The Rum Story

Travel back in time to the bustling seaport of Whitehaven – home of the Jefferson’s family business. Founded by Robert Jefferson in 1785 the Jeffersons traded in wines from Spain and Portugal and rum, sugar and molasses from the West Indies.

Most of the sugar imported into Whitehaven was from the Jefferson-owned estate in Antigua and it was from there they also imported their famous Jefferson’s Rum, with all the imports being carried by their own ships.

Journey through our atmospheric attraction and soak up Whitehaven’s fascinating history, from pirates and smugglers to Nelson’s navy and jazz age gangsters.

Housed in the original 1785 warehouse and offices of the Jefferson family business you can’t get any closer to real life history – dusty barrels and all!

Follow the passage of enslaved people from their west African villages to the sugar plantations of Antigua, learn about our maritime history and discover the role of the rum trade in Whitehaven, Britain and beyond.