THE Devonshire Dock was biggest single building project to be completed in Barrow during 1867 - the first key element in a series of dock developments.

Between 1869 and 1879 a total of £2m was spent on the docks.

By the 1950s Barrow docks was handling more than a million tons of imported iron ore a year for the ironworks at Barrow and Millom.

Devonshire Dock was officially opened on Thursday, September 19, in 1867.

It 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 guest.

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.”