TALKING TUESDAY
TALK
Tuesday 14 April 2026 | 2.00pm – 4.00pm | Cumbrian Powerhouse 19th Century Style – Iron, Coal, Limestone and Steel
£5 per person – Booking is essential
Talking Tuesday – Explore, Discover, Discuss
Each month, Talking Tuesday brings you a fascinating topic, delving into local history, global adventures, and stories that spark curiosity. Join us for an engaging afternoon of learning, conversation, and connection at The Beacon Museum.
Tuesday 14 April | Cumbrian Powerhouse 19th Century Style – Iron, Coal, Limestone and Steel | Mike James
2–4.00 pm | £5 per person
Cumbria’s geology is an extraordinary combination of minerals and rocks that shaped the landscape and lives of generations. What started as a tropical sea led to a myriad of industrial activity for Cumbria and the West in particular. The close proximity of haematite, coal and limestone helped support the Industrial Revolution whilst one of the local products, railway track, supported the growth of railways across the world. Whilst the industry has largely gone today it has left a legacy of very collectable minerals and a thriving business making paint and pigments from the haematite at Florence Mine. The talk will take you on a journey from the formation of the Earth to the geology of the region and finally how it all came together to create the industrial powerhouse of the 19th Century
Please note:
✨ Places are limited, so we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
✨ Any cancellations within 72 hours won’t be issued a refund.
Cumbrian Powerhouse 19th Century Style
Tuesday 14 April | 2.00pm – 4.00pm
PREVIOUS TALKS
Tuesday 10 March | Rise and Fall of Maritime West Cumberland | Alan Bell
2–4.00 pm | £5 per person
What caused this rise and fall?
West Cumberland had no influence on England’s Maritime past until Stuart times.
It then rose gradually to become significant. Whitehaven; becoming the second busiest port in England, Workington, Harrington, and Maryport, also became important. They all declined over the next few centuries.
Tuesday 10 February | Postal History in West Cumbria | Mike Mapleton | CANCELLED
Tuesday 11 November | Riotous Whitehaven | Dr John little
2–4.00 pm | £5 per person
Whitehaven has never been as quiet as it seems. Between 1749 and 2017, at least twenty riots shook the town, each one leaving its own mark on local life. In this engaging illustrated talk, Dr John Little explores some of these dramatic events as reported in the newspapers of the day. From civic unrest to community disputes, the accounts reveal not only the disturbances themselves but also the humour, fears, and resilience of the people who lived through them.
Born in Whitehaven and with family roots stretching back centuries on the Solway Plain, Dr Little brings a deep personal connection to the history and culture of the area. His talk promises a vivid journey into the passions and politics of Whitehaven’s riotous past.
Tuesday 21 October | Circus | Elaine Thomson
2–4.00 pm | £5 per person
Roll up, Roll up! Take your seats in the Portal to experience the magic that only the Circus can bring! Be transported through 100 years of Whitehaven’s hidden history of visiting Showmen and Performers, Menageries and spectacular Equestrian Shows.
Hear about a Death in the Circus in Mr. Ord’s Amphitheatre, Van Amburgh’s One-Day Only Processional of Wild Beasts, Mr. Powell’s New Olympic Circus and Wombwell’s Immense Zoological Collection that required 45 horses to pull it!
Not forgetting the mile-long train that brought Buffalo Bill into town, and of course George Biddall’s Phantasmagorical Machine – the Ghost of which still haunts the third floor of the Beacon itself…
Discover the circus magic! Prepare to be amazed! Expect the unexpected! A world of wonder awaits – Let the show begin!
Tuesday 9 September | A Rum Story or Two
2–4.00 pm | £5 per person
This month, we’ll take you on a journey across the globe to uncover the story of rum. Discover why Malaya and Crete are key to its history, how rum is made – including right here in the UK – and the links to Sir Francis Drake and Captain Bligh. We’ll finish with the tale of two Cumbrian families and how fortunes of £60 million were lost.
A mix of history, intrigue, and local connection – rum as you’ve never heard it before.