Stainburn: Manor House History and Trails

When planning a trip to Stainburn, two perspectives go hand in hand: the history of the place and finding your way around its trails and bus network. Historical accounts span from a medieval manor house to 20th-century land use. The trail information covers walking and cycling routes, as well as the bus network in the Workington area. You can first decide whether architectural history, landscape development or practical directions are most important for your trip.

Architecture and Early History

Stainburn Old Hall is a house dating from the early 17th century. Thick, cement-rendered walls, a slate roof and truncated gables define the building. It probably stands on the site of the medieval manor house, which was destroyed by the Scots in 1315 and subsequently rebuilt. The word “probably” is part of the historical interpretation of the site.

East Lodge has facades with roughcast render, stepped green slate roofs and lancet windows. Alongside Old Hall’s massive walls and truncated gables, these bring other architectural features into focus: roof design, window shape and facade finish.

The manor of Stainburn was transferred to St Bees Priory around 1125. A medieval chapel in Stainburn was mentioned in 1406 as a priory oratory. These two historical references trace the transfer of a manor and a later mention of a chapel, placing the history of the area in different periods.

Earlier Uses of the River and Land

The economic history can also be traced over several centuries. Fish weirs for salmon fishing at Stainburn Pool were recorded until 1278. There was a salmon fishery at Stainburn on the River Derwent that continued into the 20th century. Coal mining was carried out in Stainburn by the later 17th century at the latest. There was probably a tannery at Sunnyside by 1829 at the latest. In the 1920s, market gardening was practised in Stainburn. River use, mining, tanning and market gardening thus represent different historical activities and periods.

Stainburn’s open fields were consolidated, or enclosed, by a private agreement in 1794. Stainburn Common covered 900 acres (364 hectares) and was enclosed in 1814. The two figures refer to different parts of the historic landscape: the open fields and the named common.

Trails in the Area

The Workington Hall Parklands are close to Stainburn. Curwen Park is bounded to the south by Stainburn Road. Walking paths run alongside the River Derwent and the Mill Stream there; there is also a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. This area therefore has both walking paths and a route shared by pedestrians and cyclists.

National Cycle Network Route 72, also known as “Hadrian's Cycleway”, connects at Navvies Bridge to a cycle route through Curwen Park to Stainburn Road. A 1.8 km stretch then follows the road to the Rivendell site. Check local conditions and the current route before setting out.

The West Cumbria Area Bus Network, valid from 23 March 2026, lists Stainburn, Stainburn Rd and Derwent Meadows as locations in the Workington-area bus network. Check the latest timetable details before travelling.

Stainburn appears on the map for the “Town & Country – a riverside gem” route. The walk along the River Derwent in Workington is 6 miles (10 km) long and of moderate difficulty. For navigation, it is useful to distinguish this route description from the information about Curwen Park and the cycle route via Stainburn Road.

Discover more destinations: Grasmere, Dalston, Millom, St Bees, Holmrook, Ainstable, Storth, Kendal.

Go to the main travel overview: Cumbria.