View source for Barrow-in-Furness

{{Short description|Town in Cumbria, England}}
{{redirect|Barrow, Cumbria|the fell in the Lake District|Barrow (Lake District)}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| official_name = Barrow-in-Furness
| other_name = 
| native_name = 
| nickname = 
| static_image_name = Barrow montage2.jpg
| static_image_caption = Clockwise from the upper left: [[Central Barrow]] with the skyline of [[Blackpool]] also visible, [[Barrow Island, Barrow-in-Furness|Barrow Island]], [[Walney Bridge]] and [[Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness|Furness College]], [[Furness Abbey]], [[Ramsden Square]], [[Dock Museum]] and [[Devonshire Dock Hall|DDH]], [[Barrow-in-Furness Town Hall|Barrow Town Hall]] and [[St. Mary of Furness Roman Catholic Church|St. Mary's Church]]
| static_image_2_name = Arms of Barrow in Furness.svg
| static_image_2_width = 150px
| static_image_2_caption = [[Coat of arms of Barrow-in-Furness]]
| coordinates = {{coord|54.1108|-3.2261|display=inline,title}}
| population = 55,489
| population_ref = ([[United Kingdom Census 2021|2021 Census]])
| population_demonym = Barrovian
| civil_parish = Barrow
| unitary_england = [[Westmorland and Furness]]
| lieutenancy_england = [[Cumbria]]
| region = North West England
| constituency_westminster = [[Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency)|Barrow and Furness]]
| post_town = BARROW-IN-FURNESS
| postcode_district = LA13, LA14
| postcode_area = LA
| dial_code = 01229
| os_grid_reference = SD198690
| london_distance = {{convert|297|mi|km|0|abbr=on}}
| pushpin_map_caption = Location on Morecambe Bay##Location of town centre within Barrow-in-Furness Borough
}}

'''Barrow-in-Furness''', commonly known as '''Barrow''', is an [[port town|industrial port town]] and [[civil parish]] in [[Westmorland and Furness]], [[Cumbria]], England. Historically in [[Lancashire]], Barrow is at the tip of the [[Furness|Furness peninsula]], {{Convert|24|mi|km}} south-west of [[Kendal]] and {{Convert|18|mi|km}} west of [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]]. It is bordered by [[Morecambe Bay]] to the east, the [[Duddon Estuary]] to the west, and the [[Irish Sea]] to the south. In 2021, Barrow's population was 55,489, making it the second largest urban area in Cumbria after [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] and the largest in Westmorland and Furness. 

In the [[Middle Ages]], Barrow was a small [[hamlet (place)|hamlet]], with its economy controlled by [[Furness Abbey]]. In the 19th century, iron prospector [[Henry Schneider]] among other investors opened the [[Furness Railway]] to transport iron ore and slate from local mines to the coast, which led to the construction of docks, now the [[Royal Port of Barrow]]. The discovery of hematite deposits allowed the steel industry to develop in the town, and for a period, [[Barrow Hematite Steel Company|its steelworks]] were the largest in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barrow Steelworks |url=http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/about_us/ironbridge_archaeology/projects/barrow/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819160207/http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/about_us/ironbridge_archaeology/projects/barrow/ |archive-date=19 August 2007}}</ref>  It was incorporated as a [[municipal borough]] in 1867, and  the town’s steel production and coastal location enabled it to develop as a centre for shipbuilding. The steel industry declined after [[World War II]]. 

Barrow served as the centre of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness from 1974 until 2023, when the borough was abolished and a parish council established. Barrow is one of England's few planned towns and has a high level of heritage assets compared nationally. Natives of Barrow, as well as the local dialect, are known as [[Barrovian]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jenkins |first=Russell |date=22 December 2006 |title=Chocolate blog sends town into meltdown |journal=The Times |pages=15}}</ref>

Its economy remains dominated by the defence sector, although defence spending cuts since the end of the Cold War have increased unemployment in the town. As of 2025, the [[BAE Systems]] shipyard is the largest in the UK by workforce; it has produced [[Royal Navy]] [[Royal Navy Fleet Flagship|flagships]], [[Nuclear submarine#Royal Navy (United Kingdom)|nuclear submarines]] and other naval and commercial vessels. The town is a hub for energy generation and handling, particularly offshore wind farms.

==Toponymy==
The name was originally that of an island, Barrai, which can be traced back to 1190. This was later renamed Old Barrow, recorded as Oldebarrey in 1537, and Old Barrow Insula and Barrohead in 1577. The island was then joined to the mainland and the town took its name. The name itself seems to mean "island with promontory", combining British ''barro-'' and Old Norse ''ey'', but it is more likely that [[Scandinavia]]n settlers simply accepted ''barro-'' as a meaningless name, and so added an explanatory [[Old Norse]] second element.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mills |first=David |title=The Place Names of Lancashire |publisher=Batsford Books |year=1976 |isbn=978-0-7134-3248-0 |location=London}}</ref>

===Nicknames===
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Barrow was nicknamed "the English [[Chicago]]" because of the sudden and rapid growth in its industry, economic stature and overall size.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bdonline.co.uk/buildings/barrow-in-furness-kept-on-life-support-by-perpetual-warfare/5011365.article|title=Barrow-in-Furness: kept on life support by perpetual warfare|first=Owen|last=Hatherley|date=13 January 2011|website=Building Design|accessdate=25 August 2023}}</ref> More recently the town has been dubbed the "capital of [[Blue-collar worker|blue-collar]] Britain" by  ''[[The Guardian]]'', reflecting its strong working class identity.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Barrow, capital of blue-collar Britain |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/oct/05/1 |newspaper=The Observer|date=4 October 2008 |last1=Davies |first1=Caroline }}</ref> Barrow is also often jokingly referred to as being at the end of the longest [[cul-de-sac]] in the country because of its isolated location at the tip of the Furness [[peninsula]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Westcott |first=Lucy Townsend and Kathryn |date=17 July 2012 |title=Five lesser-spotted things in the census |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18853714}}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|Timeline of Barrow-in-Furness}}

===Early history===
Barrow and the surrounding area has been settled non-continuously for several millennia with evidence of [[Neolithic]] inhabitants on [[Walney Island]]. Despite a rich history of [[Roman Britain|Roman]] settlement across Cumbria and the discovery of related artefacts in the Barrow area, no buildings or structures have been found to support the idea of a functioning Roman community on the [[Furness]] peninsula.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roman Treasure |url=http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk/Romans |access-date=3 August 2015 |publisher=Dock Museum |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923215551/http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk/Romans |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Furness Hoard]] discovery of [[Viking]] silver coins and other artefacts in 2011 provided significant archaeological evidence of [[Norse activity in the British Isles|Norse]] settlement in the early 9th century. Several areas of Barrow including [[Yarlside]] and [[Ormsgill]], as well as "Barrow" and "Furness", have names of [[Old Norse]] origin. The [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 recorded the settlements of Hietun, Rosse and Hougenai, which are now the districts of [[Hawcoat]], [[Roose]] and [[Walney Island|Walney]] respectively.
[[File:Furness Abbey, April 2010.jpg|thumb|right|[[Furness Abbey]], one of England's most powerful monasteries in the Middle Ages]]

In the [[Middle Ages]] the Furness peninsula was controlled by the [[Cistercian]] monks of the Abbey of St Mary of Furness, known as [[Furness Abbey]]. This was in the "Vale of Nightshade", now on the outskirts of the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local history and heritage |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=150#abbey |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609195921/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=150#abbey |archive-date=9 June 2007 |access-date=10 June 2007 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council }}</ref> Founded for the [[Congregation of Savigny|Savigniac order]], it was built on the orders of [[Stephen of England|King Stephen]] in 1123. Soon after the abbey's foundation the monks discovered iron ore deposits, later to provide the basis for the Furness economy. These thin strata, close to the surface, were extracted through open cut workings,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iron Mining |url=http://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/ironmining.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702101913/http://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/ironmining.htm |archive-date=2 July 2007 |access-date=10 June 2007 |publisher=Industries of Cumbria}}</ref> which were then smelted by the monks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raymond |first=Michael |title=A Forgotten Medieval Powerhouse: Furness Abbey |url=http://newhistories.group.shef.ac.uk/wordpress/wordpress/a-forgotten-medieval-powerhouse-furness-abbey/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425033830/http://newhistories.group.shef.ac.uk/wordpress/wordpress/a-forgotten-medieval-powerhouse-furness-abbey/ |archive-date=25 April 2016 |access-date=3 August 2015 |publisher=New Histories Magazine}}</ref> The proceeds from mining, along with agriculture and fisheries, meant that by the 15th century the abbey had become the second richest and most powerful Cistercian abbey in England, after [[Fountains Abbey]] in Yorkshire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=English Heritage |title=Furness Abbey |url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConProperty.149 |access-date=6 May 2007 |publisher=English Heritage}}</ref> The monks of Furness Abbey constructed a wooden tower on nearby [[Piel Island]] in 1212 which acted as their main trading point; it was twice invaded by the Scots, in 1316 and 1322. In 1327 [[Edward III of England|King Edward III]] gave Furness Abbey a [[Licence to crenellate|licence]] to [[crenellate]] the tower, and a [[motte-and-bailey castle]] was built. However Barrow itself was just a hamlet in the parish of [[Dalton-in-Furness]], reliant on the land and sea for survival. Small quantities of iron and ore were exported from jetties on the channel separating the village from Walney Island. Aside from Furness Abbey and Piel Castle the oldest surviving buildings in Barrow are cottages and farmhouses in [[Newbarns]] and [[Ormsgill]] which date back to the early 17th century; as well as [[Rampside Hall]], a [[Grade I listed]] building and the best-preserved in the Barrow area from the 1600s. Even as late as 1843 there were still only 32 dwellings, including two pubs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Plan of Barrow 1843 |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/pdf/summary%20of%20plan%20areas.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704111547/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/pdf/summary%20of%20plan%20areas.pdf |archive-date=4 July 2007 |access-date=10 June 2007 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council }}</ref>

