Kells, Whitehaven

Kells is an area of Whitehaven in Cumbria, England, elevated on a cliff to the south of the town centre, overlooking the Irish sea. The population of this ward at the 2011 census was 2,437.[1] Kells was built as a coal mining community.

The Candlestick Chimney, a ventilation shaft for a coal mine, marks the northern end of Kells

A cable railway, the Corkickle Brake, was opened in 1881 to connect the pits at the top of the steep incline to the railway line in Whitehaven town below. As the pits closed, the Corkickle Brake was abandoned in 1932. It was re-opened in 1955 to serve the Marchon chemical works (later a division of Albright and Wilson) in Kells. When the Brake was again closed in 1986, it was the last standard gauge cable railway operating in the UK.[2]

With the change from phosphate-based detergents, the Marchon works was the victim of a gradual winding down process and finally closed in 2006.[3]

Kells Amateur Rugby League Football Club was first formed in 1931, and played in the Cumberland League winning every trophy for a number of years. Kells left the Cumberland League in 2012 to start life in division 3 of the national conference and won division 3 and division 2 at the first attempt. Kells are known as the amateur challenge cup kings making excellent progress in the competition's history Kells have recently been crowned national conference division one winners – their third national conference title in as many years. The backbone being built at Kells is extraordinary and Kells going into the premier conference 2016 as favourites and will make history if they can be the first team to win four consecutive league titles in as many years.[4]