Last weekend dad went away to work in London, so this week was payback time and he had a real treat in-store. Heading west on the A596 for around 25miles we arrive at the coastal town of Maryport.
Parking in front of the Lake District Coast Aquarium, known locally as the Maryport Aquarium, mum paid the £1.50 for the parking ticket allowing us to stay for most of the day.
Fishing boats in Maryport harbour
Eager to explore, dad decided that we should take a tour of the docks and harbour area. With its large open areas we could stretch our legs and take in the sniffs.
Harbour
Maryport harbour is split into an outer area and two inner areas. Fishing boats are moored in the Elizabeth Dock whilst pleasure craft are moored in the Senhouse Dock.
The River Ellen also runs out to sea via the harbour complex.
Ellenfoot Bridge in Maryport
Elizabeth dock was opened in 1857 and is named after Elizabeth Senhouse. The second dock, Senhouse Dock, was opened in May 1884 to cope with the massive amount of traffic using the complex.
Sitting on the sludge at the bottom of the harbour we saw quite a number of fishing boats of differing sizes,
lined up against the quay, We had to look over the edge of the harbour walls to see them.
Half way along the dock, we came upon the Ellenfoot Bridge with its towering white sloping column.
Ellenfoot Bridge
Built at a cost of £800,000 the Ellenfoot Bridge was opened on the 13 July 2007.
Maryport, the town, was called Ellenfoot until 1756 when Humphrey Senhouse changed the name in honour of his new wife Mary. This change of name was later to be confirmed in an act of Parliament in 1791.
The tide rushes into Maryport Marina
Designed around a Dutch lift bridge, the raising and lowering of it can be done remotely. It is thought to be the only one one it’s kind in the country.
It was paid for by West Lakes Renaissance and the European Development Fund to replace a walkway that had to be closed for safety reasons.
Damage
Crossing a large open space covered with grass we could hear the sound of gushing water.
Storm damage at Maryport Marina four months on
Short leads were the order of the day as we investigated the noise, which seemed to be coming from somewhere near the marina.
Gushing through the narrow channel into the marina was the sea. Millions of gallons of water was making its way into where the boats were tied up.
Looking back at the area where the dock gates were supposed to be, dad realised he had seen this area in the news.
Storm damage at Maryport Marina four months on
Following the storms at the end of last year, the sea gates had collapsed sending a wall of water towards the pontoons and the tethered boats.
Many of the steel piles used to hold the floating walkways have been pushed backwards and on the quay can be seen the debris of vessels caught in the tidal wave.
Maryport lighthouse and harbour entrance
According to the Maryport Marina website it is hoped to have the lock gates re-installed and the piers operational towards August 2010. Almost a year since the incident.
Lighthouse
Sitting at the entrance to the harbour complex, is what is thought to be the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world.
Built in 1846 the lighthouse is almost 10m high and sits on a 3.5m octagonal base.
Aluminium lighthouse
Some confusion seems to exist as to claims made about the lighthouse.
Reading between a few stories we think that the ornate lighthouse was the possibly the oldest working lighthouse until it was decommissioned and replaced by a concrete lighthouse structure built on the adjacent south pier. This too was replaced in 1996 when a new aluminium column lamp was commissioned. This is the current Maryport light. If you know the full story then please let us know in the comments area or via the contact us page.
Art
Buster walks along the old train tracks
During 2009 the ornate lighthouse became the centre of an art installation when composer Ailís Ni Ríain created a site-specific sound installation called Lighthouse Lullaby.
You can read more about the artwork here and at the Channel 4 Big Art Project website.
Train tracks
Our walk now headed upward onto the flat topped hill surrounding the outer wall of the harbour.
Following the trackbed of the former mineral railway we made our way back towards town.
Many of the old wooden railway sleepers and some of the track metalworks are still in place.
Wind turbines in the Solway
George Stephenson, of Stephenson Rocket fame, was the first engineer to put railway proposals to the Maryport gentry in 1936. Railway and dock sidings would enable coal and iron products to be moved more economically. The result was the Maryport and Carlisle Railway, the M&C.
It is not clear if these tracks formed part of the M&C.
Wind turbines
Looking over our shoulders, we got the clearest view we have ever had of the wind turbines in the Solway.
Looking over Maryport harbour
Interesting that depending on your viewpoint the turbines either stand in rows or in a random order.
Our walk now followed the signs towards the Senhouse Museum at the top of the hill overlooking the town.
Roman History
Senhouse Roman Museum
Started in 1570, the collection of Roman carved stones is housed in a building known locally as The Battery.
Built in 1887, The Battery was originally a Royal Naval Artillery Volunteer Drill Hall and was where naval gunners were trained.
John Senhouse, Lord of the Manor of Ellenborough, started the collection of carved and inscribed Roman stones as a hobby. Placing many of them in the walls of his family mansion Alneburgh Hall, later renamed Netherhall.
Vacated in 1962, Netherhall fell into ruin and the rare collection, with many items found locally, was at risk of being lost.
Easter door garland
A permanent home was found at the Battery in 1990 which ironically is alongside a Roman Fort, probably founded in the first Century AD and rebuilt during the reign of Emperor Hadrian.
The museum displays the largest group of Roman military altar stones and inscriptions from any site in Britain and unique examples of Romano-British religious sculpture.
The collection is the oldest in the country, and is of international importance.
Sadly with our mucky paws we were not allowed in to see for ourselves, however we did have a good sniff around outside and said hello, through the fence, to the sheep grazing on the land where the fort is hidden.
Easter
With the sun starting to hide behind increasing cloud, we decided it was time to walk back towards the car. This time we used the paths through the houses and not the coastal path.
Fleming Square in Maryport
Hanging on a door we noticed this bright yellow and white Easter garland. Ribbons hung below it with a number of painted eggs. It did look good on the dark green door of the big house.
Fleming Square
About half way between the museum, at the top of the hill and the main town is Fleming Square. Renovation work took place on this large open space during 2003. In the centre is a large stone pillar with four paths leading away.
Each path has a number of carved stone insets telling of the maritime and industrial past.
High tide in Maryport
Surrounding Fleming Square are a mixture of late Georgian and early Victorian houses.
Unusually, three gardens belonging to houses overlooking Fleming Square are listed in the National Garden Scheme Yellow Book.
High Tide
With our paws starting to ache, we make it back to the car and are amazed that the water has risen so far in the docks.
A local fisherman spoke to mum and said that a tide of over 9m was expected. The water looked a bit muddy so we were kept away from having a paddle.
Until next time
That’s all for now as we need a good lay down after a lot of exploring.
Buster and Charlie
Further information
Maryport Maritime museum leaflet
More information about the Maryport lighthouse
Lighthouse confusion sources – News and Star newspaper, Engineering Timelines, Trinity House
Ostles of Maryport - Interesting family history site inc letter documenting a meeting with George Stephenson.