===19th century===
[[File:Barrow Steelworks.jpg|thumb|left|[[Barrow Hematite Steel Company|Barrow Steelworks]] circa. 1877]]
In 1839 [[Henry Schneider]] arrived as a young speculator and dealer in iron, and he discovered large deposits of [[haematite]] in 1850. He and other investors founded the [[Furness Railway]], the first section of which opened in 1846, to transport the ore from the slate quarries at [[Kirkby-in-Furness]] and haematite mines at [[Lindal-in-Furness]] and [[Askam and Ireleth]] to a deep-water harbour near [[Roa Island]].<ref name="railway">{{Cite web |title=History of the Furness Railway Company |url=http://www.furnessrailwaytrust.org.uk/frco.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715153252/http://www.furnessrailwaytrust.org.uk/frco.htm |archive-date=15 July 2007 |access-date=8 July 2007 |publisher=The Furness Railway Trust}}</ref> The crucial and difficult link across [[Morecambe Bay]] between [[Ulverston]] and [[Carnforth]] on the main line was promoted, as the [[Ulverston and Lancaster Railway]], by a group led by [[John Brogden (industrialist)|John Brogden]] and opened in 1857. It was promptly purchased by the Furness Railway.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Marshall |first=J.D. |title=Furness and the Industrial Revolution |publisher=Michael Moon, Beckermet, Cumbria |year=1981 |isbn=978-0-904131-26-0 |pages=215–8 |orig-year=1958}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Richardson |first=Joseph |title=Furness Past and Present |year=1870 |volume=1 of 2 |pages=18–24}}</ref>

The docks built between 1863 and 1881 in the more sheltered channel between the mainland and [[Barrow Island (England)|Barrow Island]] replaced the port at Roa Island. The first dock to open was [[Devonshire Dock]] in 1867, and Prime Minister [[William Ewart Gladstone]] stated his belief that "Barrow would become another Liverpool". The increasing quantities of iron ore mined in Furness were then brought into the centre of Barrow to be transported by sea.

[[File:Barrow Jute Works 1875.jpg|thumb|Painting of the [[Barrow Jute Works]] in 1875]]
The investors in the burgeoning mining and railway industries decided that greater profits could be made by smelting the iron ore and converting the resultant pig-iron into steel, and then exporting the finished product. Schneider and [[Sir James Ramsden|James Ramsden]], the railway's general manager, erected [[blast furnace]]s at Barrow that by 1876 formed the largest steelworks in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barrow |url=http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/about_us/ironbridge_archaeology/projects/barrow/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819160207/http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/about_us/ironbridge_archaeology/projects/barrow/ |archive-date=19 August 2007 |access-date=25 August 2007 |publisher=[[Ironbridge Gorge]] Museum Trust }}</ref> Its success was a result of the availability of local iron ore and coal from the [[Cumberland]] mines and easy rail and sea transport. The Furness Railway, which counted local aristocrats [[William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire|the 7th Duke of Devonshire]] and the [[Duke of Buccleuch]] as investors, kick-started the [[Industrial Revolution]] on the peninsula. The railway brought mined ore to the town, where the steelworks produced large quantities of steel. It was used for shipbuilding, and derived products such as rails were also exported from the newly built docks.<ref name="railway" />

