Seaton, Cumbria

The name Seaton is believed to originate from the Old English name 'Sǣtūn'. where 'tūn' means 'homestead' or 'village', and 'sǣ' simply means 'sea'. However, since Seaton is over a mile away from the sea, this interpretation of the name is not certain.{{Cite book |last1=Armstrong |first1=A. M. |title=The Place-names of Cumberland |last2=Mawer |first2=A. |last3=Stenton |first3=F. M. |last4=Dickens |first4=B. |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1950 |series=English Place-Name Society |volume=XXI |location=Cambridge |page=319}}

The earliest evidence of habitation in and around Seaton are the so-called 'Burrow Walls' less than a mile west of the village. These walls are the remains of a medieval manor house, itself built within the remains of a Roman fort believed to be called 'Magis'.{{Cite web |title=Burrow Walls |url=http://www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/thelakes/html/lgaz/lk09714.htm |access-date=27 May 2014 |publisher=Old Cumbria Gazetteer}} It is believed the fort was built between 79 and 122 to guard the coast against attacks by the Scoti from Ireland and the Caledonii from Scotland.

Around 1100 the manor of Seaton was granted to a man named Orme on his marriage to Gunhild, sister of Waltheof, Lord of Allerdale and daughter of Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria.{{Cite book |last=John Burke |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_uo9AAAAAcAAJ |title=A genealogical and heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, enjoying territorial possessions or high official rank, but uninvested with heritable honours |publisher=Colburn |year=1834 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_uo9AAAAAcAAJ/page/n597 578]}}{{Cite book |last=William Hutchinson |url=https://archive.org/details/b28772040_0001 |title=The History of the County of Cumberland: And Some Places Adjacent, from the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time: Comprehending the Local History of the County; Its Antiquities, the Origin, Genealogy, and Present State of the Principal Families, with Biographical Notes; Its Mines, Minerals, and Plants, with Other Curiosities, Either of Nature Or of Art ... |publisher=F. Jollie |year=1794 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/b28772040_0001/page/262 262]}} Orme's manor house was built on the same site as the old Roman fort, although a descendant, Patrick Culwen de Workington, pulled the house down and moved the family south across the river to Workington Hall. They would later adopt the surname Curwen, and generally used the title Lord of Workington, first obtained by Gospatric, son of Orme.

Traditionally, Seaton's economy was based on farming and mining. In 1762 Seaton Iron Works was established on the north bank of the River Derwent below the village at Barepot. It was a major concern at one time, employing hundreds of people, before its blast furnace ceased operation in 1857. The structures were demolished and there is very little trace remaining of the iron works today. The village experienced a large population increase during the 1800s caused by the boom of nearby Workington's steel industry. Workington's steel industry is now much smaller, and Seaton has become a dormitory settlement for other West Coast industries.

On 7 April 1964 Seaton was the site of the murder of John Alan West which led to the two final executions in the United Kingdom.{{Cite book |last=Elwyn Jones |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YatAAAAAIAAJ |title=The Last Two to Hang |publisher=Stein and Day |year=1966| isbn=978-90-400-7061-7 }}

The village is in the parliamentary constituency of Whitehaven and Workington.

For Local Government purposes it is in the Cumberland unitary authority area.

Seaton has its own Parish Council; Seaton Parish Council.{{Cite web |title=Seaton Parish Council |url=https://www.seatonparishcouncil.org.uk/}}

• Mark Jenkinson, Conservative politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for Workington from 2019 to 2024.

Amenities include: some small local shops, One Stop, a petrol station, two schools – Seaton Academy (formerly Infant School),[http://www.seatoninf.cumbria.sch.uk Seaton Academy website.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313044241/http://www.seatoninf.cumbria.sch.uk/ |date=13 March 2012 }} and Seaton Junior Church of England school,[http://www.seaton-jun.cumbria.sch.uk/ Seaton Junior School Website.] a library, three pubs, a local Rugby league team, Seaton Rangers.{{Cite web |title=Seaton Rangers |url=http://seaton-rangers.co.uk/}}

Seaton used to have a railway station on the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway, the station closed in 1922.

{{portal|Cumbria}}

• Listed buildings in Seaton, Cumbria

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Seaton, Cumbria}}
• [http://www.cumbriacountyhistory.org.uk/township/seaton Cumbria County History Trust: Seaton] (nb: provisional research only – see Talk page)

{{authority control}}

Category:Villages in Cumbria

Category:Civil parishes in Cumbria

Category:Cumberland (unitary authority)

Category:Roman sites in Cumbria