Last updated at 15:14, Friday, 07 December 2012

A Great Clifton couple this week became the first residents to take the keys for a new housing estate in Workington.

NO PLACE LIKE A NEW HOME: Graham and Marie Fisher, the first residents of Workington’s James Duffield Close, are visited by granddaughter Honor Wilson

Marie Fisher, 60, and husband Graham, 58, moved into their semi-detached home on the James Duffield Close estate just off High Street.

Mrs Fisher, who worked for Iggesund Paperboard but is now retired, and Mr Fisher, who is an HGV driver for Mayson Brothers in Egremont, have moved from their old home on Carter Garth to be nearer to their family.

Mrs Fisher said: “We wanted to downsize and this house was perfect. The location is great and the quality of the building is excellent.”

Mr Fisher said: “My brother lives just around the corner and Marie’s sister lives on Chaucer Road. It’s great to be closer to our family.”

The couple’s daughter Emma Wilson, 33, lives in Stainburn, with their two grandchildren Miller, five, and Honor, three.

The new estate, which is being developed by Lattimer Homes on the site of the Newlands House hotel, will have four homes within the main building. There will also be 14 homes in the grounds.

Site manager George Lattimer said that four of the 14 homes had already been built. Work will start on another three in January.

He added: “The estate is in a nice location within walking distance of the town. We hope that all the houses will be sold by the end of 2013.”

The estate was named after James Duffield who moved the Dronfield steelworks from Derbyshire to Workington in 1882 and served as town mayor three times.

The award-winning company, based at Mealsgate, Wigton, began work on site in February.

The hotel dates back to 1879 and was used to host guests and celebrations for the town’s steelworks. It was renovated in 2005 but closed in October 2006.

First published at 14:57, Friday, 07 December 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk