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.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
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.
What Our Visitors Say...
Recent News
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.
Another fantastic wedding at the Helena Thompson Museum
Congratulations Louise and Steven ... See MoreSee Less
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Lovely afternoon 💍💛🥰
Thank you so much for everything you’ve done made it so special everybody loved it ❤️
Congratulations to you both ❤️
Great pic Davida Livingstone x
Well what an amazing day. The Ballad of Lucy sands is not to be missed!!!
2 more showing tomorrow 12 and 3.15 still some tickets left ring museum in the morning to reserve yours. ... See MoreSee Less
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
I really enjoyed it. Great to see all the snippets we were involved in brought together to create a n episode. So looking forward to the future episodes. The parts of Lucy and Maggie were really well done. Wonderful characters. Well done to all the actors who brought it all together.
An amazing step back in time to actual, local Workington history. I really enjoyed the chance to find out more about the unfortunate story of Lucy Sands.
Brilliant showing today 👏 and there's no perfect venue than the Helena Thompson Museum for it!
I’m so glad you all enjoyed it! I went to Lucy’s grave after the showing and had a bit of a moment. ( a meltdown more like ). I got so close to her whilst filming this story. One of the most powerful things I’ve ever had the opportunity to do.
Week commencing 1st July opening hours. Such a very busy and exciting week ahead of us.
Museum open Monday Tuesday and Wednesday 10-4 cafe open Monday Tuesday and Wednesday 10-2
Thursday we are a polling station so Museum is closed to visitors.
Friday closed to set up for the weekend.
Saturday and Sunday open for those who have purchased tickets for the Ballad of Lucy sands. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Lovely ladies having lunch in our beautiful garden ... See MoreSee Less
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Do you have to book xxx
We are open Monday Tuesday and Wednesday next week 10-2
Barbara Watson next week??
Rosaline Stalker
Rose Rodgers 💕
Load More
Week commencing 24th June opening hours
Museum open Monday Tuesday and Wednesday 10-4
Café open Monday Tuesday and Wednesday 10-2
Closed rest of the week for London College of music exams
If anyone is wanting to purchase tickets for Lucy sands please call in when the museum is open Mon Tues or Wed.
Thank you ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Saturday 6th July 12 noon showing. VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Saturday 6th July 3 15 showing ALMOST SOLD OUT
Sunday 7th July 12 noon TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
Sunday 7th July 3.15 LIMITED AVAILABILITY
tickets sold in the museum at £15 each cash payment. ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Wondering if anyone is still looking for tickets I’ve got (3) available for sale as we can’t go anymore . Thanks xx
Katie Roper? Xxx
Our opening hours are found on the museum official website
Not Google. So please if you are wishing to visit the museum check our Website before visiting as any changes will be updated on there, as I will not tolerate abuse been given to my volunteers under any circumstances, and especially when they are giving the correct information to visitors ... See MoreSee Less
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
you can correct your opening times on google though. its very eay to do. I went to a local company this week as google had their opening times on and it was wrong. I was 30 minutes late. i edited the google page and it gets reviewed by them and the owners get contacted about the times and the times get updated. it helps everyone is google is correct too. most people use google first i would say
Here Here. Our business hours change depending on staffing, bookings etc and the amount of times I get grief because Google says we’re open but we’re not is unreal. Bookings have to be made through our website so anyone can clearly see what hours we are available on our very own website. We aren’t able to update hours on Google at the drop of a hat so as a customer of any business I always make sure to check direct and not rely on Google. It’s not hard.
There are some awful people!!!
Some people are simply despicable!
Week commencing 17th June opening hours
Museum open Monday Tuesday Wednesday and Friday 10-4
Cafe open Monday Tuesday Wednesday 10-2 ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Please note. Wednesday 12th June the museum and cafe will be closed. We will be holding a funeral tea for a lady who was very special to so many. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook