Whitehaven is a small harbour town on the west coast of Cumbria, in the north of England.
Town population: 25,032
County: Cumbria
Cities and towns nearby: Workington, Carlise, Keswick, Cockermouth
History
Whitehaven, like most places in the UK, has a lot of history. The area was settled by the Norse Vikings in the 10th century. Due to its coal reserves, the town grew into a major coal mining town during the 18th and 19th centuries. The town also had a harbor, which allowed it to become a commercial trading port. A man named John Paul Jones led a naval raid on the town in 1778 during the American War of Independence; it was the last invasion of England. George Washington’s grandmother lived and died in Whitehaven and that is where she is buried.
Whitehaven is the most complete example of planned Georgian architecture. Many historians believe Whitehaven was the model for the New York street grid system.
Climate
Whitehaven is part of The Lake District, which is England’s wettest region. The wettest months of the year are October through January. The temperature ranges from approximately 3 degrees centigrade to approximately 15 degrees centigrade in July.
Nature
Whitehaven is a very beautiful town. It is very hilly and has nice beaches. The area surrounding the town is perfect for nature walks and hiking trips. There are many rivers and streams which make it perfect for photographs.
Sports and entertainment
Whitehaven is a rugby league stronghold. Its team is called Whitehaven RLFC and it plays in National League one. The mascot for the team is a lion called ‘Pride’.
Famous things from Whitehaven
Whitehaven is famous for its Georgian architecture and right-angled streets. Many historians believe the street design of New York City was based on Whitehaven.
The Author of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter, lived in the Lake District near Whitehaven!
Whitehaven is also famous for brandy butter, which is a sweet butter used to flavour many desserts. It is also delicious on toast!
Every two years Whitehaven holds the Maritime Festival. At the festival there are tall ships, fireworks, air displays and street entertainment. The Queen was there to see the festival in 2008!
