Workington Iron and Steel Co
of Workington, Cumberland. Telephone: Workington 206. Telegraphic Address: "Mosbay, Workington"
1856 On 6 November, the Workington Haematite Iron Co was established to manufacture pig iron from locally mined heamatite ore. Two blast furnaces were erected at Oldside, just north of the town.
1877 Bessemer steelmaking commenced in June.
1900 Workington Iron Co was registered to take over Workington Haematite Iron and Steel Co[1].
1909 The businesses of Moss Bay Hematite Iron and Steel Co, the Workington Iron Co, the Harrington Iron and Coal Co and the Cumberland properties of Cammell Laird and Co, were transferred to a new company[2] - Workington Iron and Steel Co. The Cammell Laird properties consisted of the Solway Works, which dated from 1870 (and previously part of The Beckermet Mining Co Ltd who sold them to Charles Cammell and Co in 1896). The plant operated until 1927[3]
WWI: The Bigrigg Mining Co extracted iron ore from open cast workings South of Whitehaven. The Workington Iron and Steel Co bought the Bigrigg company during the first World War to secure sufficient iron ore supplies for increased war-time production.
1918 Became a branch of the United Steel Companies
1935 See Workington Iron and Steel Co:1935 Review
1937 British Industries Fair Advert as part of the United Steel Companies. West Coast Hematite, Pig Irons. Malleable and Special Cylinder Irons. Also Rails and Steel Sleepers. (Engineering/Metals/Quarry, Roads and Mining/Transport Section - Stand Nos. D.713 and D.612) [4]
1951 One of the companies nationalised as part of the nationalisation of the iron and steel industry[5]
1954 One of the United Steel companies returned to private ownership[6]
2006 The works were closed after 130 years of steel production.