A TASTE of the remarkable range of products which came out of Barrow’s shipbuilding and engineering works around 1960 is provided by a booklet produced for a yard tour and meeting of directors.

The tour of the Barrow Naval Construction Works, engine shop, offices, assembly shop and general engineering shop took place on Thursday and Friday, July 21 and 22.

Perhaps the best-known shipyard products they were shown was the submarine Dreadnought and the liner Oriana which was in Buccleuch Dock.

A copy of the commemorative booklet which marked the visit was spotted in Barrow collectables shop Pepperland Collect, in Scott Street.

The 40,000-ton Oriana had been launched by Princess Alexandra on November 3 in 1959 and directors were told it was due to leave for sea trials on October 22 in 1960.

Finishing touches were being made to Dreadnought – Britain’s first nuclear-powered submarine – ready for the planned launch by the Queen on October 21 in 1960.

Work was advanced on the 42,000-ton British Prestige tanker which was due to be launched in April 1961.

Also under construction was the 32,000-ton Malwa for the Charter Shipping Company.

Three 50,000-ton vessels for the BP Tanker Company were on order.

More unusual projects included a dock gates for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board to be fitted at Garston Docks.

The yard was producing large numbers of Sulzer diesel engines under licence to be fitted to railway locomotives but also made much large power units – including the 1,940bhp engine for HMS Salisbury and a mighty 6,400bhp engine for the MV Hertford.

Large road transporters were a common sight leaving the Vickers shipyard at Barrow.

Among the loads they struggled with was sections for a 265ft long rotary kiln for the Chinnor Cement and Lime Company or a double drum winder for the Bancroft Mine in Northern Rhodesia.

Directors we also told about Pumps which had been recently installed at the Hanningfield Reservoir in Essex.