Maryport High Street Heritage Action Zone

Maryport is something of a hidden gem. It was a planned town, created by the Senhouse family in the 18th century, who transformed the small fishing village into a coal port.

Its Roman links, historic harbour and grid of attractive Georgian and Victorian streets give it a certain charm, whilst its main high street is an intimate and colourful shopping street. But after the decline of the local shipbuilding, steel and iron industries, Maryport struggled to thrive and today several of its landmark buildings stand vacant with their condition deteriorating.

How the Maryport High Street Heritage Action Zone will help

The High Street Heritage Action zone will include £592,500 of Government funding, delivered by Historic England. The project will see repair projects on key sites that will bring vacant floor space back into use. A handful of shop fronts will be restored and a design guide for future shop fronts will also be produced to “future proof” the character of the high street.

Drawing on the town's layers of history and its striking coastline, the cultural programme will see poets, writers, musicians and artists develop dynamic events that bring people together and foster a sense of pride in Maryport.

Stay up to date

Below you can find just some of the progress being made in the Maryport High Street Heritage Action Zone. For more, follow us on Twitter @HistoricEngland

• Repair and restoration work to Heron Foods and the Town Hall started on site in 2022
• Cumberland Council is working with building owners and tenants on Senhouse Street to develop repair projects for their buildings
• A local film maker has been commissioned to produce an oral history film capturing memories of Maryport’s town centre through the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s
• More on what's new in your area

Working in partnership with

• Cumberland Council