Three of the strategic roundabouts in Barrow are named after famous Barrovians - Sir James Ramsden, Sir Henry Schneider and Sir John Whinnerah - but do you know why?

Ramsden Square Roundabout - Duke Street/Abbey Road

Sir James Ramsden

The industrialist and civil engineer co-founded the Furness Railway Company in 1846 and served as managing director between 1866 and 1895.

In 1866 he was appointed managing director of the Barrow Hematite Steel Company and from 1875 to 1888 took the same role at The Barrow Shipbuilding Company.

Ramsden was knighted in 1872 and a statue was unveiled that same year in Ramsden Square which was first laid out in the 1840s to act as a focal point of his masterplan for the new town.

Schneider Square Roundabout - Duke Street/Dalton Road/Michaelson Road

Henry Schneider

The iron dealer and speculator moved to Barrow in 1839 and is responsible for the discovery of the massive Burlington iron ore mine near Askam in 1851.

He joined forces with James Ramsden to form the Furness Railway Company and the two magnates later merged their iron companies to form the Barrow Hematite Steel Company.

In 1859 the pair oversaw the construction of what was then the largest Bessemer process steelworks in the world.

A statue of Henry Schneider was erected in 1891 at what is now the Schneider Square Roundabout.

John Whinnerah Roundabout - Hindpool Road/Abbey Road

John Whinnerah

The John Whinnerah Institute in Abbey Road was named after the former mayor and chairman of the council's education committee.

The building acted as accommodation and a training facility for the women's institute, to allow young girls in the borough to learn the skills to do commercial jobs as an alternative to factory work or domestic service.

The building overlooks the junction of Abbey Road and Hindpool Road which was later converted to a roundabout.

In 2005 the roundabout was expanded when the rear of the John Whinnerah Institute was removed to make way for Hindpool Retail Park.