Public Events

In the early 1920s there was a severe recession in the country and Furness was not immune from the problem. There were 8,000 unemployed men in Barrow alone. The Ministry of Transport suggested roads as a means of employing some of these men in relief works. Schemes were already in progress at Sowerby Woods and in the widening of the Rampside road. At the beginning of the twentieth century, travel along the coast between Ulverston and Barrow was still a bit haphazard, with some lanes, some roads and some paths through fields : the direct route as we know it today didn’t exist. Then in October 1921 further disruption was caused by coastal erosion, with Newbiggin partially cut off. A suggestion was made for a new road to join the Barrow road, which judging from the 1914 OS map, ended at Whitehall – near where the pitch and putt golf course is (in 2023). Work began in July 1923, and by 1924 the average number of men employed was 56 per week.

On 16 December 1924 the road was finally opened by Colonel CH Brassey of the Ministry of Transport, as shown in this photograph.

This is what we would now call a carnival parade, but in the early 20th Century this was the Hospital Parade - a key event in the fundraising calendar in the time before the NHS. There are a few similar parade photographs in the Sankey collection.

In this one we are looking north-west along Duke Street from an upper window (quite possibly from the Sankeys' shop). The procession is led by a uniformed brass band and includes fire-fighting appliances, and a group marching. A person in a black cat costume holds a collecting purse. Many people are watching and some boys are walking with the procession.

After an Act of Parliament in the mid-19th century, Walney Channel was deepened to allow better access to the harbour and docks system, causing some fords to become unusable. Walney landowners gave Furness Railway Co a petition calling for the original footpaths to be restored across Walney Channel or they would be claiming compensation for the land affected. Furness Railway decided it would be cheaper to provide a ferry service. This started in 1878. By 1888 the Walneyites were demanding a bridge. Once Vickerstown North and South were built between 1900 and 1904 there need for alternative arrangements to the ferry became even more pressing.There were different views in the town over the proposed bridge.

The main protagonists were Furness Railway, which was against it - versus Vickers Sons & Maxims Ltd which was pro bridge. A newspaper was set up whose main purpose was to promote the bridge – The Vickerstown Chronicle (published between Oct 1902 and Nov 1904).A vote was held in the town in January 1904, the result being in favour by 4,000 to 2,000. There was a torchlight procession to James Dunn Park in celebration, lead by the shipyard band and with fireworks and balloons. A wooden model of the ferry was burnt.Construction began in mid-1905 and the bridge was opened by the Mayoress, Mrs T.F. Taylor, on 30 July 1908. It was completed in the Autumn of the same year. It was a toll bridge with the toll set at 1/2d per person plus an extra 1d per person if on a tram (d = 1 penny in old money).

Although he was born in Barrow, by the outbreak of the First World War William Forshaw was a prep school teacher in Manchester; which is why he joined the Manchester Regiment, Territorial Force. A temporary captain during the Gallipoli campaign, his group were pinned down by Turkish forces between 7 - 9 August 1915. He held a position for 41hrs by throwing bombs, many of which were DIY, made by filling empty jam tins, and lighting them with his cigarette. Apparently this gave him a slight cough.

When his detachment was relieved, he volunteered to continue directing the defence. Later, when the Turkish captured a portion of the trench, he shot three of them and recaptured it. It was due to his fine example and magnificent courage that this very important position was held. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry. It was presented by the King at Buckingham Palace on 18 October 1915. A reception was held at the Town Hall, Barrow on 27 October 1915 and this photograph was taken on that day.

Yearn to escape with a novel? Learn about Ancient Greece? Read the latest news in the local paper? The new library would supply it all. That's why thousands flocked to be at its opening nearly 100 years ago. Thanks to funding from the Carnegie Foundation, the town got what it deserved, in the form of a properly supplied public library, to replace the poorly stocked reading rooms at the Town Hall.Many generations of local people have benefitted from borrowing books at Barrow Library. That's one of the great things about libraries – you can leave with a cartload of stories and knowledge, and come back with a mind full of dreams and ideas.

At zero cost! What's not to like about that?

This image, and the one following, were taken during a five-day visit to munition works, engineering companies, shipyards and hospitals in the North West of England by King George V and Queen Mary, between 14-18 May 1917. On the morning of 17 May, they arrived at Furness Abbey Station at 10am, after staying overnight on the Royal Train at Glasson Dock in Liverpool.

After meeting some dignitaries, they had a three-hour inspection of the shipyard and engineering works and then re-embarked at Furness Abbey Station and went on to Workington, staying on the train at Brayton and then onto Carlisle and Gretna and Sedbergh School, the following day. In this image a young girl presents flowers through a car window on the High Level Bridge, Michaelson Road.

Originally a mansion built in the 1880s for a local wagon works owner, Samuel Claye, Infield House off Abbey Road was used by Vickers during the First World War and was then presented by them to the town in October 1919 'to be a convalescent house for the use of the citizens of Barrow and such other persons as the board of governors may determine.' Why the Prince of Wales would be opening the convalescent home some years later is not known, yet here he is on 29 July 1927.

Did it take that long to raise the money needed and equip the house?

Remember the Hospital Parades? They raised essential funds for North Lonsdale Hospital before the NHS was created in 1948, and also raised funds for many years afterwards. These carnivals were one of the major events in Barrow’s calendar, and took months of preparation. The delighted expressions of those watching the passing floats says it all.This is Cavendish Street, showing German-born William Oesterlein’s pork butchers at No 65. This popular shopping street was lined with independent stores, much as it is today. One wonders how Mr Oesterlein fared in the forthcoming war. Float No 40 is particularly fine, with its wrap-around illustration promoting the Furness Railway, a model railway built around the edge, and shipyard cranes at the front.

The horses are impressively turned out with plaited and decorated manes and polished, ornamented saddles.

These are images taken during a five-day visit to munition works, engineering companies, shipyards and hospitals in the North West of England by King George V and Queen Mary on 14th-18th May 1917. On the morning of 17th May, they arrived at Furness Abbey Station at 10am, after staying overnight on the Royal Train at Glasson Dock.

After meeting some dignitaries, they had a three-hour inspection of the shipyard and engineering works and then re-embarked at Furness Abbey Station and went on to Workington, staying on the train at Brayton and then onto Carlisle and Gretna and Sedbergh School, the following day. In this image King George V is walking in line abreast across the Engineering shop with Admiral Laurence E Powers on the King's right and James McKechnie (Managing Director of Vickers) on his left.