In Stainburn, historic architecture and traces of former land and river use sit alongside paths in the surrounding area. This offers different ways to plan your visit: the history of the village, walks or cycling. The buildings and historical evidence tell stories spanning several centuries; the nearby paths add a different perspective to your stay.
Architecture and Medieval History
Stainburn Old Hall is a house dating from the early 17th century. Its thick, cement-rendered walls, slate roof and truncated gables define its appearance. East Lodge offers a different set of features: its façades have roughcast decoration, its green slate roofs are tiered, and its windows are lancet-shaped. This allows you to compare different architectural details rather than limiting the village’s history to a single building.
Stainburn’s medieval history reaches further back than the architecture described today. Around 1125, the manor of Stainburn was transferred to St Bees Priory. Old Hall probably stands on the site of a medieval manor house that was destroyed by the Scots in 1315 and subsequently rebuilt. A medieval chapel in Stainburn was mentioned in 1406 as an oratory of St Bees Priory. These dates place the history of ownership, destruction and religious use in chronological order; Old Hall itself dates from the early 17th century.
Land Use and Former Industries
Stainburn’s history also encompasses changes to the landscape and to people’s work. The arable fields were consolidated or enclosed by a private agreement in 1794. Stainburn Common covered 900 acres (364 hectares) and was enclosed in 1814. These details describe historical land use, not present-day rights of way.
There was a salmon fishery on the River Derwent, which continued into the 20th century. At Stainburn Pool, salmon fishing is associated with fish weirs as far back as 1278. Coal was being mined in Stainburn by the later 17th century at the latest; a tannery probably existed at Sunnyside by 1829 at the latest. Market gardening also took place in the 1920s. Together, these episodes paint a picture of the village that encompasses fishing, mining, tanning and agriculture alongside the manor house and chapel.
Walks and Cycling in the Surrounding Area
Workington Hall Parklands lies near Stainburn. The Curwen Park area is bordered by Stainburn Road to the south. There are walking paths along the River Derwent and Mill Stream, as well as a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. These riverside paths and the shared route offer options in their own right, alongside the village’s historical attractions.
A cycle route branches off National Cycle Network Route 72, also known as “Hadrian’s Cycleway”, at Navvies Bridge and runs through Curwen Park to Stainburn Road. From there, a 1.8-kilometre road section leads to the Rivendell site. This road section is a specific part of the route and can be considered separately from the path through the park when planning your journey.
Stainburn is marked on the West Cumbria Rivers Trust map for the route “Town & Country – a riverside gem”. The route along the River Derwent in Workington is 6 miles (10 kilometres) long and moderately challenging. These details offer a separate point of comparison when planning: a cycling route that includes a 1.8-kilometre road section, on the one hand, and a moderately challenging 10-kilometre route, on the other.
Bus Network and Finding Accommodation
The West Cumbria Area Bus Network lists Stainburn, Stainburn Rd and Derwent Meadows as locations on the Workington-area bus network. The network guide is valid from 23 March 2026; check service details before travelling. When choosing accommodation, consider what you want to focus on: local history, paths in the nearby park or cycling.
Discover more destinations: Near Sawrey, Brough, Stapleton, Askam-In-Furness, Bowness-On-Windermere, Penrith, Haverthwaite, Crook.
For the main travel overview: Cumbria.
