50 years since Furness became part of Cumbria

Formerly part of Lancashire, Furness became part of the newly-formed Cumbria in April 1974 as the country went through a major shake-up of its council areas and county boundaries. 

The historic area joined with Cumberland and Westmorland to become Cumbria half a century ago this week.

Debate on whether parts of south Cumbria should be considered part of Cumbria or Lancashire has raged ever since.

And many Mail readers are not giving up on their Lancashire roots, making their feelings clear on whether they now feel Lancastrian or Cumbrian.

Iain Moore said he was 'Lancashire through and through' and 'if you were born in Barrow then you're a Lancastrian end of'.

Aaron Smithson said: "Barrow is in Lancashire, the administrative counties moved but not the county palatine.

"That's why Manchester is still in Lancashire and not Greater Manchester and people from Yorkshire can still stay they are from Yorkshire, even though 'Yorkshire' doesn't exist anymore."

Meanwhile, Woody Woodhouse said: "My postcode says I still live in Lancashire even though I live in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

"I was born when it was Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire and I will remain Lancashire." 

"Cumbria was only ever an administrative area," Peter Giles said.

"My home town was caught up in the fiasco but Barrow in Furness was, and always will be, in Lancashire."

Others said they felt proud to be Cumbrian did not come down either side.

Ray Guselli said: "For me ... Barrovian! Never mind Cumbria and Lancashire."

Karen Wren said: "I started off as a Lancastrian before becoming a Cumbrian when I was 13/14 years old.

"I’m proud of my roots and I’m equally proud to be Cumbrian, I got married as a Cumbrian, I had three kids as a Cumbrian and five grandchildren as a Cumbrian.

"I have lived over three quarters of my life as a Cumbrian and will die a Cumbrian ... so I can safely say I feel Cumbrian."

Norma Powell said she was born a Lancastrian 'however time moves on, so proud to be a Cumbrian also'.

April 1, 1974, saw major local government reform take place under the Local Government Act 1972, which divided much of England into newly created counties.

It saw the creation of the administrative areas of Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cumbria.

Many proud Lancastrians argue the act did not alter the county boundaries and in fact Barrow, along with other parts of south Cumbria, remains part of Lancashire.

Some 49 years after the formation of Cumbria the county was split in two administratively as the area's councils merged to become Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland in 2023.