Workington’s Christmas Light Trail Highlights Local Heritage

A Christmas light trail, created to honor a town’s heritage, is scheduled as a free event this weekend. Located at Hall Park in Workington, Cumbria, it will feature projections of vibrant symbols inspired by the region’s cultural and industrial past. Local artist Hannah Fox contributed to the celebration of the town’s rail manufacturing legacy through light installations depicting passing railway signals and rail workers. The Hall Park Light Works will be accessible from 17:30 to 20:30 GMT on both Saturday and Sunday. Artist Ronan Devlin created over 200 symbols, which are slated for projection onto Workington Hall, situated within the park grounds. Mr. Devlin explained that a unicorn symbol incorporated into the display references the statues positioned at the gated entrance of the Grade II listed building, also known as Curwen Hall. He further noted that “Unicorns also represent purity or strength,” Mr Devlin said. Additionally, he mentioned that the words “Glem” inside an eye-shaped icon signifies “look” in Cumbrian slang. Ant Dickinson’s accompanying soundtrack features rail sounds, and a model railway located on the premises will be operating for the duration of the event. The soundtrack also incorporates music from the Workington Town Brass Band, recorded by technicians from the Carnegie Theatre and Arts Centre. The event’s organization was undertaken by Cumberland Council in collaboration with Everyone Here, receiving funding from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Arts Council England.