Looking back at Whitehaven throughout the 40s, 50s and 60s

Whitehaven experienced a pivotal decade in the 1940s. The town, heavily reliant on its coal mining industry, faced numerous hardships during World War II.

Many miners joined the armed forces. However, the impact of the war was not only felt in the coal mines but also on the town's landscape.

One notable aspect of Whitehaven's history in the 1940s was the influx of evacuees. Many children from major cities like London sought refuge in rural towns like Whitehaven to escape the bombings.

 It was announced there would be some evacuees coming over from Newcastle as the war broke out. They were going to come to St Begh’s on Coach Road. Families who were going to take them in were told to meet them there according to one resident.

In the 1950s, the jobs in the mining industry were plentiful and provided a steady income for many families. However, the local shipbuilding industry, which had once been a significant part of Whitehaven’s economy, was in a serious decline by the 1950s.

The St. Nicholas church tower in Whitehaven, which is an iconic landmark, was rebuilt in the 1950s after the original one was declared unsafe.

In the 1960s, the coal mining industry was slowly declining. 

Popular clothing shops in Whitehaven at the time include Wilson’s of Upper King Street, Paige’s, also on Upper King Street, New Modes or even the markets.

Beehive was also a popular shop which many may still remember, where you could buy everything, from a pin to a train set or a hat to a shovel. It was the store to visit when you went shopping in your best hat and gloves in King Street.