Mary Queen of Scots' communion cup returns to Workington
2025-02-15
Category: entertainment

A communion cup belonging to Mary Queen of Scots has "returned home".The cup, known as the Luck of Workington, had been donated by the royal to the Curwen family of Workington in Cumbria in 1568 as a thank you for their hospitality while she was fleeing prosecution. Susan Thornely donated the cup to the town's Helena Thompson museum in 2012 when she was head of the Curwen family, but it was taken away as part of her estate when she died three years ago.Last week the cup went back on display "where it belongs", museum manager Tricia Poole said.
Mary Queen of Scots was believed to have been sailing to France after losing the battle of Langside when her ship was blown off course and ended up in Siddick, between Workington and Maryport.The family of Henry Curwen, the lord of the manor, gave her hospitality at Workington Hall on 16 May 1568.Museum director and volunteer Ellie Todhunter said: "When she came to leave she took the communion cup, filled it with wine and presented it to Henry Curwen saying 'here's luck to the Curwens of Workington Hall', and that was thanks for giving her refuge."
Tony Wareing, also a director and volunteer at the museum, said the royal would not have been carrying much with her but, as a "staunch Catholic", she made sure she had the Scottish agate cup."It was quite  thing for her to give up her communion cup to the Curwens," he said.He added people were concerned when the Luck left the town."There is folklore that says that as long as the Luck remains in Workington that Workington will be prosperous, and if it ever leaves then we could go downhill."When it left the museum, Mrs Poole was told that because of the winding up of Mrs Thornely's estate and inheritance tax implications the cup had to be taken by fine art brokers Sotherby's to be valued and put for sale."It shouldn't have gone - I said to [Sotherby's] nobody else will want it, because it's for us, it needs to stay in Workington," Mrs Poole said.
The item was valued between £80,000 and £120,000 and the Helena Thompson museum was offered it for £150,000, including fees, when it failed to sell, but they did not have the money.Mrs Thornely's sons had expressed their desire for it to be returned to the museum and Mrs Poole said an agreement was found between HMRC and the Arts Council for it to be go back to Workington.It was put back on display last week and a group visiting for a talk and tour of Workington Hall were among the first people to see it."They thought it was amazing, but even people that had seen it before looked at it and said it looks even more spectacular."
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