.... & us also using the train to visit Keswick for a nice day out, of course in the right hands this could have all been a reality, but instead it is a crazy notion stuck inside an aging hippies stupid head !

[@Stampistuta]

BUZZ ELLIOTT Removing that train line was a huge missed tourism opportunity.

[@Chrisindapurplehouse]

Vandalism and time have destroyed this building in only a few short years although you should still come to Cumbria because of your family connection and the Lake District is a nice place to visit, be aware that your families old home is ruined

[@sarastables4556]

it is a real shame tht council dont give a toss about it thy should do sumting about it but no they would rather spend loads money on stupid clocks an stones 4 the town centere i think its wrong i have bit of family back ground of the place my 4th grate gran worked inthere as a maid she even waited on mary quenn scots there an we have an hanky chief tht she was given as a present an a key tht was 4 1 othe the door s in there its in my grandma keep saf box . i go there evey sunday with my kids

[@barbarahulme]

looks like the council may be considering doing something with it even more of a crying shame when it was given to the people of workington by the Curwen family comparatively recently - just after 2nd world war.

[@susanhodd8485]

I am told I am his granddaughter, 16 times removed...so Henry Curwen is my Grand dad....how...nice.

[@mikewatkinson1996]

I also hear I'm a distant relative. we're super distant relatives.

[@barbaracummins3354]

Sir Henry Curwen is my 12x great grandfather and going back to my 18th gt. gfather Sir Christopher Curwen. Would love to visit Workington Hall before it deteriorates further.

[@valeriacurwin2895]

I am a direct great grand daughter as well. It is wonderful to see these photos and comments by other Curwens/Curwins

[@lillianbrown3678]

Is this book still available?

[@BUZZELLIOTT]

I'm afraid that it completely sold out quite a while ago, I looked online but nowhere seems to have second hand copies of it at the moment, although the author; Keith Wallace is considering a reprint (possibly later this year, 2020) so keep looking out for it.