Colliery Mission building sold to Whitehaven Sea Cadets

The Colliery Mission building on Preston Street in Whitehaven has been sold to Whitehaven Sea Cadets for an undisclosed sum.

The building was due to go under the hammer with a guide price of £30,000 last month but an offer was accepted before the auction date.

Inside the former Whitehaven Colliery Mission building (Image: Archive)

Alan Prince, chair of Whitehaven Sea Cadets, said "It has been almost 11 years since we lost our unit on the harbour to storm damage so it is such a relief to have somewhere permanent now that we can look forward to calling our home.

“It gives the unit a more secure future and means we can continue to support the young people in and around Whitehaven for many years to come.

“So many people have worked really hard to get us into the position we are in now and I am sincerely grateful to everyone who has supported us over that time to make this possible.

“This building has been part of the community since it was built in the 1960s so it is really fitting that it will continue to serve the community going forward too.

Whitehaven Sea Cadets are moving into the Colliery Mission building (Image: Submitted)“It has been very well cared for but there's still a bit of work we need to do to modernise it before we move it and make it more suited to our activities which develop the skills and self-confidence of our cadets.

“If any businesses are able to support with this, then please get in touch, we would love to hear from you."

John Rule, of the Colliery Mission, said he was ‘absolutely chuffed’ that the building was going to the sea cadets.

Inside the former Colliery Mission building in Whitehaven (Image: Submitted) Mr Rule said: “We are definitely pleased it has gone to a group in Whitehaven. We are quite happy and content that they bid and we took it off the market. The money we have got [from the sale] will be distributed to missionaries and churches for people in need.”

The building opened in 1961 when the Colliery Mission had an active congregation but membership had dwindled to just three people. Church services were still regularly being held there until April this year.