Jane Pit

I was in Workington this afternoon. I had just left the huge warehouse of "Poundstretcher" when I noticed this tower in the distance. My curiosity was piqued!

On a patch of land adjacent to a sports ground and opposite a housing estate stands this wonderful relic from the 19th century. There was no plaque to explain its history, but a little delving on Google quickly revealed its origin. The local land owner, Lord Curwen, was involved in coal-mining and, in 1844, built this engine house to accomodate a steam powered beam winding engine. Mining finished in 1875.

This is the best surviving example of the ornate castellated style of colliery architecture which featured in Cumbria at this time. It's also a scheduled ancient monument. And no plaque!