Fishing and Farming
Workington’s original function was, until the development of the coal trade from 1650, as a fishing village, salmon being an important local commodity for centuries, and, from 1573 when Queen Elizabeth granted the Lord of the Manor a market and fair charter, a local market centre.
In the surrounding area farming has always been a significant feature—and dry stone walls, indigenous breeds of sheep, such as Herdwick, and farm buildings continue to be prominent features of the landscape despite the constituency tragically being affected by 152 incidences of foot-and-mouth during the 2001 outbreak. A new DEFRA British Cattle Movement Service Centre in Workington employing 600 people is a key part of the strategy to avoid a repeat of this episode.
It was announced on 15 October that 100 new jobs would be coming to the Cattle Movement Service Centre before Christmas. Mr Cunningham said at this time:
“Permanent civil service jobs should be brought to west Cumbria and to BCMS. We have a superb workforce, one that’s demonstrated that when there is a crisis they are prepared to deliver for the Government. We are talking about 100 new permanent civil service jobs in Workington by Christmas”.
19 breeds of sheep find their origin in Cumbria and some have most probably been farmed in the area since early medieval times. Today lamb sales are sheep farmers’ main income generator but the fact that “the woolsack”, Lord Chancellor’s seat in the House of Lords, is stuffed with wool is representative of the great wealth derived from this commodity in previous centuries. At a roundabout on the A66 near Cockermouth the Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre is to be found, which tells the story of sheep farming in the area.
Delicacies, such as Cumberland sausage, tatie pot and rum butter are native to the area and can be sampled in many of the excellent county pubs, cafes and shops dotted around the constituency.
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