SOME of Barrow’s recently-demolished iconic buildings had been living on borrowed time for almost a century, a historian has said.

Amateur local historian Clive Burgess has long studied the changing face of Barrow’s landmarks and key routes as a result of the Barrow Blitz in 1941.

The Second World War had a lasting impact on Barrow as it suffered a number of hits directed at the shipyard which was vital to the war effort.

Mr Burgess, of Headland Rise on Walney, said although Barrow was ‘a lot luckier’ than other towns and cities it still suffered irreparable damage to some of its most iconic buildings.

“I have long suspected that the former register office building in Abbey Road, recently demolished, and others nearby, have had a gifted life,” he said.

“I say this because of the damage done to Barrow town centre during the Barrow Blitz in 1941.

“The building next to the now demolished register office, The Christ Church on the corner of Dalkeith Street and Abbey Road, was completely flattened during this blitz.

“The Technical College across the road lost its right hand frieze, which was blown onto the college’s roof and was never replaced. The remaining left hand one is the same as the one that was lost.

“Also flattened the same night in Dalkeith Street was The Trevelyan Hotel with quite a loss of life. This building was the twin of the building we now call the Knights of St Columbus.

"Further up Abbey Road where today’s Coronation Gardens are, we lost The Waverley Hotel and The Abbey Road Baptist Church. This damaged Abbey Road Swimming Baths, which had to be closed during the 1950s to allow repairs to be made.

“Next to The Mail's offices (now a car park), was Hornby’s Builders Yard, which also took a direct hit.

“Then of course there was the direct hit of Barrow Railway Station. All the buildings near to these huge explosions all had to be repaired or even rebuilt in some cases.”