History

Barrow-in-Furness was historically part of Lancashire and is at the tip of the Furness peninsula, close to the Lake District and bordered by Morecambe Bay, the Duddon Estuary and the Irish Sea.

In the Middle Ages, Barrow was a small hamlet with Furness Abbey , on the outskirts of the modern-day town, controlling the local economy before its dissolution in 1537.

During the Victorian age Barrow became a centre for steel and this, combined with the sheltered strait between the town and Walney Island, meant it was an ideal location for a shipyard, producing naval vessels, particularly submarines during World War I.

The BAE Systems shipyard which now occupies the site is undergoing a major expansion associated with the Dreadnought-class submarine programme, securing thousands of jobs for years to come.

Today Barrow is a hub for energy generation and handling. Offshore wind farms form one of the highest concentrations of turbines in the UK.

During World War II, Barrow was a target for the German air force. Local housewife Nella Last was selected to write a diary of her experiences on the home front for the Mass-Observation project. Her memoirs were adapted for television as Housewife 49, starring the late Victoria Wood.

Living here

The UK has few planned towns and Barrow is one of the oldest, built for the workforce during the boom years of shipbuilding. Its centre contains a grid of well-built terraced houses, with a tree-lined road leading away from a central square.

Barrow's most popular tourist attraction with free entry is the Dock Museum which documents the town's history.

It also has a number of beaches. Of these, Earnse Bay and Biggar Bank provide views of the Isle of Man and Anglesey on exceptionally clear days.

The Park Leisure Centre is a fitness suite with a pool, set in the 45-acre Barrow Park. The ruins of Furness Abbey and Piel Castle, both managed by English Heritage, are also popular tourist destinations.

The town centre is home to a large indoor market and Portland Walk Shopping Centre, as well as many retail and leisure parks.

Secondary schools include Chetwynde School, Furness Academy, St Bernard's Catholic High School and Walney School, and there are nearly 30 primary schools. Check out their Ofsted reports here .

Furness General Hospital is in Barrow's Hawcoat area.

Getting around

Roads - the A590 links Barrow with Ulverston and Walney Island.

Trains - Barrow railway station has connections to Whitehaven, Workington and Carlisle to the north via the Cumbrian Coast Line, and to Ulverston, Grange-over-Sands and Lancaster to the east via the Furness Line. Numerous daily trains run to Manchester. Roose station serves the suburb of the same name.

Buses - services within the town are operated by Stagecoach North West. There is no specifically designated bus station, although many bus routes start and end near the town hall.