THE Lancaster-based architects Sharpe, Paley and Austin were responsible for the design of many of the major Victorian buildings in Barrow – but missed out on the town hall.

Councillors set up a sub-committee in October 1876 to seek drawings.

A council vote on February 2 in 1877 was in favour of the Lancaster firm by 21 votes to 3.

However, a month later six Barrow architects complained that local firms had not been treated fairly.

The result was a national contest with 140 people expressing an interest and 23 designs being submitted.

The winner in 1877 was not a local but William Henry Lynn, of Belfast, who was also the architect for Chester Town Hall.

It took another five years before Glasgow builders Short and Devlin got started on the Duke Street site.

The job was nearly finished by the spring of 1885 when cracks were spotted which forced a rebuild of the clock tower.

The Barrow Town Hall officials were in their new offices by October 1886 but the official opening was put back to July 1887 to coincide with Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

The Marquis of Hartington performed the opening ceremony.