150 years since opening of first major dock at Barrow

The dock was one of the engineering wonders of its age and everyone wanted to see it.

Chancellor of the Exchequer William Ewart Gladstone was the star quest on Thursday, September 19, in 1867.

He went on to serve as Prime Minister four times in a political career lasting more than 60 years.

The Devonshire Dock was a statement of intent that Barrow was ready to make a major investment to modernize and expand.

The new dock was 152.4m wide and 7.3m deep and covered an area of 12.5 hectares.

It had an entrance basin which was 152.m wide and 45.7m long and originally had double-skinned, wrought iron gates which were 18.3m wide.

The Ulverston Mirror noted in 1867: “Of course, the banquet served in the commodious banquet hall near the railway station was the most prominent feature in the day's proceedings.

“The invitations numbered some 1,200 and we may say that nearly the whole of them were accepted.

“The list included the Lord Mayor of London, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and the mayors of the principal towns of the kingdom; together with a goodly number of members of parliament, chairmen of chambers of commerce scattered throughout the country.”

Gladstone’s visit and the importance of the dock to the new town’s future ensured the opening ceremony would be something special.

The newspaper article noted: “Never has Barrow before witnessed the amount of popular excitement as that which has been visible this week.

“Never were such exertions made throughout the whole district to get up such a show as has taken place.”

Parliament approved the dock scheme in 1863 and construction started immediately – making use of stone for the construction of the dock walls and quays from Hawcoat quarry – which had its own railway branch line.

Brassey and Fields were contractors for Devonshire dock and the first water was let in on the first of August in 1867.

As soon as the work was completed, the contractors started on the Buccleuch Dock.