Barrow-in-Furness 353068 225389870 2008-07-13T12:37:49Z ClueBot 4928500 Reverting possible vandalism by [[Special:Contributions/86.146.76.210|86.146.76.210]] to version by Christina Kramer. False positive? [[User:ClueBot/FalsePositives|Report it]]. Thanks, [[User:ClueBot]]. (439259) (Bot) {{for|the larger local government district|Barrow-in-Furness (borough)}} {{infobox UK place |country = England |official_name= Barrow-in-Furness |static_image= |static_image_caption= |latitude= 54.1108 |longitude= -3.2261 |population= [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]]<br>'''[[City limits|Town]]''' 59,182<br>'''[[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Borough]]''' 71,981<br>'''[[Urban Area]]''' 100,000 |shire_district= [[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Barrow-in-Furness]] |shire_county = [[Cumbria]] |region= North West England |constituency_westminster= [[Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency)|Barrow and Furness]] |post_town= BARROW-IN-FURNESS |postcode_district = LA14 |postcode_area= LA |dial_code= 01229 |os_grid_reference= SD198690 |london_distance= 222 [[miles|mi]] (357 [[km]]) }} '''Barrow-in-Furness''' is an [[manufacturing|industrial town]] and [[seaport]] in [[Cumbria]], [[England]]. Often known simply as '''Barrow''', the town is situated at the tip of the [[Furness|Furness peninsula]] bordered only by [[Morecambe Bay]] and the [[Irish Sea]]. It forms about half the territory of the wider [[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Borough of Barrow-in-Furness]]. Barrow is located just over {{convert|220|mi}} north-west of [[London]] and {{convert|60|mi}} south of the [[Anglo-Scottish border|Scottish border]]. [[Historic counties of England|Historically]] a part of [[Lancashire]], Barrow was a small fishing village before the arrival of the [[Industrial Revolution]] in the mid-19th century. The building of the [[Furness Railway]] allowed iron ore to be transported to the area; the village's location made it ideal for smelting and then exporting steel. The natural harbour the booming town possessed allowed the locally produced steel to be put to another use: shipbuilding.<ref>[http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk/mission.htm Barrow Museum Mission Statement], The Dock Museum Website. URL accessed [[December 11]], [[2006]].</ref> The shipyard became a significant producer of naval vessels and from the 1960s increasingly specialised in the construction of nuclear-powered submarines. The original iron- and steel- making enterprises closed down after [[World War II]], leaving boat building the area's main industry and employer. All of Britain's [[Vanguard class submarine]]s, which carry the [[UK Trident program|Trident]] nuclear deterrent, were manufactured at the facility. With the end of the [[Cold War]] and subsequent decrease in military spending the town suffered high unemployment.<ref name="unemployment" /> ==Toponymy== The name was originally that of an island- the name 'Barrai' can be traced back to 1190. This was later renamed 'Old Barrow', recorded as Oldebarrey in 1537, and Old Barrow Insula and Barrohead in 1577. The island was then joined to the mainland and the town took its name. The name itself seems to mean 'island with promontory', combining [[Brythonic languages|British]] ''barro-'' and [[Old Norse]] ''ey'', but it is more likely that [[Scandinavia]]n settlers simply accepted ''barro-'' as a meaningless name, and so added an explanatory Old Norse second element.<ref>{{cite book |last= Mills|first= David|title= The Place Names of Lancashire|year= 1976|publisher= Batsford Books|location= London|isbn= 0 7134 3248 9}}</ref> == History == In the [[Middle Ages]] the [[Furness|Furness peninsula]] was controlled by the Cistercian monks of the Abbey of St Mary of Furness, known as [[Furness Abbey]]. This was located in the 'Vale of Nightshade', now on the outskirts of the modern town.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=150#abbey | title=Local history and heritage | publisher=Barrow Borough Council | accessdate=2007-06-10 }}</ref> Originally founded for the [[Congregation of Savigny|Savigniac order]], it was built on the orders of [[Stephen of England|Stephen of Blois]] in 1123. Soon after the abbey's foundation the monks discovered iron ore deposits, later to prove the basis for Furness' economy. These thin layers, close to the surface, were extracted through open cast workings,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/ironmining.htm | title=Iron Mining | publisher=Industries of Cumbria | accessdate=2007-06-10}}</ref> which were then smelted by the monks in small [[bloomery|bloomeries]] (early furnaces).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fellsanddales.org.uk/trails/mineral_wealth.php#mineral_wealth | title=Mineral Wealth | publisher=Cumbria Fells and Dales LEADER+ Programme | accessdate=2007-06-10 }}</ref> The proceeds from mining, along with agriculture and fisheries, meant that by the 15th century the abbey had become the second richest and most powerful [[Cistercian|Cistercian abbey]] in [[England]], after [[Fountains Abbey]] in Yorkshire.<ref>{{cite web | author=English Heritage | title=Furness Abbey| publisher=English Heritage | url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConProperty.149 | accessdate=2007-05-06 }}</ref> However, Barrow itself was an hamlet in the parish of Dalton-in-Furness on the Furness peninsula reliant on the land and sea for survival. Small quantities of iron and ore were exported from jetties which were constructed into the channel separating the then-village and [[Walney Island]]. Amongst the oldest buildings in Barrow, are several cottages and farm houses in Newbarns (now a [[ward]] of the town) which date back to the early 1600s. Even as late as 1843 there were still only 32 dwellings including two pubs.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/pdf/summary%20of%20plan%20areas.pdf | title=Plan of Barrow 1843 | publisher=Barrow Borough Council | format=[[PDF]] | accessdate=2007-06-10 }}</ref> [[Image:FurnessAbbey.jpg|thumb|right|Furness Abbey]] In 1839 Henry Schneider arrived as a young speculator and dealer in [[iron]], and he finally discovered large deposits of [[haematite]] in 1850. He and other investors founded the [[Furness Railway]], the first section of which opened in 1846 to transport the ore from the slate quarries at [[Kirkby-in-Furness]] and haematite mines at [[Lindal-in-Furness]] to a deep water harbour near [[Roa Island]].<ref name="railway">{{cite web | url =http://www.furnessrailwaytrust.org.uk/frco.htm | title = History of the Furness Railway Company | publisher = The Furness Railway Trust | accessdate = 2007-07-08}}</ref> The docks built between 1867 and 1881 in the more sheltered channel between the mainland and [[Barrow Island (England)|Barrow Island]] replaced the port at [[Roa Island]]. The increasing quantities of iron ore mined in Furness were then brought to Barrow to be transported by sea. The investors in the burgeoning mining and railway industries decided greater profits could be made by smelting the iron ore into steel, and then exporting the finished product. Schneider and [[Sir James Ramsden|James Ramsden]], the railway's general manager, erected blast furnaces at Barrow that by 1876 formed the largest [[steelworks]] in the world at the time.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/about_us/ironbridge_archaeology/projects/barrow/|title= Barrow|accessdate=2007-08-25 |publisher= [[Ironbridge Gorge]] Museum Trust}}</ref> Its success was a result of the availability of local iron ore, coal from the [[Cumberland]] mines and easy rail and sea transport. The Furness Railway, who counted local aristocrats [[William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire|The Duke of Devonshire]] and the Duke of Buccleugh as investors, kick-started the Industrial Revolution on the peninsula. The railway brought mined ore to the town, where the steelworks produced large quantities of steel. It was used for shipbuilding or derived products such as rails were exported from the newly built docks.<ref name="railway">{{cite web | url =http://www.furnessrailwaytrust.org.uk/frco.htm | title = History of the Furness Railway Company | publisher = The Furness Railway Trust | format = html | accessdate = 2007-07-08}}</ref> This caused Barrow's population, originally 700 in 1851, to reach 10,000 by 1864 and 47,000 by 1881, forty years after the railway was built. [[Image:Barrow Works 1890.jpg|thumb|Barrow Shipbuilding Works circa 1890]] The sheltered straight between Barrow and [[Walney Island]] was an ideal location for the shipyard. The first ship to be built was the 'Jane Roper', launched in 1852; the first steamship, a 3,000 ton liner named ''Duke of Devonshire'', in 1873. Shipbuilding activity increased, and on [[18 February]] [[1871]] the Barrow Shipbuilding Company was incorporated. Barrow's relative isolation from the [[United Kingdom]]'s industrial heartlands meant the newly formed company included several capabilities that would usually be subcontracted to other establishments. In particular, a large engineering works was constructed including a foundry and pattern shop, a forge, and an engine shop. In addition, the shipyard had a joiners' shop, a boat-building shed and a sailmaking and rigging loft.<ref name="barrow-works">{{cite book | last = The Naval and Armaments Company Limited | title = The Works at Barrow-in-Furness of The Naval Construction and Armaments Company Limited - Historical and Descriptive | publisher = The Naval and Armaments Company Limited, partly reprinted from 'Engineering' magazine | date = 1896 | location = [[Barrow-in-Furness]] | page = 54 }}</ref> During these boom years, Ramsden, who was also superintendent of the Furness Railway, proposed a planned town to accommodate the large workforce which had arrived. There are few [[town and country planning in the United Kingdom|planned towns]] in the [[United Kingdom]], and Barrow is one of the oldest. Its centre contains a grid of well-built terraced houses, with long tree-lined roads leading away from central squares.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} Later knighted, he later became the first [[mayor]] of Barrow,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2490 |title= List of Mayors | publisher = Barrow Borough Council |accessdate=2007-07-06 |}}</ref> which was given [[municipal borough]] status in 1867, and later [[county borough]] status in 1889.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dalton-in-furness.org.uk/dalton-online/history/modern-town/modern-town-localgov.html |title= History of Dalton-in-Furness |accessdate=2007-07-06 | work= Dalton Online|publisher= Dalton Community Association}}</ref> The imposing red sandstone Town Hall, designed by W.H. Lynn, was built in a [[neo-gothic]] style in 1887.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=150 | title = Local History and Heritage | publisher = Barrow Borough Council | accessdate = 2007-07-08 }}</ref> Prior to this, the borough council had met at the railway headquarters, the railway company's control of industry extended to the administration of the town itself. The Barrow Shipbuilding Company was taken over by the [[Sheffield]] steel firm of [[Vickers]] in 1897, by which time the shipyard had surpassed the railway and steelworks as the largest employer and landowner in Barrow. The company constructed [[Vickerstown]], modelled on George Cadbury's [[Bournville]], on the adjacent [[Walney Island]] in the early twentieth century to house its employees.<ref>{{cite news | first=Frank | last=Partridge | coauthors= | title=The Compete Guide to: England's Islands | date=[[2006-03-16]] | publisher=[[Independent News & Media]] | url =http://travel.independent.co.uk/uk/article351869.ece | work =[[The Independent]] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-10 | language = }}</ref> It also commissioned [[Sir Edwin Lutyens]] to design [[Abbey House, Barrow-in-Furness|Abbey House]] as a guest house and residence for its managing director at the time, Commander Craven.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/committee.asp?ClubCtteeID=2939&ClubID=1734 |title=The Rotary Club of Furness |accessdate=2007-08-10 |publisher=The Rotary Club of Great Britain }}</ref> By the 1890s the shipyard was heavily engaged in the construction of warships for the [[Royal Navy]] and also for export. The [[Royal Navy|Navy]]'s first submarine, ''[[Holland 1]]'', was built in 1901,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.submarineheritage.com/history.html | title=Submarine History of Barrow-in-Furness | publisher=Submarine Heritage Centre | accessdate=2007-07-20 | }}</ref> and by 1914 the UK had the most advanced submarine fleet in the world, with 94% of it constructed by Vickers. Vickers was also famous for the construction of [[airships]] ([[airship hangar]]) during the early 1900s. [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/forgottenfutures/vickers/vickers.htm] Well-known ships built in Barrow include the [[Japanese battleship Mikasa|''Mikasa'']], Japanese flagship during the [[Russo-Japanese War]], the liner [[SS Oriana (1959)|SS ''Oriana'']] and the aircraft carriers [[HMS Invincible (R05)|HMS ''Invincible'']] and [[HMAS Melbourne (R21)|HMAS ''Melbourne'']]. [[Image:Battleship Mikasa.jpg|thumb|right|Mikasa in [[Japan]] in 2005]] During [[World War II]] Barrow was a target for the German airforce, the [[Luftwaffe]], looking to disable the town's shipbuilding capabilities.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/september2.html |title=The Battle of Britain - Diary - [[September 2]], [[1940]] |accessdate=2007-08-05 |date=2005-02-16 |publisher=[[RAF]] }}</ref> The town suffered the most in a short period between April and May 1941. During the war, a local housewife, [[Nella Last]] was selected to write a diary of her everyday experiences on the home front for the [[Mass-Observation]] project. Her memoirs were later adapted for television. The difficulty in targeting bombs meant that the shipyards and steelworks were often missed, at the expense of the residential areas. Ultimately, 83 people were killed and 11,000 houses in the area were left damaged. To escape the heaviest bombardments, many people in the central areas left the town to sleep in hedgerows with some being permanently evacuated. Barrow's industry continued to supply the war effort, with [[Winston Churchill]] visiting the town on one occasion to launch the aircraft carrier [[HMS Indomitable]].<ref name="dock">{{cite web |url= http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk/docs/Publication%20world%20war%20II-web.pdf|title= World War II|accessdate=2007-08-25|date=2005-02-16 |format= PDF|publisher= [[Dock Museum]]}}</ref> The end of the war saw the beginning of a long decline of ore mining and steel-making as a result of overseas competition and dwindling resources. The Barrow ironworks closed in 1963,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nwda.co.uk/docs/Project_Corus_July05.doc|title= Project Corus (Workington) Steering Group Report|accessdate=2007-08-31 |date= 2005-06-01|format= [[DOC (computing)|DOC]]|publisher= Northwest Development Agency}}</ref> three years after the last Furness mine shut. The then small steelworks followed suit in 1983<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.banklands.com/Barrow%20Steel.htm | title=Barrow Steel | accessdate = 2007-07-21 | }}</ref> leaving Barrow's shipyard as the town's principal industry. From the 1960s onwards it concentrated its efforts in [[submarine]] manufacture, and the UK's first [[nuclear-powered submarine]], [[HMS Dreadnought (S101)|HMS ''Dreadnought'']] was constructed in 1960. [[HMS Resolution|HMS ''Resolution'']], the [[Swiftsure class submarine|''Swiftsure''-class]], [[Trafalgar class submarine|''Trafalgar''-class]] and [[Vanguard class submarine|''Vanguard''-class]] submarines all followed. The end of the [[Cold War]] in 1991 marked a reduction in the demand for military ships and submarines, and the town entered a period of decline. The shipyard's dependency on military contracts at the expense of civilian and commercial engineering and shipbuilding meant it was particularly hard hit as government defence spending was reduced dramatically.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Maggie Mort |coauthors=Graham Spinardi |year=2004 |title=Defence and the decline of UK mechanical engineering - the case of Vickers at Barrow |journal=Business History |volume=46 |issue=1 |pages=1–22 |url=http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/centres/css/library/mortspindardi_defenceandecline |accessdate= 2007-07-21 |doi=10.1080/00076790412331270099 |format={{dead link|date=June 2008}} &ndash; <sup>[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=intitle%3ADefence+and+the+decline+of+UK+mechanical+engineering+-+the+case+of+Vickers+at+Barrow&as_publication=Business+History&as_ylo=2004&as_yhi=2004&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup>}}</ref> As a result, the workforce shrank from 14,500 in 1990 to 5,800 in February 1995,<ref>{{Citation | publisher = [[Competition Commission]] | title = Views of main parties as part of report into British Aerospace PLC proposed merger with VSEL | year = 1995 | date = [[23 May]] [[1995]] | url = http://www.competition-commission.gov.uk/rep_pub/reports/1995/fulltext/365c5.pdf }}</ref> with overall unemployment in the town over that period rising from 4.6% to 10%.<ref name="unemployment">{{cite web |url= http://www.competition-commission.gov.uk/rep_pub/reports/1995/fulltext/365a4.8.pdf|title= Appendix on unemployment as part of report into British Aerospace PLC proposed merger with VSEL|accessdate=2007-08-31 |date= 1995-05-23|format= PDF|publisher= [[Competition Commission]]}}</ref> The rejection by the [[VSEL]] management of detailed plans for Barrow's industrial renewal in the mid-to-late 1980s remains a point of contention.<ref>{{cite book |last= Mort|first= Maggie|title= Building the Trident Network|year= 2002|publisher= [[MIT Press]]|isbn= 0 262 13397 0}}</ref> This has led to renewed academic attention in recent years to the possibilities of converting military-industrial production in declining shipbuilding areas to those in the offshore renewable energy sector.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.basicint.org/nuclear/beyondtrident/oceans.pdf|title= Oceans of Work: Arms Conversion Revisited|accessdate=2007-08-25 |last= Schofield|first= Steven|year= 2007|month= January|format= PDF|publisher= [[British American Security Information Council]]}}</ref> In August 2002 Barrow suffered the [[UK]]'s worst ever outbreak of [[Legionellosis|Legionnaires' Disease]]. There were 172 people reported to have caught the disease, of which seven ultimately died. This made it the 4th worst outbreak in the world in terms of number of cases and 6th worst in terms of deaths (see [[Legionellosis#Outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease|list of Legionnaires' disease outbreaks]]). The source of the virus was later found to be from steam coming out of a badly maintained air conditioning unit. The system was located in the council-run arts centre Forum 28, with the vent emitting the disease over a busy alleyway in the town centre.<ref>{{cite news | title = Legionnaires' source officially traced | publisher = BBC News | date = 2002-08-20 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2205186.stm | accessdate=2003-07-21 }}</ref> The coroner for Furness and South Cumbria criticised the council for its failings with regard to health and safety at the conclusion of an inquest into the seven deaths.<ref>{{cite news | title = A Total Shambles|publisher = [[North West Evening Mail]]| date = 2007-06-12 | url= http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=508368 | accessdate = 2007-07-21 }}</ref> In 2006, council employee Gillian Beckingham and employer [[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Barrow Borough Council]] were cleared of seven charges of manslaughter, but both admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. Beckingham, the council senior architect ultimately responsible for health and safety at the centre, was fined £15,000 and the authority £125,000.<ref>{{cite news | title = Bug Death Council Worker Cleared | publisher = BBC News | date = 2006-07-31 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/5232086.stm | accessdate=2007-07-21 }}</ref> The borough council was the first public body in the country to have faced corporate manslaughter charges.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cipfa.org.uk/publicfinance/features_details.cfm?News_id=24043 | title =Back in the Line of Fire | publisher = www.publicfinance.co.uk | accessdate = 2007-07-21}}</ref> == Regeneration == [[Image:Sunset from West Shore, Walney.JPG|thumb|An autumn sunset on [[Walney|West Shore Beach]], [[Walney]]]] ===The Waterfront=== Many areas of the town have seen regeneration in the 1990s, and on [[28 September]] [[2007]] Barrow's £200 million Dockland regeneration project began. Due to be completed by 2020, the project includes a new 'Barrow Marina Village' which will incorporate a £8 million 400 berth [[marina]], 600 homes, restaurants, shops, hotels and a new state of the art bridge across Cavendish Dock.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} A large watersports centre is also being built, with the possibility of a [[cruise ship]] terminal. ===Shipyard=== The shipyard has been given planning permission to construct a new 200 ft tall assembly hall. Dubbed 'Son of DDH' in a reference to the existing Devonshire Dock Hall shipbuilding facility, the building will be used initially for the construction of aircraft carrier sections.<ref>{{cite news | title=Council go-ahead for 'Son of DDH' | date= 2007-08-17 | publisher=[[North West Evening Mail]] | url =http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=531927 |accessdate = 2007-08-18}}</ref> Following a decline in employment levels at the shipyard over the last 20 years, BAE recently announced that the current workforce of 3,835 could soon grow to 5,000, although this is still only a third of the 14,000 employed in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite news | title=BAE Work Force Stats| date= 2007-12-31 | publisher=[[North West Evening Mail]] | url =http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=547314 }}</ref> ===Retail=== Barrow's important retail sector continues to expand. The main high street (Dalton Road) is undergoing major regeneration, and a new [[B&Q]] Warehouse<ref>{{cite news | title=B&Q Warehouse to be built| date= 2007-12-31 | publisher=[[North West Evening Mail]] | url =http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=476426 }}</ref> is being constructed on Hindpool Road to replace the current dated store on Duke Street, alongside a new [[JJB]] Health Club.<ref>{{cite news | title=JJB Fitness Club coming to Barrow| date= 2007-12-31 | publisher=[[North West Evening Mail]] | url =http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=473203 }}</ref> Barrow is currently home to a [[Tesco Extra]], [[Asda]], [[Morrisons]], [[Lidl]], [[Aldi]], [[Netto]], several [[Co-op]]s amongst others. In addition, Tesco has recently opened a second store on the former [[Kwik Save]] site on Flass lane. A B&M's has been confirmed for the Dalton road branch of Kwik Save.<ref>{{cite news | title=Tesco Expands In Barrow| date= 2007-12-31 | publisher=[[North West Evening Mail]] | url =http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=544450 }}</ref> There are also three new superstores approved for construction on the site of a former [[MFI]] store,<ref>{{cite news | title=Superstores to be built on former MFI/ Allied Carpets site| date= 2007-12-31 | publisher=[[North West Evening Mail]] | url =http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=533479 }}</ref> as well as a [[Dominos Pizza]]<ref>{{cite news | title=Dominos Pizza in Barrow| date= 2007-12-31 | publisher=[[North West Evening Mail]] | url =http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=538184 }}</ref> being built to add to Barrow's significant dining scene (including branches of [[McDonalds]], [[Pizza Hut]], [[KFC]], [[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]] and countless English, Chinese, Indian and Italian outlets to name a few[http://www.thefoodplace.co.uk/uk/Cumbria/Barrow-In-Furness/]). ===Bridges=== [[Image:Donghai Bridge.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Donghai Bridge]] in [[Shanghai]], [[China]] has a similar structure to the proposed '''Morecambe Bay Bridge''']] For many years there have been discussions whether or not to construct bridges across [[Morecambe Bay]] and the [[Duddon Estuary]], leading to the Build Duddon and Morecambe Bridges party contesting national elections in the borough of [[Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency)|Barrow and Furness]], receiving 409 (1.1%) votes in the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 general election]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,,-10353,00.html|title= Timothy Bell|accessdate=2008-02-02 |publisher= ''[[The Guardian]]''}}</ref> '''Morecambe Bay Bridge'''<br/ > This project has recently received more coverage. Construction of the 12 mile structure would create Europe's longest bridge, and the [[List of bridges by length|7th longest in the world]]. Connecting [[Heysham]] in [[Lancashire]] to [[Rampside]], the bridge would also produce 200MW of renewable energy from a [[Tidal power#Tidal stream power|tidal stream system]], enough to power over 400,000 homes. The bridge would have a major economic impact on the area through increased employment and tourism, and would cut journeys to [[Manchester]] from Barrow from two hours down to under one, which would put Barrow within commuting range of a major city. The project's backer, Bridge Across the Bay Ltd., intend to seek planning permission in 2010. Subject to approval and the provision of finance, construction could begin around 2011, and the company estimates the bridge could be completed in 2015. [http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=509561&imageindex=0][http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/3723779.stm] The bridge is becoming ever more likely, as a second bridge to Walney Island from mainland Barrow is planned to relieve congestion, the Morecambe Bay bridge proposal is also being discussed by local councils[http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=584104]. '''Duddon Estuary Bridge'''<br/ > A smaller bridge crossing the Duddon Estuary linking [[Askam]] and [[Millom]], would definitely help improve transport links to the area. There has also been talk of building a road and rail tunnel under the Duddon instead of a bridge.[http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=203923] ==Governance== [[Image:Townhall Barrow.jpg|thumb|left|Barrow's iconic [[Town Hall]] at sunset.]] Barrow is the largest town in the [[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Borough of Barrow-in-Furness]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/536/673/1758/38265144918.xls | title = Cumbria's Population in Urban Areas 2003 | publisher = Cumbria County Council | format=[[Microsoft Excel|XLS]] | accessdate = 2006-12-11}}</ref> and the largest settlement in the peninsula of [[Furness]]. The borough is the direct inheritor of the municipal and county borough charters given to the town in the late 1800s.<ref name="mayorlist"> {{cite web|url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2490 |title=Barrow Borough Council - Former Mayors |accessdate=2007-08-18 |publisher=[[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Barrow Borough Council]] }}</ref> Historically it is part of the [[Lonsdale (hundred)|Hundred of Lonsdale]] 'north of the sands' in the [[Historic counties of England|historic county boundaries]] of [[Lancashire]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10173000&c_id=10001043|title= Lancashire AncC: Historical Boundaries|accessdate=2007-03-09 |publisher= A Vision of Britain Through Time}}</ref> Since the local government reforms enacted in England in 1974 the town has been within the administrative [[shire county|shire]] and [[ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] of [[Cumbria]]. It still forms a part of the official UK government administered [[Duchy of Lancaster]]. The [[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council]] forms the 'lower' tier of local government under [[Cumbria|Cumbria County Council]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Draft Statutory Instrument 2004 The Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Date of Referendums, Referendum Question and Explanatory Material) (North West Region) Order 2004 | work=Office of Public Sector Information | url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2004/draft/20049539.htm | accessdate = 2007-08-18}}</ref> The town, along with [[Walney Island]], is unparished and forms the bulk of the wards which make the entire borough's area. They can be seen in the box below. {| style="margin:0 auto;" class="toccolours" |align=center| '''Wards/ Areas of Barrow-in-Furness''' |- |align=center| <small> [[Barrow Island]] | [[Central Barrow|Central]] | [[Hawcoat]] | Hindpool | Newbarns | Ormsgill | Parkside | Risedale | [[Roosecote]] | [[Vickerstown|Walney North]] | [[Biggar, Cumbria|Walney South]] |} ==Geography== [[Image:Jubilee.JPG|thumb|right|Walney From Barrow-in-Furness]] Barrow-in-Furness is situated at the tip of the [[Furness]] [[peninsula]] on the north-western edge of [[Morecambe Bay]]. The town centre and major industrial areas sit on a fairly flat coastal shelf, with a gentle incline leading away from the coast. Ten miles (16 km) to the north-east is the southern boundary of the English [[Lake District]]. {{geocompass |hub = Barrow-in-Furness |type = ex |NW = [[Irish Sea]], [[Atlantic Ocean]] |NN = [[Askam-in-Furness]], [[Duddon Estuary]], [[Millom]] |NE = [[Dalton-in-Furness]], [[Ulverston]] |WW = [[Walney Island]], [[Irish Sea]], [[Isle of Man]] |EE = [[Leece]], [[Morecambe Bay]], [[Bolton-le-Sands]], [[Carnforth]] |SW = [[Walney Island]], [[Irish Sea]], [[Anglesey]] |SS = [[Roa Island]], [[Morecambe Bay]], [[Fleetwood]] |SE = [[Morecambe Bay]], [[Morecambe]], [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] }} === Islands === {{main|Islands of Furness}} The town is sheltered from the Irish Sea by [[Walney Island]], a <span style="white-space:nowrap">10&nbsp;mile&nbsp;(20&nbsp;km)</span> long island connected to the mainland by the [[Bascule bridge|Bascule]] type Jubilee bridge. About 13,000 live on the isle's various settlements, mostly in [[Vickerstown]], which was build to house workers in the rapidly expanding shipyard. Another significant island which lay in the Walney channel is [[Barrow Island (England)|Barrow Island]], but following the filling of the channel to create land for the yard is now directly connected to the town. Other islands which lie close to Barrow are [[Piel Island]], whose castle protected the harbour from marauding Scots, [[Sheep Island (England)|Sheep Island]], [[Roa Island]] and [[Foulney Island]]. ===Climate=== <!--Infobox begins-->{{Infobox Weather |metric_first=yes <!--Entering Yes will display metric first. Leave blank for imperial--> |single_line=yes <!--Entering Yes will display metric and imperial units on same line.--> |location =Barrow-in-Furness, England, United Kingdom |Jan_Hi_°F =44 |Jan_REC_Hi_°F =55 <!--REC temps are optional; use sparely--> |Feb_Hi_°F =46 |Feb_REC_Hi_°F =57 |Mar_Hi_°F =49 |Mar_REC_Hi_°F =66 |Apr_Hi_°F =53 |Apr_REC_Hi_°F =72 |May_Hi_°F =59 |May_REC_Hi_°F =81 |Jun_Hi_°F =62 |Jun_REC_Hi_°F =88 |Jul_Hi_°F =66 |Jul_REC_Hi_°F =91 |Aug_Hi_°F =67 |Aug_REC_Hi_°F =92 |Sep_Hi_°F =63 |Sep_REC_Hi_°F =80 |Oct_Hi_°F =57 |Oct_REC_Hi_°F =74 |Nov_Hi_°F =50 |Nov_REC_Hi_°F =61 |Dec_Hi_°F =45 |Dec_REC_Hi_°F =57 |Year_Hi_°F =55 |Year_REC_Hi_°F =73 |Jan_Lo_°F =39 |Jan_REC_Lo_°F =14 |Feb_Lo_°F =39 |Feb_REC_Lo_°F =16 |Mar_Lo_°F =40 |Mar_REC_Lo_°F =15 |Apr_Lo_°F =43 |Apr_REC_Lo_°F =24 |May_Lo_°F =47 |May_REC_Lo_°F =29 |Jun_Lo_°F =52 |Jun_REC_Lo_°F =36 |Jul_Lo_°F =56 |Jul_REC_Lo_°F =39 |Aug_Lo_°F =56 |Aug_REC_Lo_°F =37 |Sep_Lo_°F =53 |Sep_REC_Lo_°F =32 |Oct_Lo_°F =49 |Oct_REC_Lo_°F =23 |Nov_Lo_°F =44 |Nov_REC_Lo_°F =20 |Dec_Lo_°F =39 |Dec_REC_Lo_°F =12 |Year_Lo_°F =46 |Year_REC_Lo_°F =25 |Jan_Precip_inch = 2.80 |Feb_Precip_inch = 2.65 |Mar_Precip_inch = 2.50 |Apr_Precip_inch = 2.13 |May_Precip_inch = 2.17 |Jun_Precip_inch = 2.42 |Jul_Precip_inch = 2.22 |Aug_Precip_inch = 2.69 |Sep_Precip_inch = 3.39 |Oct_Precip_inch = 4.35 |Nov_Precip_inch = 3.62 |Dec_Precip_inch = 3.36 |Year_Precip_inch = 34.3 |source =MSN Weather<ref name=MSNWeather >{{cite web | url =http://weather.uk.msn.com/local.aspx?&wealocations=wc%3aUKXX1577&setunit=F | title =Average Weather for Barrow-in-Furness | accessdate = 2007-08-03| publisher = | language = }}</ref> |accessdate = 2008-01-26 <!--For a second source--> |source2 =My Forecast<ref name=MyForecast >{{cite web | url =http://www.myforecast.com/bin/climate.m?city=60376&metric=false | title = Record Highs and Lows for Barrow-in-Furness | accessmonthday =26 January | accessyear = 2008 | publisher = | language = }}</ref> |accessdate2 = 26 January 2008 }}<!--Infobox ends--> ==Demographics== {|class="infobox" align="centre" |- !colspan="7" align="center"|Population<ref name="population">{{cite web | url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/16uc.asp | title=Census statistics for Barrow-in-Furness 2001 | accessdate=2007-05-11 | publisher=National Statistics }}</ref> |- |colspan="3" align="center"|Total |- |colspan="3" align="center"|71,980 |- !colspan="3" align="center"|of which: |- |colspan="2" align="center"|[[Male]]||colspan="2" align="center"|35,092 |- |colspan="2" align="center"|[[Female]]||colspan="2" align="center"|36,888 |- !colspan="3" align="center"|by age: |- |align="center"|0-15||16-74||75+ |- |align="center"|14,993||51,228||5,759 |} '''Population'''<br /> Barrow changed from a having a population in the low thousands in the early 1800s to a fully fledged town of 60,000 in less than twenty years. Since the start of the 20th century the population of the town has gradually diminished to just under 60,000. The [[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Barrow council district]], which includes the surrounding area, has a population of 71,980 according to the most recent census, placing it 326th out of the 376 local authorities in England and Wales (however a population density of 900 per km² Barrow ranks 147th out of 376).<ref name="population"/> Barrow-in-Furness can be regarded as the largest town in Cumbria, Carlisle in the north of the county having city status. People from Barrow are known as ''Barrovians''.<ref>{{citation | first=Russell | last=Jenkins | coauthors= | title=Chocolate blog sends town into meltdown | date=[[2006-12-22]] | publisher=[[News International]] | work =[[The Times]] | pages=15}}</ref> {| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center" |+ Population in the 19th century |- !Year||1801||1811||1831||1851||1861||1871||1881||1891 |- |Population<ref name="histpop">{{cite web | url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10088367&c_id=10001043&add=Nurl= | title=Population statistics for Barrow-in-Furness 1801 - 2001 | accessdate=2007-05-11 | publisher=Vision of Britain }}</ref>||1,958||2,078||2,702||4,684||22,513||40,343||58,172||62,694 |- |} {| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center" |+ Population in the 20th century |- !Year||1901||1911||1921||1931||1941||1951||1961||1971||1981||1991 |- |Population<ref name="histpop"/>||67,354||72,360||73,394||74,447||75,509||76,619||75,902||72,192||72,645||73,704 |- |} '''Age'''<br /> The life female life expectancy at birth is 80.40 years, and male life expectancy is 74.80 (The respective figures for England are 81.14 and 76.92).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276911&c=LA14+3LD&d=13&e=13&g=431977&i=1x1003x1004&o=50&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=937 |title=Barrow-in-Furness (Local Authority) - Life Expectancy at Birth |accessdate=2007-08-18 |work=Neighbourhood Statistics|publisher=National Statistics (statistics.gov.uk)}}</ref> '''Ethnicity'''<br /> 2008 estimates state 94.3[[%]] of Barrow's population as indigenous White British, and ethnic minority populations in Barrow stand at 5.7%, the breakdown of which is shown in the table below.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276911&c=LA14+3LD&d=13&e=13&g=431977&i=1x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1198948694125&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1812|title= Resident Population Estimates by Ethnic Group|accessdate=2007-12-29 |work= Neighbourhood Statistics|publisher= National Statistics (statistics.gov.uk)}}</ref> [[Scandinavia]]ns were the first to settle in the area, and it is likely that a significant percentage of the town's population is of Scandinavian descent. Barrow has the eighth fastest growing white other community of any town or city in the country, at 15.9% growth between 2004 and 2005, only [[Exeter]], [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]], [[Colchester]], [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]], [[Durham]], [[Leeds]] and [[Bristol]] were faster growing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=14238|title= White Other Growth Rate|accessdate=2007-12-29 |work= Neighbourhood Statistics|publisher= National Statistics (statistics.gov.uk)}}</ref> Barrow has also seen a huge increase with other ethnic minority groups, and the growth rate for most groups is around 2 times faster than national average.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=14238|title= Immigration Growth Rate|accessdate=2007-12-29 |work= Neighbourhood Statistics|publisher= National Statistics (statistics.gov.uk)}}</ref> To summarise, 1 in 10 people are not indigenous to the immediate area (i.e. England). {|class="wikitable" |- ||'''Ethnic Group'''||'''% of Overall Barrow Population'''||'''% of Ethnic Minority Population'''||'''Population'''||'''Notes''' |- | [[White British]] || 94.30% || N/A || 67,802 || Around 89.90% [[English people|White English]], 2.8% [[Scottish people|White Scottish]], 0.6% [[Welsh people|White Welsh]] |- | [[White Other (United Kingdom Census)|Other White]] || 1.90% || 34.54% || 1,366 || Largely [[Canada|Canadians]], [[German Briton|Germans]], [[Polish British|Polish]], [[Kosovo|Kosovars]], [[Yugoslav British|Yugoslavs]], [[British American|Americans]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/born_abroad/around_britain/html/north_west.stm |title= Largest White Other Communities in Barrow|accessdate=2007-12-30 |work=BBC Born Abroad|publisher= BBC}}</ref> |- | [[British Asian|South Asian]] || 1.00% || 18.18% || 719 || 0.4% [[British Asian|Indian]], 0.3% [[British Pakistani|Pakistani]], 0.2% [[British Asian|Other South Asian]], 0.1% [[British Asian|Bangladeshi]] |- | [[Irish Briton|White Irish]] || 1.00% || 18.18% || 719 || 0.6% [[Northern Ireland|Northern Irish]], 0.4% [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] |- | [[East Asian British|East Asian]] || 0.60% || 10.90% || 431 || 0.2% [[Chinese British|Chinese]], 0.2% [[British Filipino (United Kingdom)|Filipinos]], 0.2% [[Thai British|Thais]] and other |- | [[British Mixed|Mixed Race]] || 0.60% || 10.90% || 431 || [[British Mixed|Mixed White and Black]], [[British Mixed|Mixed White and Asian]] and [[British Mixed|Other Mixed]] |- | [[Black British|Black]] || 0.40% || 6.89% || 288 || 0.20% [[Black British|African]], 0.20% [[Black British|Caribbean]] |- | [[Other ethnic group (United Kingdom Census)|Other]] || 0.20% || 3.64% || 144 || Largely [[Britons with Latin American ancestry|Latin Americans]] |} '''Country of birth'''<br /> The [[2001 UK census]] states that 93.56% (67,345) of the borough's population was born in [[England]], 2.86% (2,061) in [[Scotland]], 0.63% (451) in [[Wales]], 0.68% (486) in [[Northern Ireland]], 0.32% (231) in the [[Republic of Ireland]] and 0.06% (43) in the [[Channel Islands]]. 0.61% (441) of the town's 2001 population were born in the rest of [[Europe]], the five largest sub-groups being [[German Briton|Germans]], [[Yugoslav migration to Britain|Former Yugoslavs]], [[Spanish Briton|Spaniards]], [[Italian Briton|Italians]] and [[Polish British|Poles]], although the current numbers are likely to be much higher (especially with the Polish born numbers). The [[Asia]]n born population represented 0.50% (363) of Barrow's population, the five largest sub-groups being [[British Asian|Indians]], [[British Chinese|Chinese]] (mostly from Hong Kong), [[British Filipino (United Kingdom)|Filpinos]], - [[Cypriots]] (included as Middle-Easterners) - [[Singaporean British|Singaporeans]] and [[British Pakistani|Pakistanis]]. 0.35% (253) of people were born in [[North America]], with [[Canadian British|Canadians]], [[Americans in Britain|Americans]] and [[Jamaican British|Jamaicans]] constituting for the majority of these. 0.23% (177) of people were born in [[Africa]], with the three largest sub-groups being [[South African British|South Africans]], [[Zimbabwean British|Zimbabweans]] and [[Nigerian British|Nigerians]]. 