THERE can’t be many people living in Barrow today who can trace their descent directly back to those who lived in the old Barrow Village before the arrival of industry gave birth to a new town.
A list of the original village names from 1838 was drawn up Eleanor Myers, of Ramsden Street around 1916.
Mining and farming dominate the occupations, plus a few shops and trades. In addition to the names she recorded that the only chapel was in Fisher Granary and the first parson was the Reverend Mr Horsfall, of St George’s.
The first resident medical man was Dr Allison and the village’s first chimney sweep was Mr Harker.
The constables Sandwell and Smith were the first policemen to serve in Barrow.
The list of those she could remember from 1838 came to 32. They were first printed in the Evening Mail 50 years ago on May 20 in 1966.
The article recorded:
William Atkinson, a miner better known as “Wicked Will”
William Atkinson, known as “Civil Will”
Captain Barrow, who lived in a little cottage on the shore side
Robert Dickinson, miner Matthew Dixon, miner James Fell, retired farmer from Biggar, living in a cottage called Thimble Hall
John Fisher, of Ivy Cottage
Joseph Fisher, farmer
William Fisher, farmer
James Hardy, farmer
Betty Harrison, of the Burlington Hotel
William Harrison, farmer and son of Betty
John Hartley, grocer with a small shop
Thomas Haslam, tailor and father of
Myles Thomas Hodgson, of the Waterside Offices
Mr Michaelson, gentleman of Old Barrow House
Peggy Keary, of the Little Toffee Shop off the end of the King’s Arms
Robert Kendal, miner of the top of Clay Pit Lane
Thomas King, farmer, who lived where the Free Trade Hall was later built
William Robinson, of the Ship Hotel
John Sharp, miner
Thomas Sherwin, shopkeeper
Simpson, three unmarried women and their two brothers
John Smith, shoemaker living on what was later the King’s Arms
Captain Storey Robert Thexton, miner
Matthew Todd, blacksmith Thomas Woodburn, labourer living in a thatched cottage.
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