Maryport Cumbria Roman History Tourist Information

Maryport and Roman History

The town is littered with Roman, Georgian, Victorian and industrial markings. It was some bloke again, in this case Humphrey Senhouse, who named the town after his wife in 1756.

Thank goodness he didn't name it after himself! Maryport really started to boom in the first half of the 19th century, with the coming of rail, blast furnaces and other industrial revolution paraphernalia. The Solway Iron works was renowned and there were collieries in the area, with coal being transported from the harbour to Ireland. Industrial history in this area is fascinating.

Maryport had the largest shipbuilding docks on the Cumbrian coast up until 1927. Check out also one of the best collections of Roman artefacts in the UK at the Senhouse Roman Museum which is located on the site of what is thought to have been one of the largest Roman forts in the North, the cliff top Roman fort of Alauna which is part of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site.

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Senhouse Roman Museum

This Roman Museum is award winning, and set in a dramatic position on the cliffs overlooking the Solway Firth.

It's not a mistake it's set on the cliffs, as the museum is set adjacent to a site that was once a Roman Fort build on the orders of Hadrian.

Most of the artefacts here come from the Roman fort and include a fantastic selection of stones and alters, such as an Alter to Jupiter. Check out the web link for a list of forthcoming Roman events and exhibitions.

The Senhouse Roman Museum, The Battery, Sea Brows, Maryport, Cumbria CA15 6JD. Telephone: (+44) 01900 816 168

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Maryport Maritime Museum

Most exhibits in this Maritime Museum obviously pertain to Maritime History and the sea. Of particular interest is the exhibit on Fletcher Christain of The Bounty fame, and an exhibit on Thomas Ismay, owner of the Titanic!

Maryport Marytime Museum, 1 Senhouse Street, Maryport, Cumbria, CA15 5AB. Phone: 01900 813738

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