0.12% (83) of people were born in [[Oceania]] namely [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]].0.04% (27) of Barrovians were born in [[Latin American Briton|Latin America]], and 0.02% (11) of people were born in some other place.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276911&c=LA14+3LD&d=13&e=13&g=431977&i=1x1003x1004&o=50&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=11|title=Country of Birth|accessdate=2007-08-25 |year= 2001|month= April|work= Neighbourhood Statistics|publisher= National Statistics (statistics.gov.uk)}}</ref> '''Religion'''<br /> In the 2001 census 58,322 Barrovians stated themselves as being [[Christian]]. People stating no religion or chose not to state numbered 13,234 combined. The second largest religion in Barrow is [[Islam]] with a population of 182 Muslims. Other religious populations are as follows: 72 [[Buddhists]], (nearby [[Kadampa Buddhist Temple|Conishead Priory]], the first [[Kadampa]] Buddhist centre in the west, is home to around 100 Buddhists<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aboutulverston.co.uk/location/conisheadpriory.htm | title = Conishead Priory, Ulverston | accessdate=2007-07-21|publisher= AboutUlverston.co.uk}}</ref>) 46 [[Hindus]], 25 [[Jews]] and 96 with another religion.<ref name="population"/> '''Other'''<br/ > Out of the 56,987 age 16 or over in 2001, 43.81% were married, 26.26% [[Single person|single]], 9.57% [[widow]]ed, 9.36% [[divorce]]d, 8.98% re-married and 2.01% separated (but still legally married).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276911&c=LA14+3LD&d=13&e=13&g=431977&i=1x1003x1004&o=50&m=0&r=0&s=1193305134031&enc=1&dsFamilyId=9 | title = marital Status Barrow-in-Furness| accessdate=2007-10-25}}</ref> The [[Total Fertility Rate]] of Barrow is 1.54, lower than [[North West England]]'s rate (1.66) and [[England]]'s (1.65).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276911&c=LA14+3LD&d=13&e=13&g=431977&i=1x1003x1004&o=50&m=0&r=0&s=1193305134046&enc=1&dsFamilyId=826 | title = Fertility rate of Barrow-in-Furness| accessdate=2007-10-25}}</ref> 162 Barrovians were working in the [[Armed Forces]] in 2001<ref>{{cite web | url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276911&c=LA14+3LD&d=13&e=13&g=431977&i=1x1003x1004&o=50&m=0&r=0&s=1193305134031&enc=1&dsFamilyId=191 | title = Barrovians in the Armed Forces | accessdate=2007-10-25}}</ref> Barrow has one of the highest percentages of people on benefits in the entire United Kingdom, at 23% of the working age, it is almost double England's average of 14%.<ref>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276911&c=Barrow&d=13&e=46&g=431960&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1202747320406&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1623 Neighbourhood Statistics<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Economy== [[Image:DDH Barrow.jpg|thumb|left|Devonshire Dock Hall, - [[Europe]]'s largest ship building hall at almost 200 ft high and 900 ft long, however the recently approved Central Assembly Shop also in Barrow could take the title]][[Image:BAE Systems from Walney.jpg|thumb|right|BAE Systems viewed from Walney Island]] Barrow has one of the largest shipyards in [[Great Britain|Britain]] which is currently owned and operated by [[BAE Systems]]. It was expanded by construction of a new covered assembly facility, the ''Devonshire Dock Hall (DDH)'', completed by [[Alfred McAlpine]] in 1986<ref>The Road to Success: Alfred McAlpine 1935 - 1985 page 174, Tony Gray, Rainbird Publishing, 1987</ref> on land that was created by infilling part of the Devonshire Dock with 2.4 million tonnes of sand pumped from nearby Roosecote Sands. DDH is the tallest building in Cumbria and has dominated the Barrow skyline for over 20 years. With a length of 268 m (879 ft), width of 51 m (167 ft) and an area of 25,000 m² it is the largest shipbuilding construction complex of its kind in Europe.<ref>[http://www.baesystems.com/Newsroom/NewsReleases/2006/press_15052006.html BAe Systems Press Release]</ref> However, BAE Systems has recently obtained planning permission from Barrow Borough Council for an even taller 54.2 m (178 ft) building; the new Central Assembly Shop dubbed 'Son of DDH' will provide over 700 new jobs, initially in construction of a large section of the new [[Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=531927|title= Go-Ahead for Son of DDH|accessdate=2007-08-15 |date= 2007-08-14|publisher= [[North West Evening Mail]]}}</ref>[[Image:HMSBulwarkL15.jpg|thumb|right|[[HMS Bulwark (L15)|HMS ''Bulwark'']] of the [[Albion class landing platform dock|''Albion''-class]] [[landing platform dock]]s.]] The DDH provides a controlled environment for ship and submarine assembly, and avoids the difficulties caused by building on the slope of traditional [[slipway]]s. Outside the hall, a 24,300 tonne capacity shiplift allows completed vessels to be lowered into the water independently of the tide. Vessels can also be lifted out of the water and transferred to the hall.<ref>{{cite paper | author = BAE Systems| title = Devonshire Dock Hall (DDH): One of the most advanced Shipbuilding Complexes in the World | url = http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/documents/ss_asset/bae_subs_ddhdatasheet.pdf | accessdate = 2007-06-03 }}</ref> The first use of the DDH was for construction of the [[Vanguard class submarine|''Vanguard''-class]] submarines, and later vessels of the [[Trafalgar class submarine|''Trafalgar''-class]] submarines were also built there The shipyard does not build submarines exclusively: recent years have seen the fitting out and commissioning of helicopter carrier [[HMS Ocean (L12)|HMS ''Ocean'']] (although the ship was built by Kværner in [[Govan]], [[Glasgow]]), and construction of [[Wave Knight class tanker|Wave Class tanker]] [[RFA Wave Knight (A389)|''Wave Knight'']] and [[Albion class landing platform dock|Albion Class]] amphibious assault ships [[HMS Albion (L14)|HMS ''Albion'']] and [[HMS Bulwark (L15)|HMS ''Bulwark'']].[[Image:Astute2cropped.jpg|thumb|left|[[HMS Astute (S119)|HMS Astute]] is the most recent vessel to be launched in Barrow]] The shipyard is currently constructing the [[Astute class submarine|''Astute''-class submarines]] the first of which was launched on [[8 June]] [[2007]].<ref name="Astute_launch">{{cite news | title = New UK nuclear submarine launched | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[June 08]], [[2007]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6733777.stm | accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref> With firm orders for submarine pressure domes for the [[Spanish Navy]]<ref name="Spanish_subs">{{cite news | title = BAE lands submarine export order | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[May 02]], [[2007]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6615139.stm | accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref> and a large section (hull lower block 3<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/EquipmentFactsheets/FactsheetTheRoyalNavysFutureAircraftCarriers.htm |title= FACTSHEET: The Royal Navy's Future Aircraft Carriers | accessdate=2007-09-23 |date= 2007-07-25|publisher= [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]}}</ref>) of the new aircraft carriers, as well as eventual [[British replacement of the Trident system|replacement of the Trident missile system]] for which the [[British House of Commons]] voted in 2007, the future of Barrow's shipyard seems assured. [[Associated British Ports Holdings]] owns and operates the port of Barrow which can berth vessels up to 200 m long and with a [[draft (hull)|draught]] of 10 m. Principal traffic includes the export of condensate by-product from the production of gas at the Rampside Gas Terminal, [[wood pulp]], and locally quarried limestone which is exported to Scandinavia for use in the paper industry. The port, which has deep water access, also handles the shipment of nuclear [[nuclear fuel|fuels]] and [[radioactive waste|waste]] for [[BNFL]]'s nearby [[Sellafield]] plant.<ref>{{cite web | publisher= Associated British Ports | title = Port of Barrow | url=http://www.abports.co.uk/custinfo/ports/barrow.htm | accessdate = 2007-08-20 }}</ref> In 1985, gas was discovered in [[Morecambe Bay]], with the products processed onshore at the gas terminal in Rampside, south of the town.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.centrica.com/index.asp?pageid=459 | title = About Us | publisher = Centrica Gas | accessdate=2007-07-21 | }}</ref> A new 30 turbine [[wind turbine|wind-farm]] which has recently been built in the [[Irish Sea]] off the coast of [[Walney Island]], although the electricity generated is sent by undersea cable to [[Heysham]].<ref>{{cite press release | title = First power generated by Barrow offshore wind farm | date = 2006-06-03 | publisher = DONG Energy | url = http://www.dongenergy.com/en/pr/pressemeddelelser/2006/data/foerste+produktion+af+el+fra+barrow+havmollepark.htm | accessdate = 2007-07-21 }}</ref> James Fisher and Sons Public Limited Company, a service provider in all sectors of the [[Marine (ocean)|marine]] industry and a specialist supplier of engineering services to the [[nuclear power|nuclear]] industry in the [[UK]] and abroad,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.james-fisher.co.uk/|title= Welcome to James Fisher|accessdate=2007-08-30 |year= 2005|work= James Fisher official website|publisher= James Fisher and Sons}}</ref> was founded in Barrow in 1847<ref>{{cite news |first= Mary|last= MacIsaac|title= With a fair wind blowing there are profits to be made on the high seas|url= http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=895&id=401272003|work= Armchair Investor|publisher= [[The Scotsman]]|date= 2003-04-06|accessdate=2007-08-30 }}</ref> and is the largest company to have its [[headquarters]] situated in [[Cumbria]].{{Fact|date=August 2007}} Annual revenue stood at almost [[£]]90 million in 2007 (up 55[[%]] from £57 million in 2006), as well as staff numbers standing at over 1,000 worldwide, with 120 of those in the Barrow headquarters.