A century ago Barrow shipyard was the workplace for 35,000 people - building ships and submarines, field guns and shells to help fight the First World War.

The scaleof the expansion, to meet the needs of the Army and Navy, was outlined by the Barrow News on Saturday, December 29 in 1917.

It noted: "The year 1917 must be written down as a record in productivity at the great works of Vickers, Barrow.

"Probably no firm in the world is better equipped or organised for delivering the goods so essential for the successful conduct of the war."

Particular praise was given to Barrow's role in the development of the submarine.

It noted: "Barrow has also been, what may be termed, the nursery of the submarines, and the marked advance which has been achieved in the British submersibles is one of the marvels of naval engineering and construction."

To achieve such a prominent role in war production the Barrow site had seen rapid expansion.

It noted: "The area of the Vickers works at Barrow prior to the war was 220 acres, which has now been extended to 270 acres.

"The floor area of the workshops has increased from 1.6m sq ft to 2.4m sq ft.

"The number of employees has gone up from 17,000 in 1914 to 35,000 at the present time.

"The weekly wage bill, which was £35,000 in 1914, is now between £90,000 and £100,000.

"Since January 1915, there has been produced several thusand tons of howitzer equipments and many million shells, from the largest to the smallest.

"This output has necessitated the complete erection equipment during the war of entirely new shops.

"Many capital ships and other craft - surface and submarine - have been completed for the Navy.

"The demands by the Admiralty for naval ordnance of all types have been fully met."

The needs of war had seen Barrow develop an advanced diesel engine design what quickly became the national standard

"Internal engines of Vickers' design have been adopted by the Admiralty for all submarine boats being built in this country.

"This type of engine is now being fitted in merchant vessels."

Supplying the army with field guns and howitzers required a major expansion in construction facilities at the ordnance factory - and in its labour force.

It noted: "Much of the important work, even in this department, is carried out by women machine workers under the instruction of male supervisors.

"Very satisfactory results as regards output have been obtained.

"Amongst other new departments at the Naval Construction Works is an entirely new projectile factory.

"One of the striking features of the shell production at Barrow has been the great variety as well as the volume of the output of tis and other shell factories in the works."

Barrow also provided the massive steel housing which revolved and elevated the enormous guns fitted to destroyers, cruisers and battleships.

It noted: "The bays of the naval gun-mounting shops are each 1,000ft long with immense pits.

"In each of them is erected the whole of the machinery for the manipulation of the largest of naval guns - and for the supply of ammunition fromthe magazine room to the breech of the gun.

"In this way, the gun-mounting, which in some cases weighs many hundreds of tons, can be completed and tested before being fitted up in the ship."