Whitehaven, Cumbria

Whitehaven on Wikipedia.

I make frequent references below to Whitehaven, A Short History, by Daniel Hay (1968), thus - †.

Old maps show a Baptist Chapel at the southern end of what appears to be a terrace known as Gore's Buildings, on what is now Scotch Street, at NX 9777 1829. Described here as Scotch Baptist (Disciples of Christ), and dated to 1828 to "after 1851". Its site was seen by Streetview in 2015.

The former Christ Church on Preston Street (1845-7, † p. 103-4). NX 9720 1760. © Barry Lawman. Since Barry took his photo, the church has been demolished, and a Streetview from 2018 shows the cleared site. The earliest Streetview (2009) shows that it was demolished before then.

Elim Pentecostal Church on George Street. NX 9768 1815. © Kevin Price (2012). At some point after Kevin took his photo, Elim became Grace Church, as seen here in a Streetview from 2015. The church appears to no longer be used, as their website says they now meet in Mayfield School on Red Lonning, seen by Streetview in 2021. NX 9934 1778.

Holy Trinity Church used to stand at the eastern end of Irish Street, at NX 9744 1792. † p. 102 dates it to 1714-15 to 1949, when it was demolished as unsafe. Its site has been retained as a garden. A photo is available here.

The former Methodist Church on Lowther Street and Scotch Street. † p. 108 dates it to 1877, and it also says that it had two predecessors on the same site on Michael Street. No maps I have access to show its site, and there's nothing obvious to be seen on Streetview. NX 9752 1804. © Malcolm Minshaw.

New Life Church (Assemblies of God) on Irish Street. Another view. Both © Kevin Price (2012). Link. Kevin has advised in 2020 that the church is now F.I.E.C. (Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches).

St. Andrew on Meadow Road, Mirehouse. NX 9841 1555. © Malcolm Minshaw. Link.

St. Begh's Priory (R.C.) on Coach Road. NX 9761 1755. © Malcolm Minshaw. Link. An old photo here shows it with the small spire/belfry which † says was removed in 1931. Its grade II listing says it was built in 1865-8 by E. W. Pugin.

St. Benedict (R.C.). © Malcolm Minshaw.

St. Gregory and St. Patrick (R.C.) on  Quay Street. NX 9710 1808. © Steve Bulman. Another view, following a re-painting. © Alan Blacklock. By 2015, the paintwork scheme had changed again, and the Miner's Memorial plaque, both © Steve Taylor (2015). The School Chapel dates from 1889 - foundation stone, © Steve Taylor (2015).

St. James and a frontal view. NX 9768 1843. Both © Steve Bulman. Interior view. © Jill Couthard. Link.

All that remains of St. Nicholas, destroyed by fire in August 1971. † p. 101-2 dates its consecration to 1883, successor to an earlier church of 1687-93 on the same site. It also says that a doorway of the old church was incorporated into the present building, but whether it survived the fire is unknown to me. NX 9741 1816. © Malcolm Minshaw. Link.

The Society of Friends built a meeting house on Sandhills Lane in 1727, where they remained until 1931, when it was sold to the Christian Brethren. It doesn't seem to be indicated on O.S. maps, but the centre of the lane is at NX 9751 1814. I don't know if the building survives, but the entrance to Sandhills Lane from Scotch Street can be seen in a Streetview from 2018. A photo of the building from when it was in Brethren ownership can be seen here.

A United Methodist Church once stood on Catherine Street. According to the entry on Genuki, it was founded in 1836, and closed before 1938, subsequently becoming a Salvation Army Citadel. I haven't been able to find a photo on-line, but the book "Looking at Whitehaven" by J. Brian Crossland, ISBN 0 9500003 1 0 (my edition published in 1971) has a photo at page 19, where it also says it was demolished in 1969. Google Streetview shows a modern Salvation Army building on the site. Circa NX 9759 1805. Link (for the current Salvation Army).

U.R.C. on James Street. The 25" O.S. map of 1899 labels it as Presby Church, and † p. 105-6 dates it to circa 1905, a re-build of a much altered Independent church originally of 1695. NX 9721 1793. © Malcolm Minshaw. Another view, © Alan Blacklock. Link.