<ref>{{cite news |title= Jobs Hope as Fisher Booms|url= http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=536629|publisher= [[North West Evening Mail]]|date= 2007-08-29|accessdate=2007-08-30 }}</ref> Other major employers include the [[NHS]], through Furness General Hospital, which employs 1,800 staff<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nwra.gov.uk/downloads/documents/imported/321089760698.doc | title=Cumbria Prosperity Priorities Summit held on [[2 April]] [[2004]] | publisher=North West Regional Assembly | accessdate=2007-08-20 | format=[[DOC (computing)|DOC]]}}</ref> and the [[Kimberly Clark]] paper mill which has 400 employees.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.furnessenterprise.co.uk/furness_enterprise_sectors.asp?menuID=13&ID=IS6 | title= Furness Enterprise - Fast Moving Consumer Goods | publisher=Furness Enterprise | accessdate=2007-08-20}}</ref> ===Employment=== Below is a list of how many people were employed by each sector ([[2001 UK Census]]), the percentage in brackets is that of the total working population of Barrow. The + or - signs at the end indicate whether the percentge employed in that sector is slightly higher +, much higher ++, slightly lower- or much lower-- than [[England]]'s average<ref>{{cite web |url= http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276911&c=LA14+3LD&d=13&e=9&g=431977&i=1x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=0&s=1198951042328&enc=1&dsFamilyId=27 |title= Industry of Employment|accessdate=2007-12-29 |publisher= www.statistics.gov.uk}}</ref> . * [[Manufacturing]] - 8,087 employed (28.03% of towns working population) ++ * [[Retail]]: 4,671 (16.19%) - * [[Health]] and [[Social Work]]: 3,635 (12.60%) ++ * [[Real Estate]], renting and business activities: 1,852 (6.42%) &ndash; * [[Construction]]: 1,797 (6.23%) - * [[Education]]: 1,765 (6.12%) - * [[Hotels]] and [[Catering]]: 1,730 (6.00%) ++ * [[Transport]] Storage and [[Communication]]: 1,490 (5.16%) - * [[Public Administration]] and [[Defence]]: 1,427 (4.95%) - * Other: 1,179 (4.09%) - * [[Finance|Financial Intermediation]]: 471 (1.63%) &ndash; * [[Electricity]], [[Gas]] and [[Water]] supply: 379 (1.31%) + * [[Agriculture]]: 252 (0.87%) - * [[Fishing]]: 8 (0.03%) + ===Tourism=== [[Image:Rampside.jpeg|thumb|An example of the scenery, just south of the town in [[Rampside]]]] Being only around 20 minutes from the [[Lake District]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.totaltravel.co.uk/travel/north-west/carlisle-cumbrian-coast/south-cumbria/travel-guides/Destinations/barrow-in-furness |title= Barrow in Furness|accessdate=2007-08-14 |publisher= totaltravel.com}}</ref> Barrow has been referred to as a 'gateway to the lakes',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=467814|title= Half Term Fun for the Kids Just on the Doorstep|accessdate=2007-08-14 |date= 2007-02-17|publisher= [[North West Evening Mail]]}}</ref> a status which could be enhanced by the new [[marina]] complex and planned [[cruise ship]] [[terminal]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/docs/November%202005%20-%20Executive%20Committee%20Agenda.doc|title= November 2005 - Executive Committee Agenda|accessdate=2007-08-14 |year= 2005|month= November|format= [[DOC (computing)|DOC]]|publisher= Barrow Borough Council|pages= 5}}</ref> Barrow itself has several tourist attractions, including the [[Dock Museum]]. The museum tells the history of Barrow's shipbuilding, as well as offering gallery space to local artists and schoolchildren. It is built upon and around the old graving dock.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/enjoy_cumbria/places/barrow_dock_museum.shtml|title= Barrow Dock Museum|accessdate=2007-08-14 |work= Enjoy Cumbria|publisher= BBC}}</ref> Barrow also has a popular indoor market, which features a food hall as well as stalls selling clothes and other goods.<ref>{{cite news | first=Bibi | last=van der Zee | coauthors= | title=Pitch Perfect, Part Two | date=[[2007-08-07]] | publisher= The Guardian| url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1838907,00.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-07-27 | language = }}</ref><ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=149 |title=Barrow Borough Council - Barrow Markets |accessdate=2007-07-27 |date=2007-03-07 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council }}</ref> Barrow has been described as the Lake District's premier shopping town, with big name shops mingling in with small local ones,<ref name="aboutbritain">{{cite web |url= http://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/barrow-in-furness.asp|title= Barrow-in-Furness Tourist Information|accessdate=2007-08-25 |publisher= AboutBritain.com}}</ref> and being home to [[Portland Walk Shopping Centre]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=161|title= Shopping and Town Centre|accessdate=2007-09-23 |publisher= Barrow Borough Council}}</ref> The town also features Hollywood Park - a leisure facility with restaurants, shops<ref name="aboutbritain"/> and Cumbria's largest [[Cinema (place)| cinema]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=137|title= Exploring the Area around Barrow-in-Furness|accessdate=2007-09-23 |publisher= Barrow Borough Council}}</ref> The town also features several other [[retail parks]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.barrow.furness.co.uk/barrow_lifestyle.asp?ID=L6|title= 24 Hour Shopping|accessdate=2007-08-30 |work= Barrow. Furness.co.uk|publisher= Furness Enterprise Ltd.}}</ref> The Park Leisure Centre is a fitness suite with a pool, set in the 45 acre Barrow Park.<ref name="aboutbritain"/> == Transport == Barrow's principal road link is the [[A590 road|A590]], linking it to [[Ulverston]], the Lake District and to the [[M6 motorway]].<ref name="Map">{{cite web |url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Barrow+in+Furness&ie=UTF8&ll=54.173287,-2.999268&spn=0.205782,0.6427&z=11&om=1|title= Barrow area map|accessdate=2007-08-26 |format= Flash|work= [[Google Maps]]|publisher= [[Google]]}}</ref> Just north of Barrow is the southern terminus of the [[A595 road|A595]], linking the town to [[Whitehaven]], [[Workington]] and eventually [[Carlisle]].<ref name="Map"/> The possibility of a bridge link over [[Morecambe Bay]] is occasionally raised, with feasibility studies currently underway.<ref>{{cite news | last = Hetherington | first = Peter | title = Council gives thumbs up to <span style="white-space:nowrap">12&nbsp;mile&nbsp;(19&nbsp;km)</span> bridge for Morecambe Bay | work = The Guardian | date = [[May 19]], [[2004]] | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1220030,00.html | accessdate = 2007-03-09 }}</ref> Bus services within the town are operated by [[Stagecoach North West]]. There is no specifically designated bus station, although many buses start and terminate their routes near the Town Hall. The original [[bus station|bus depot]] was known for its role in a 1970s television commercial for [[Chewits]] sweets before its demolition.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2006/03/30/cumbriaonfilm_chewits_feature.shtml | title=Barrow Chewits ad | publisher=BBC Cumbria | accessdate = 2007-07-17 }}</ref> Other services link Barrow with outlying villages as well as longer distance routes to [[Dalton-in-Furness]], [[Ulverston]] and [[Kendal]]. [[Barrow-in-Furness railway station]] provides connections to Whitehaven, Workington and Carlisle to the north, via the [[Cumbrian Coast Line]], and to Ulverston, [[Grange-over-Sands]] and [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] to the east, via the [[Furness Line]]. It handles 503,800 passengers annually.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/xls/station_usage_2005-06.xls | title= Station entries and exits 2005/6 | publisher= Office of the Rail Regulator | accessdate=2007-07-23 | format=xls}}</ref> Barrow has a second railway station, called [[Roose railway station]], which serves the suburb of [[Roose]]. Other means of transport in and out of Barrow include air, with the town being home to a regional [[airfield]] ([[Barrow/Walney Island Airfield]]), owned and operated by [[BAE Systems]] ([[IATA airport code]]: BWF, [[ICAO]]: EGNL). It is one of two airports in the county, the other being [[Carlisle Airport]]. The nearest international airport is [[Blackpool International Airport]], although most people from Barrow use the larger [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport|Liverpool John Lennon]] and [[Manchester Airport]]s. Despite being one of the UK's leading shipbuilding centres, Barrow is only a minor [[port]]. Although there are no ferry links to Barrow, there are proposals to create a cruise ship terminal.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/4706191.stm | title="Town chosen for cruise ship terminal" | publisher=BBC | accessdate=2007-06-15 | }}</ref> ==Sport== '''Barrow A.F.C''' [[Image:Barrow AFC.gif|thumb|right|100px||Barrow A.F.C. logo]] {{main|Barrow A.F.C.}} [[Barrow A.F.C.]] next year 2008-09 will play in the [[Conference National]] division of English football.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=151|title= Sports in Barrow and Furness|accessdate=2007-08-19 |publisher= Barrow Borough Council}}</ref> The team, founded in 1901, are nicknamed "the Bluebirds" and play their home games at the [[Holker Street]] stadium.<ref name="Bluebirds">{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/sport/clubs/barrow/12_2003.shtml|title= Barrow Football Club|accessdate=2007-08-19 |publisher= BBC}}</ref> The side were members of the [[Football League]] until they were demoted in 1972.<ref name="Bluebirds"/> In 1990, they won the [[FA Trophy]] beating [[Leek Town F.C.|Leek Town]] 3-0 in the final at [[Wembley Stadium (1924)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/football/fatophy.php|title= The FA Trophy|accessdate=2007-08-19 |publisher= Napit.co.uk}}</ref> Football players born in Barrow include England internationals [[Emlyn Hughes]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/11/10/db1001.xml|title= Emlyn Hughes Obituary|accessdate=2007-07-08 |date= 2004-11-11|work= Telegraph.co.uk|publisher= [[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> and [[Gary Stevens]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.toffeeweb.com/history/legends/Stevens.asp|title= Stevens, Gary 1981-88|accessdate=2007-07-08 |last= Pike|first= Richard|coauthors= Poutianinen, Marko|year= 1999|work= Hall of Fame|publisher= ToffeeWeb}}</ref> as well as [[Harry Hadley]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.englandstats.com/playerreport.php?pid=424 | title = Player Report - Harry Hadley | accessdate = 2007-07-21 |publisher= EnglandStats.com}}</ref> and [[Vic Metcalfe]].