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Vulcans Lane, WORKINGTON, CA14 2ND

On the corner of Oxford Street (left) and Vulcans Lane. The building was previously occupied by the Beehive Co-operative department store, which closed around the early 1970s. The dome seen further down the road belongs to Image

Former cinema - Oxford Picture Theatre - converted into a public house under the management of J.D. Wetherspoon, specialists in taking over large redundant buildings with large internal spaces, such as entertainment buildings and post offices. The building dates from 1920, and more can be found at this http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/41285

A Wetherspoon pub in the centre of Workington. As with a large number of Wetherspoon premises this pub is in a building converted from a former use. This one still maintains the words "Oxford Picture House" inscribed in the stone work on the front of the building.

The Henry Bessemer pub in Workington on New Oxford Street. The pub is part of the J D Wetherspoon chain and as the painted over writing above the door attests is converted from a former cinema.

The statue was erected to mark the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002. First impression - the face looks like a cross between a lion and a mandrill - was not far off. The work by sculptor Shawn Williamson is called 'Mandilion', and described as a 'lion head imbued with the characteristics of man', carved in medieval style (information from http://www.artworkersguild.org/members/shawn_williamson/ ). Signs at the back of the garden record a number of wins in the Cumbria in Bloom competition, and that Workington is twinned with Selm (Germany) and Val de Reuil (France). On the right, in Vulcans Lane, is the back entrance to Image .

The original name of the building - Oxford Picture Theatre - is still visible on the front. In common with other Wetherspoon pubs, the name has a local association. Henry Bessemer invented a way to manufacture cheap steel by blasting air through molten iron http://www.westcumbriaguide.com/p/v/features/bessemer-converter/ which enabled Workington to prosper as a steelmaking town.

The Murray Road Entrance to Workington Bus Station. The station was the first purpose built covered bus station in the UK and opened in 1926. Today it is owned by Stagecoach, the operator of the majority of commercial services in Cumbria.

The back of the building is at an angle, with another entrance on Vulcans Lane. This is said to be the first (1926) purpose-built covered bus station in Britain http://wtht.co.uk/workington-buses/ .