Island 137 - Barrow, Cumbria

Barrow Island is no longer a true island because part of the channel separating it from the town of Barrow-in-Furness to the north has been filled in, thus linking the island permanently to the Cumbrian mainland.

 

In 1846 the Furness Railway opened, primarily to transport slate from mines near Kirkby and iron ore from mines in the Dalton/Lindal area to the coast at Barrow Harbour and Piel Pier on Roa Island.  Passengers were also carried.  The line was paid for mainly by the Dukes of Devonshire and Buccleuch, who owned most of the land in Furness and some individuals such as the industrialist and politician Henry Schneider. The line was extended to Ulverston in 1854 and linked to the national railway network in 1857. 

 

The railway company bought Barrow Island and the area around the channel and in 1865, largely financed by the Dukes of Devonshire and Buccleuch, work began on the construction of the first of two docks in the channel between Barrow Island and the mainland.   Devonshire Dock opened in 1867 and Buccleuch Dock to the east of it opened in 1872. 

 

The Ramsden Dock, to the east of Barrow Island was constructed between 1872 and 1879.  This was named after Sir James Ramsden, who came to Barrow in 1846 as the Furness Railway's locomotive superintendent and went on to become managing director of the Furness Railway and to play a major role in the development of Barrow.  He was the town's mayor five times.  The Ramsden Dock is linked to the Buccleuch Dock.  Its construction incorporated the small island called Ramsey into the dock complex and reclaimed land from the sea in the south east corner of the island. 

 

A fourth dock, Cavendish, was constructed in 1879 to the north east of Ramsden Dock as a timber pond.  It was named after William Cavendish, the 7th Duke of Devonshire.  It never had direct access to the channel and is now used as a reservoir by a power station for cooling water and as a popular fishing location.

 

In 1870 the Barrow Iron Shipbuilding Company was founded on Barrow Island and the first ship was launched in 1873.  Over the years warships, merchant ships and submarines were built there.  It is now owned by BAE Systems.

 

Tenement housing was constructed on Barrow Island in the 1870s to house shipyard and steelworks employees, including Devonshire Buildings on Michaelston Road (1875), which are now listed buildings.  Tenements in Sloop and Steamer Streets are also listed.

 

In the 1980s the western end of Devonshire Dock was filled in and the Devonshire Dock Hall was constructed 1982-6 on the reclaimed land for Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering.  It is a huge indoor shipbuilding and assembly complex and has mainly been used for the construction of submarines.  At this point Barrow Island ceased to be a true island.  

 

The Port of Barrow is currently owned  and operated by Associated British Ports.  At some time after 1938 the Timber Dock at the western end of Ramsden Dock was filled in, thus increasing the land area of Barrow Island further.

 

St John's Church, Island Road
This church was built in 1934-5 on the site of an earlier church.  It is made of concrete and is a listed building.

Devonshire Pub and tenement housing, Michaelston Road



 Entrance to the Port of Barrow and Port Office, Ramsden Dock Road