<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.englandstats.com/playerreport.php?pid=659 |title=Player Profile - Vic Metcalfe |accessdate=2007-08-07 |publisher=EnglandStats.com }}</ref> Of current professional footballers, [[Wayne Curtis]],<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Wayne makes Wembley History | date=[[2007-05-21]] | publisher=[[CN Group]] | url =http://www.nwemail.co.uk/unknown/viewarticle.aspx?id=500925 | work =[[North West Evening Mail]] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-07 | language = }}</ref> [[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]] striker, and Iran Under-20 and [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] winger [[Shana Haji]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.persianmirror.com/Article_det.cfm?id=1367&getArticleCategory=42&getArticleSubCategory=4|title= Shana Haji, the first Iranian player in Scotland|accessdate=2007-06-21 |last= Dastafshan|first= Afshin|publisher= Persian Mirror}}</ref> both hail from the town. '''Holker Old Boys F.C.''' {{main|Holker Old Boys F.C.}} Holker Old Boys, based at Rakesmoor Lane, are the town's second most successful football team, and they play in the [[North West Counties Football League]] Division One. '''Barrow Raiders''' <!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:Barrowraiderslogo.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Barrow Raiders logo]] --> {{Main|Barrow Raiders}} [[Rugby league]] is a well-established sport and the town is considered as one of the game's traditional heartlands at professional and amateur levels.<ref name="rugby">{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Wilson |title=RUGBY LEAGUE: CARLISLE MERGER SIGNALS RETHINK |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |date=[[1997-10-16]] |accessdate=2007-08-20 |page=27 |quote=Now Carlisle's decision to move in with Barrow, a traditional hotbed of league where the amateur game remains as strong as ever, may be followed by a new club from South Wales entering Super League next year.}}</ref> The professional team, [[Barrow Raiders]], whose home games are at [[Craven Park (Barrow)|Craven Park]], play in National League Two. In the 1950s the side played in three Challenge Cup finals, winning the last of these against Workington Town. In the 1997 reorganisation of the sport the original Barrow RLFC team merged with [[Carlisle RLFC|Carlisle Border Raiders]] to form Barrow Border Raiders,<ref>{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Wilson |title=RUGBY LEAGUE: CARLISLE MERGER SIGNALS RETHINK |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |date=[[1997-10-16]] |accessdate=2007-08-20 |page=27 |quote=CARLISLE and Barrow have decided to merge into a new club, Barrow Border Raiders, with repercussions extending well beyond the Second Division and Cumbria.}}</ref> with the word "border" later dropped. Players who were born in the town and played at a professional level include brothers [[Ade Gardner|Ade]]<ref>{{cite news | title = Gardner out for indefinite period | publisher = BBC News | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/6599411.stm | date = [[2007-04-27]] | accessdate = 2007-07-21 }}</ref> and [[Mat Gardner]]<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Burke |title= A Welcome MAT For My Mate ADE; HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS V ST HELENS, TOMORROW, KICK-OFF 3PM |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |publisher=[[Mirror Group Newspapers]] | page=57 |date=2006-03-11 |accessdate=2007-08-20 |quote=Mat, brought up in Barrow with Ade, said:"It's always been a dream of mine to play against my elder brother and this could be the time it becomes a reality. There's also a big chance we could be meeting head-on on the wing and that would be fantastic. I was pleased with my performance at Wakefield, I just hope Jon Sharp was pleased too - that's obviously the key to me playing against Saints."}}</ref> and [[Willie Horne]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nwemail.co.uk/goingout/viewarticle.aspx?id=326017|title= Vickerstown Cricket Club, Walney|accessdate=2007-06-21 |date= 2006-01-26|publisher= [[North West Evening Mail]]}}</ref> The latter captained Barrow to their Challenge Cup victory and represented Great Britain at an international level. He was inducted in to the "Barrow Hall of Fame" along with former Barrow players [[Phil Jackson (rugby league)|Phil Jackson]] and [[Jimmy Lewthwaite]].<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.rl1908.com/Legends/jackson.htm |title=Rugby League History - Interview with Phil Jackson |accessdate=2007-08-04 |last=Fagan |first=Sean |work=RL1908.com }}</ref> '''Motor Racing''' {{main|Barrow Bombers}} Barrow in Furness has staged speedway racing at three venues since the pioneer days in the late 1920s. The first track was at Holker Street. This venue had a revival for a short spell in the early to mid 1970s. In 1930 the sport moved to Little Park but this a somewhat hazy venue. The sport had a revival in 1978 at Park Avenue Industrial Estate but this was relatively short lived. '''Golf''' Barrow is home to two large and extremely well maintained golf clubs. Barrow Golf Club founded in 1922, situated in Hawcoat covers some 6,209 yards with 18 holes.<ref>[http://www.englishgolf-courses.co.uk/cumbria/barrow.php Barrow Golf Club, Cumbria<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Furness Golf Club, possibly the most famous of the two is located on Walney Island, just 50 yards from the Irish Sea, it also offers a 18-hole course, a pro shop and many other up to date facilities.<ref>[http://www.golftoday.co.uk/clubhouse/coursedir/cumbria/furness.html Furness Golf Club, Barrow In Furness, Cumbria, England]</ref> ==Culture== [[Image:Thecanteen.jpg|thumb|right|The rustic entrance to The Canteen]] ===Radio=== Barrow is served by two [[commercial radio]] stations. [[The Bay (radio station)|The Bay]] is broadcast from [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] and serves the area around [[Morecambe Bay]]. Abbey FM begun broadcasting from Barrow after being awarded a commercial radio license by [[Ofcom]] in 2005. The station, whose target remit is 25 to 64 year-olds living in Barrow and the [[Furness]] peninsula, is owned by The Radio Business Ltd, [[CN Group]] and The Local Radio Company Ltd.<ref>{{cite press release| title = Ofcom awards new FM commercial radio licence for Barrow-in-Furness | publisher = [[Ofcom]] | date = 2005-10-05| url = http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2005/10/nr_20051003| accessdate = 2007-08-16}}</ref> The [[BBC]]'s local radio service is [[BBC Radio Cumbria]], who have studio facilities in the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2005/10/19/barrow_office_feature.shtml |title=BBC - Cumbria - Local Radio - The Barrow Office. Barrow also has its own Radio Station; Abbey FM broadcasts to most of the Furness area from its offices above the Forum 28 and the Barrow Market. |accessdate=2007-08-16 |publisher=[[BBC]] }}</ref> ===Newspapers=== There is one paid-for evening daily paper - the ''[[North West Evening Mail]]''. There is also a weekly freesheet called the ''Advertiser'', which is delivered to most households in the Furness area. Both are owned by independent publisher the [[CN group]], formerly Cumbrian Newspapers.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cngroup.co.uk/publishing/index.html | title=CN Group - Publishing | accessdate=2007-06-10 }}</ref> === Television === Barrow lies in the [[Granada TV]]/ [[North West England]] region with the main signal coming from the [[Winter Hill]] transmitter near Bolton. There is also a relay transmitter at [[Millom]] whose signal can be received in the northern end of the town. The signal from Millom is generally of inferior quality, with most households receiving BBC 1 and 2 and ITV at adequate quality, with low quality reception of Channel 4 programs. Various television personalities were born in the district. Dave Myers was a [[motorcycle|biker]] born in Barrow, before he found fame as one half of [[Celebrity chef|television cookery]] duo [[The Hairy Bikers]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Rosanna | last=Greenstreet | coauthors= | title=My Home: Dave Myers of the Hairy Bikers | date=[[2006-05-10]] | publisher=[[Independent News & Media]] | url =http://money.independent.co.uk/property/homes/article363011.ece | work =[[The Independent]] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-07 | language = }}</ref> [[Karen Taylor (comedian)|Karen Taylor]] is a TV [[comedienne]] best known for her [[BBC Three]] sketch show 'Touch Me, I'm Karen Taylor'.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Karen's sketch show opens | date=[[2007-06-11]] | publisher=[[CN Group]] | url =http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=508863 | work =[[North West Evening Mail]] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-07-25 | language = }}</ref> [[Steve Dixon (newsreader)|Steve Dixon]] is a [[newsreader]] for [[Sky News]],<ref>{{cite news | first=Cassandra | last=Jardine | coauthors= | title='Diabetes is not as simple as it appears' | date=[[2003-11-03]] | publisher= | url =http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2003/11/03/hdiab03.xml | work =[[The Daily Telegraph]] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-07 | language = }}</ref> while [[Nigel Kneale]] was a well-known film and television scriptwriter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article622130.ece|title=Nigel Kneale|publisher=[[The Times]]|date=[[2006-11-02]]|accessdate=2007-02-08|page=71}}</ref> Wartime diarist and local housewife [[Nella Last]]'s memoirs were adapted for television, with parts of the town used in filming. The resulting programme, ''[[Housewife, 49]]'', starring comedienne [[Victoria Wood]], was broadcast by [[ITV]] in 2006. It won two [[British Academy Television Awards 2007|BAFTA]] awards - one for Best Single Drama, the other for Best Actress (Victoria Wood).