EXPECT to hear about a squatter’s cottage, a man who escaped the gallows, a racecourse and stories of war heroes as life in a Furness village is revealed at a book launch event.
Author Mike Quinn will give an introduction to his new book called Old Newbarns: A History of Newbarns Village and the Development of the Townfields and there will be an opportunity to view historic documents relating to this long-establish Barrow community.
The event is on Wednesday, February 19, from 7pm at the Barrow Archive and Local Studies Library, which forms part of the Ramsden Square Central Library.
Barrow archivist Susan Benson will have a selection of original archives on display relating to Newbarns.
The event is free but people are asked to book a place by calling 01229 407377 or sending an email to barrow.archives@cumbria.gov.uk
Today’s pictures, from The Mail’s archive, offer a taste of life in Newbarns over the decades.
Newbarns can claim greater antiquity than the group of cottages beside Walney Channel which grew to become Barrow on the mid-19th century.
It once had its own mayor and council which met regularly in the Farmers Arms, once known locally as the town hall.
The first villagers at Newbarns lived in what were little more than single room hovels, eventually replaced by more substantial stone built properties - a number of which can still be seen today.
Among these is an early 19 th century squatter's cottage and a former farmhouse.
One man born in the village narrowly avoided the gallows after being charged with forgery.
His wealthy father was forced to sell most of his properties to pay his son's substantial defence costs.
Farmland was sold in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to make way for large houses and even a racecourse.
Among the village’s prominent figures was Sir Jonah Walker-Smith - civil engineer, author, barrister and MP.
Two Newbarns properties were owned by the families of a pair of soldiers who were awarded the Victoria Cross for acts of outstanding bravery during the First World War.
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