Located at the southernmost tip of the Furness peninsula, Barrow offers a rich and colourful experience. Scratch the surface and you will discover a fascinating modern industrial heritage, some of the best retail therapy in Cumbria and leisure facilities to occupy the whole family whatever the weather! Dig a little deeper and discover an insight into the history and mystery that abound in this ancient land and the natural beauty and environmental significance of the town’s surroundings.
In 1845, Barrow was still only a small and remote farming village of a few thousand souls; then the railway arrived in 1846, bringing rapid expansion. Iron ore extracted from the Furness mines was transported to the harbour and shipped through the port. By 1870 the largest ironworks in the world and a shipbuilding industry had transformed this Furness village into a major industrial town and port.
The town with its wide tree-lined streets was a well planned one, the creation of Henry Schneider and Sir James Ramsden, superintendent of the railway and first mayor of Barrow. The first steamship, Aries, was built in 1870. Merchant ships and submarines followed. In the intervening years, battleships, oil tankers, and passenger liners were built.
Must see and do
- The Dock Museum, Barrow-in-Furness
- Furness Abbey, Barrow-in-Furness