<ref>{{cite news | first=Ian | last=Wylie | coauthors= | title=Victoria plays it straight | date=[[2006-12-01]] | publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] | url =http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_tv/s/229/229723_victoria_plays_it_straight.html | work =[[Manchester Evening News]] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-05 | language = }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=481129|title= Top Award for Diary Drama Set in Barrow|accessdate=2007-08-14 |date= 2007-03-27|publisher= [[North West Evening Mail]]}}</ref> [[CITV]] children's show [[The Treacle People]] had two villains named Barrow and [[Furness]] respectively.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/T/treacle/series2.html | publisher =[[Channel 4]] | accessdate=2007-05-10 | title=Treacle People microsite }}</ref> * ===Music=== Barrow has produced several musical performers of note. They include [[Thomas Round]], a singer and [[actor]] in D'Oyly Carte productions of [[Savoy Opera]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://diamond.boisestate.edu/GaS/whowaswho/R/RoundThomas.htm |title=Thomas Round |accessdate=2007-08-07 |publisher=Boise State University }}</ref> as well as [[Glenn Cornick]], the original [[bass guitar]]ist in the rock band, [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]].<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.j-tull.com/musicians/pastmembers/glenncornick.html |title=Glenn Cornick |accessdate=2007-08-07 |publisher=The Official Jethro Tull Website }}</ref> The father of [[Simply Red]]'s [[Mick Hucknall]] was born in Barrow before moving to [[Manchester]].<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Hucknall becomes a father | date=[[2007-06-21]] | publisher=[[CN Group]] | url =http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=512465 | work =[[North West Evening Mail]] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-21 | language = |quote=The flame-haired singer, 47, toured BAE's shipyard with his father Reg Hucknall, who was born in Barrow and grew up in the town before moving to Manchester. Young Mick Hucknall spent many family holidays in Barrow where many of his relatives still live. }}</ref> More recently, hip-hop [[DJ]] and [[record producer]] [[Aim (musician)|Aim]] has had considerable commercial success.<ref>{{cite news | first=David | last=Sue | coauthors= | title=Superstar DJ continues to Aim high | date=[[2006-06-23]] | publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] | url =http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/rock_and_pop/s/216/216434_superstar_dj_continues_to_aim_high.html | work =[[Manchester Evening News]] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-07 | language = }}</ref> ===Expressive arts=== [[Image:Holiday2005b 052.jpg|thumb|The [[Duddon Valley]], just outside of Barrow]] Several people of note in the world of Art and Literature have come from Barrow. Artist [[Keith Tyson]], who won the [[Turner Prize]] in 2002, was born in nearby [[Ulverston]] and attended the Barrow-in-Furness College of Engineering as well as working at then [[VSEL]] shipyard.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://collection.britishcouncil.org/html/artist/artist.aspx?id=19092 |title=Keith Tyson Biography |accessdate=2007-08-04 |publisher=[[British Council]] }}</ref> [[Constance Spry]], the author and florist who revolutionised interior design in the [[U.K]] in the 1930s and 40's, moved to the town with her son Anthony during [[World War I]] to work as welfare supervisor.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.designmuseum.org/design/constance-spry |title=Constance Spry / Florist, Author + Social Reformer (1886 - 1960) |accessdate=2007-08-04 |publisher=Design Museum }}</ref> [[Peter Purves]], later a [[Blue Peter]] presenter, began his acting career with 2 years as a member of the Renaissance Theatre Company at the town's Her Majesty's Theatre.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.peterpurves.com/inthetheatre.html |title=Peter Purves in the Theatre |accessdate=2007-08-04 |publisher=peterpurves.com }}</ref> The Canteen Media & Arts Centre - known simply as "The Canteen" - and Forum Twenty Eight are the main venues for theatre. ===Literature=== In fictional works, Barrow and [[Vickerstown]] on [[Walney Island]] featured in children's show [[The Railway Series]], which developed into [[Thomas the Tank Engine]], as the point where the fictional [[Sodor (fictional island)|Island of Sodor]] connected to mainland Britain and the national rail network.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.storybookengland.com/authors.php?form_id=3413682892|title= Thomas the Tank Engine books|accessdate=2007-08-25 |publisher= Storybook England}}</ref> The great [[Portugal|Portuguese]] poet [[Fernando Pessoa]] dedicated a poem to Barrow-in-Furness. His "heteronym" [[Álvaro de Campos]] lived in Barrow when he was studying ship engineering. The poem, divided in to five other poems, is called "Barrow-On-Furness". Near the river, Alvaro de Campos dreams of Lisbon and Tejo river: [...]Sonho, histérico oculto, um vão recanto.../O rio Furness, que é o que aqui banha,/Só ironicamente me acompanha,/Que estou parado e ele correndo tanto... ===Architecture=== Barrow is one of Britain's few [[planned town]]s and has many fine buildings to show for it.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.enjoyengland.com/destinations/find/englands-northwest/cumbria/barrow-in-furness.aspx |title=Destination guide for Barrow-in-Furness |accessdate=2007-08-08 |publisher=Enjoy England }}</ref> There are many old and distinctive buildings in the town centre, mostly from the Victorian era, such as the [[Town hall]], Old [[Fire station]], The 'Nan Tait' Centre, [[Salvation Army]] Building and Public [[Library]]. There is also an increasing number of modern [[office building]]s as well as the [[shipyard]]'s [[cranes]] and [[construction]] halls which dominate much of Barrow's skyline. Barrow has 8 [[Grade I listed buildings]], 15 [[Listed building|Grade II*]] and 249 [[Grade II]] buildings.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2758 |title=Listed Buildings |accessdate=2007-08-16 |publisher= Barrow Borough Council}}</ref> == Education == {|class="infobox" align="centre" |- |colspan="2" align="center"|[[Nursery School]]s||colspan="2" align="center"|13 |- |colspan="2" align="center"|[[Infant School]]s||colspan="2" align="center"|5 |- |colspan="2" align="center"|[[Junior School]]s||colspan="2" align="center"|5 |- |colspan="2" align="center"|[[Primary School]]s||colspan="2" align="center"|15 |- |colspan="2" align="center"|[[Secondary School]]s||colspan="2" align="center"|5 |- |colspan="2" align="center"|[[Private School]]s||colspan="2" align="center"|1 |- |colspan="2" align="center"|[[College]]s||colspan="2" align="center"|2 |- |colspan="2" align="center"|[[University|Universitie]]s||colspan="2" align="center"|1* |- |colspan="2" align="center"|* [[University of Cumbria]] partly sited in Barrow |} Education in the state sector is provided by the local education authority, [[Cumbria|Cumbria County Council]]. There are fifteen primary schools, five infant schools, five junior schools and many nurseries. The are five [[secondary schools]], they are [[Parkview Community College of Technology|Parkview School]], [[St. Bernard's Catholic High School]], [[Walney School]], [[Thorncliffe School]] and [[Alfred Barrow School]]. In the further education sector there are two colleges.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.barrow.furness.co.uk/barrow_schools.asp?ID=L2 |title=Schools and Education |accessdate=2007-08-17 |work=barrow.furness.co.uk |publisher=Furness Enterprise }}</ref> [[Barrow 6th form|Barrow-in-Furness Sixth Form College]] concentrates on teaching [[A-level]] subjects,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.barrow6fc.ac.uk/About/ProgrammesOfStudy.asp?Area_Title=About|title= Programmes of Study|accessdate=2007-08-18 |publisher= Barrow Sixth Form College}}</ref> while [[Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness|Furness College]] specialises in vocational courses.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.furness.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=2&Itemid=2|title= School Leavers|accessdate=2007-08-18 |publisher= Furness College}}</ref> In addition to publicly funded education, the town has one private school, [[Chetwynde School|Chetwynde]], which has fee-paying pupils from nursery to [[sixth form]] level.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.chetwynde.co.uk/welcome.html|title= Welcome from the Head of School|accessdate=2007-08-18 |last= Nixon|first= Isobel|format= Flash|publisher= Chetwynde School}}</ref> The town's main library is the Central Library in Ramsden Square, situated near the town centre.<ref name="Library">{{cite web |url= http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=163|title= Libraries and Archives|accessdate=2007-08-18 |publisher= Barrow Borough Council}}</ref> The library was established in 1882 in a room near the Town Hall, and moved to its current premises in 1922. A branch of the County Archive Service, opened in 1979 and containing many of the town's archives, is located within adjoining premises,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.familia.org.uk/services/england/cumbria_barrow.html|title= Cumbria County Council (Barrow)|accessdate=2007-08-18 |publisher= Familia}}</ref> whilst until 1991 the library also housed the Furness Museum, a forerunner of the [[Dock Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk/museum_history.htm|title= Museum History|accessdate=2007-08-18 |format= Flash|publisher= [[Dock Museum]]}}</ref> Smaller branch libraries are currently provided at [[Walney]], [[Roose]], Ormsgill, and [[Barrow Island]].<ref name="Library"/> ==See also== * [[BAE Systems Submarines]] * [[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)]] * [[List of famous residents of Barrow-in-Furness]] * [[List of ships and submarines built in Barrow-in-Furness]] ==References== {{Reflist|2}} {{Cumbria}} {{Barrow-in-Furness}} [[Category:Irish Sea]] [[Category:Towns in Cumbria]] [[Category:Ports and harbours of Cumbria]] [[Category:Furness]] [[Category:Settlements established in 1867]] [[Category:Barrow-in-Furness|*]] [[Category:Planned cities]] [[de:Barrow-in-Furness]] [[es:Barrow-in-Furness]] [[fr:Barrow-in-Furness]] [[it:Barrow-in-Furness]] [[nl:Barrow-in-Furness]] [[no:Barrow-in-Furness]] [[pl:Barrow-in-Furness]] [[pt:Barrow-in-Furness]] [[ro:Barrow-in-Furness]] [[vo:Barrow-in-Furness]]