NEW forms of employment for Furness were sought after the Second World War and there were high hopes that hundreds of jobs could be created by textile production near Roose railway station.

The front page of The Mail on Monday, May 10, in 1948, announced that the new Lister’s factory was ready for opening at the end of the month for the manufacture of woollen textiles.

The following day it was reported that six key workers were being sent from Bradford to train Furness women to operate the machinery at Bridgegate, Roose.

The factory manager was also being brought in from Bradford. Mr J. Yeadon had worked in Lister’s Manningham Mills for 30 years.

In has hoped to be in full production on the 29 acres site by September, working two shifts from 6am to 2pm and 2pm to 10pm.

Planning and building the new Roose factory had taken 18 months.

Company director Graham Watson said: “The machinery, some of which has come from Bradford, is most modern; some of it entirely new.

“We expect it to be completely erected by the beginning of June.”

He said there would be jobs for almost 200 women.

The factory cost £380,000 to build and at one time employed more than 1,000 people.

It closed in December 1990 with the loss of 270 jobs and the site was eventually cleared for housing.

The front page of the Evening Mail on August 15 in 1990 noted: “Listers, part of the Leicester-based Mutual Yarns, has blamed large losses in textile spinning for shutting its Barrow plant and shifting production to Leicester.

“It is understood cheap foreign imports are the reason for losses at Barrow.

“Only 75 jobs will remain at a separate rug shop.

“Since Listers set up in Barrow 40 years ago, the firm has been hit by a series of lay-offs and short-time working which steadily reduced the workforce from 1,000.”

Only a fad for cartoon-inspired designs saved the 75 jobs at the Listers rug plant.

Children through the country were keen to get its products featuring Thomas the Tank Engine and Mutant Hero Turtles.

Managing director Michael Dracup said: “The demand for these rugs is very good.

“It is a fast moving operation and it will stay in Barrow.”