The Village: History, Growth, and Erosion of Amenities

The village of Moor Row, a residential community between Whitehaven and Egremont on the Cumbrian coastal plain, essentially owes its existence to the 19th-century iron ore boom. 

Originally known by various names, including Low Keekle and Moor Row Junction, the community expanded rapidly from what was initially just a scattering of homesteads. 

Founding Streets and Industrial Heritage

The village name itself probably refers to the houses on Scalegill Street (or Scalegill Road), which were noted on the 1860 Ordnance Survey map and represent some of the original development.

The definitive oldest terraced housing, however, is believed to be the row of two-up, two-down cottages built in 1859 on Dalzell Street. This street is particularly significant, named after the prominent Dalzell family, who owned parcels of land in the area and were connected to the local gentry and mine owners (specifically Thomas Henry Dalzell).

Another street, Penzance Street, directly reflects the large-scale immigration the iron ore industry necessitated, specifically noting the presence of Cornish tin miners who moved to West Cumbria to work in mines like the Montreal Mines, which were the largest in the district.

The Railway’s Influence

The layout and initial growth of Moor Row were heavily influenced by the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Junction Railway, which opened in 1855.

The first workers' cottages were built on the east side of what became Dalzell Street by 1860, adjacent to the newly established railway junction.

The village rapidly became western Cumberland’s most important railway hub and goods yard until the mid-20th century.

The former railway goods yard, accessed from Dalzell Street, is now part of the land being redeveloped for new housing. The curving embankment of one of the older mineral lines (sometimes known as the "donkey line") is still visible behind the Dalzell Street area.

Modern Expansion

The latter 20th and 21st centuries have seen Moor Row's street plan expand with the addition of modern suburban housing.

Recent developments have included new street names like Wildridge Drive (referencing the Wildridge family who owned early land parcels) and new estates like The Pastures. 

These developments, often located on the edges of the historic centre, such as on former agricultural land or the demolished railway yard off Dalzell Street, are where the modern commuter traffic - heading primarily to Sellafield - is concentrated.

The stark contrast between the original, closely packed terraced streets like Dalzell and Penzance, built for miners and railway workers, and the larger, detached suburban homes marks the village’s transition from an industrial settlement to a modern commuter dormitory for major employers like Sellafield and Westlakes Science and Technology Park.

The Price of Suburbanisation

This suburban growth, however, stands as a corollary to the destruction of local amenities and facilities.

From a once thriving local economy - including numerous shops, coal merchants, takeaways, car dealerships, and both bus and train services that minimised residents' need to travel - only the school and a working men's club remain.

Similarly, the array of small businesses, such as builders, insurance agencies, joiners, decorators, smiths, dressmakers, confectioners, and bakers, has almost completely vanished. 

The former local chapels have been converted into residential properties and a car workshop. In a striking inversion, the Working Men's Institute building, after standing for 120 years, has itself been converted into a chapel, featuring a war memorial mural painted on its gable end.

Moor Row Church / Penzance Street Illustration