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Museum

Reflecting our area’s history, industry and culture through displays, interactive audio and visual information units and digital information

Community Venue

Need to book a meeting room or looking to hire a venue for a wedding or special event? Please take a look at what we have to offer

The Stables Cafe

Come and enjoy a coffee, snack or lunch at The Stables Café . Now open – Monday to Wednesday  – 10.00am to 2.00pm

Heritage Group

Take a look. Are you interested in knowing a bit more about Workington Heritage Group and the work we do to preserve local heritage?

The Helena Thompson is both a museum and a community venue serving the town of Workington and the surrounding area.

This elegant Georgian house is a Grade II listed building was bequeathed to the town by the late Helena Thompson. Originally the building was in the care of the local authority but it is now managed by Workington Heritage Group under licence from Allerdale Borough Council.

The museum, which is accredited by the Arts Council, reflects the area’s history, industry, culture and social life through displays, interactive audio and visual information units and digital information. More than just a museum, the Helena Thompson is now home to groups with a wide variety of interests and activities and is a popular venue for wedding ceremonies, children’s days, exhibitions, parties, concerts and other events.

A new much larger toilet block has been added to the building as well as a disability-friendly new front car park and ramp access. The reception and servery area is much more wheelchair friendly.  Many new artifacts have been added to the front entrance highlighting some of the area’s industrial past.

An interactive virtual tour of the museum is available to view on a tablet for anyone unable to use the stairs to the first floor.

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We are very proud to announce that in 2016 the Helena Thompson volunteers were awarded the ‘Queens Award for Volunteers’ and were included in the Queens Birthday Honours list.

This award is the equivalent of an MBE for volunteers. Presentation of the Award by the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria was made to Pat Martin, one of our long-serving volunteers, and Stephen Jones, another valued volunteer together with Sue Hayman, former local Member of Parliament.

A MUSEUM AND SO MUCH MORE...

Find out about the range of services the Helena Thompson provides. It is a museum but it is also a popular venue for a whole range of activities and events, from weddings to children’s days, from exhibitions to concerts. Learn more about what’s on offer here:

What Our Visitors Say...

Recent News

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Right back into a busy week! Lots of events and takeaways ... See MoreSee Less

Right back into a busy week! Lots of events and takeawaysImage attachmentImage attachment+5Image attachment

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

Food and staff are amazing so kind and thoughtful xx

Looks fantastic pal 👍 👌 ❤️💙🏉

Attended ma uncles wedding there couple year ago the staff an service was fantastic 👏

Looks delicious 😊

Week commencing 13th January
Museum open 10-3.30 Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Closed Thursday and Friday for school visits and private booking.
Cafe open Monday and Tuesday. 10-2
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Great morning spent with town players, staff etc
Lovely feedback from everyone about my dad's collection. Great conversations and memories shared. Looking forward to your next visit
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Great morning spent with town players, staff etc
Lovely feedback from everyone about my dads collection. Great conversations and memories shared. Looking forward to your next visitImage attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment

7 CommentsComment on Facebook

Is this collection on display to the public please

My grandad use to play for workington reds there use to be pics of him when I was young loved comeing to visit to see them

Truly wonderful lifetime achievement /collection.

Loved joe loads.x

Looks like they had a lovely time 🏉☺️

Casey Elizabeth we need to take the girls here there will be pics of Granda.

Mandy David Beck

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Happy New Year, everyone.
This week opening/closing day's and times.
Museum open Monday Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday 10-3.30
Cafe open Monday Tuesday 10-2 closed Wednesday due to a large funeral tea.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM TRICIA AND THE TEAM.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL IN 2025
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT
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HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM TRICIA AND THE TEAM. 
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL IN 2025
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT

10 CommentsComment on Facebook

Happy new year to you all x

Happy new year to you all 🎊

Happy new year xxxx

Happy New Year to you x

Happy New Year everyone at HTM xx

Happy new year 🎉🎉 to you all at Helena Thompson museum Xx

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Helena Thompson Museum helping the distribution of food bags to people in Workington in time for Christmas. ... See MoreSee Less

Helena Thompson Museum helping the distribution of food bags to people in Workington in time for Christmas.

21 CommentsComment on Facebook

Did you give all the selection boxes away? Kelvin Murphy West coast competitions

That's brilliant! well done to everyone involved x

Just amazing - sooo much hard work from volunteers. Thank you.

Amazing 🤩 Well done to all concerned. X

Excellent community spirit shown and it's much appreciated 👏

Amazing job as always 👏well done all involved⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fantastic job . Merry Christmas to you all x

Fantastic. Well done you all

Well done everyone, thats brilliant👏 Happy Christmas 🎄

Wow, wonderful. Well done everyone 👍

Fabulous .Well done .

Well done to you all.x💕

Wow, that's amazing

Incredible.. 😍

Amazing x

You heroes never stop!

Bravo all of you 🎅🎅

Fantastic xx

Fabulous 🥰

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MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎅 ... See MoreSee Less

MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎅

13 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thank you everyone for the lovely messages 😘

Merry Christmas to you all and Thank You for a lovely time at Breakfast with Minnie and Mickey xx

Merry Christmas to you all

Happy Christmas to you and all your family xxx

Merry Christmas and thank you so much for everything you do x

Merry Christmas to you all xx

Any news on when the next craft class will be on please in the new year we had no date x

Merry Christmas to you all x

Merry Christmas to you all 😊 Enjoy your rest ❤ x

Merry Christmas to you all 🌲🧑‍🎄x

Happy Christmas to you all 🎄🎄x

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Not long now ! ... See MoreSee Less

Not long now !

Tickets still available ... See MoreSee Less

Tickets still available
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COMMUNITY PROJECTS

We are asking that Tesco customers support us by placing blue tokens in the relevant bin at our local store, in doing so it helps us acquire resources for school workshops which we hold on a regular basis within the Helena Thompson Museum. The museum holds a Learning Outside the Classroom Award, which is a recognised quality education provider Award.

Please support your local museum each time you make a visit to Tesco and if you are not offered their blue tokens then ask for some.

On behalf of the museum thank you for your support.

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