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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

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Spring fair now OPEN ... See MoreSee Less

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4 CommentsComment on Facebook

We’ve just been. Lovely craft stalls. We also had lunch. A good selection on the menu. We had bacon sandwiches, hot chocolate and coffee. Great friendly atmosphere x

Thank you for a lovely, warm welcome as always. Lovely crafts and lovely people 😊

Lovely scones as well.

Hi Helena Thompson Museum could you possibly let me know who the lady is that has this stall? I would like to order something from her but I'm unable to get to Workington today. Many thanks

Getting set up for today's spring fair 10-4 ... See MoreSee Less

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Spring fair today from 10-4
Some great stalls, not to be missed !
Refreshments also available throughout the day Tickets on sale for all our Easter and fathers day events and the Lucy sands story.
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Spring fair today from 10-4
Some great stalls, not to be missed !
Refreshments also available throughout the day Tickets on sale for all our Easter and fathers day events and the Lucy sands story.

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Week commencing Monday 18th March. We have an extremely busy week ahead of us!
Monday and Wednesday cafe open 10-2 closed Tuesday due to 2 large bookings. Wednesday will also be rather busy between 12.00 and 2.00 as we already have lots of tables booked in the cafe.
Museum open Monday Tuesday Wednesday 10-4 Thursday closed to set for the wedding fair. Friday wedding fair 10-4 Saturday 10-4 Sunday 10-1
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This Sunday 10-4 ... See MoreSee Less

This Sunday 10-4
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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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