Barrow's population grew rapidly. Population figures for the town itself were not collected until 1871,<ref name="THB">{{Cite journal |last=Bainbridge |first=TH |year=1939 |title=Barrow in Furness: A Population Study |journal=Economic Geography |volume=15 |issue=4 |pages=379–383 |doi=10.2307/141773 |jstor=141773}}</ref> though sources suggest that Barrow's population was still as low as 700 in 1851.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timeline History of Barrow-in-Furness |url=http://www.visitoruk.com/Barrow-in-furness/19th-century-T454.html |access-date=16 July 2015 |publisher=VisitorUK}}</ref> During the first half of the 19th century, Barrow formed part of the parish of [[Dalton-in-Furness]], the population of which shows some of Barrow's early growth from the 1850s:

'''Population of the Parish of Dalton-in-Furness'''<ref name="THB" /><br />
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year||1801||1811||1821||1831||1841||1851||1861
|-
|Population||1,954||2,074||2,446||2,697||3,231||4,683||9,152
|}

In 1871 Barrow's population was recorded at 18,584 and in 1881 at 47,259, less than forty years after the railway was built.<ref name="THB" /> The majority of migrants originated from elsewhere in Lancashire although significant numbers settled in Barrow from [[Ireland]] and [[Scotland]], which represented 11% and 7% of the local population in the 1890s.<ref name="Irish">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/cultureconflictm00macr_0 |title=Culture, Conflict, and Migration: The Irish in Victorian Cumbria |publisher=Liverpool University Press |year=1998 |isbn=9780853236528 |access-date=6 April 2015 |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref name="IrishScot">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jI6lBgAAQBAJ |title=The Scots in Victorian and Edwardian Belfast: A Study in Elite Migration |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |isbn=9780748679928 |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref> By the turn of the 20th century, the Scottish-born population had increased to form the highest portion anywhere in England. Other notable immigrant groups included Cornish people who represented 80% of the district of Roose's population at the time of the 1881 census. In an attempt to diversify Barrow's economy James Ramsden founded the Barrow and Calcutta Jute Company in 1870 and the [[Barrow Jute Works]] was soon constructed alongside the Furness Railway line in [[Hindpool]]. The mill employed 2,000 women at its peak and was awarded a gold medal for its produce at the 1878 Paris [[Exposition Universelle (1878)|Exposition Universelle]].<ref name="Grace">{{Cite web |title=Barrow Flax and Jute Co |url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Barrow_Flax_and_Jute_Co |access-date=10 March 2013 |publisher=Grace's Guide}}</ref>

[[File:Barrow Works 1890.jpg|thumb|left|Barrow's shipyard circa. 1890]]
The sheltered strait between Barrow and Walney Island was an ideal location for the shipyard. The first ship to be built, the ''Jane Roper'', was launched in 1852; the first steamship, a 3,000-ton liner named ''Duke of Devonshire'', in 1873. Shipbuilding activity increased, and on 18 February 1871 the Barrow Shipbuilding Company was incorporated. Barrow's relative isolation from the United Kingdom's industrial heartlands meant that the newly formed company included several capabilities that would usually be subcontracted to other establishments. In particular, a large engineering works was constructed including a foundry and pattern shop, a forge, and an engine shop. In addition, the shipyard had a joiners' shop, a boat-building shed and a sailmaking and rigging loft.<ref name="barrow-works">{{Cite book |last=The Naval and Armaments Company Limited |title=The Works at Barrow-in-Furness of The Naval Construction and Armaments Company Limited – Historical and Descriptive |publisher=The Naval and Armaments Company Limited, partly reprinted from 'Engineering' magazine |year=1896 |location=Barrow-in-Furness |page=54}}</ref>

During these boom years, Ramsden proposed building a [[town planning|planned town]] to accommodate the large workforce which had arrived. There are few planned towns in the United Kingdom, and Barrow is one of the oldest. Its centre contains a grid of well-built terraced houses, with a tree-lined road leading away from a central square. Ramsden later became the first mayor of Barrow,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Mayors |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/council-democracy/mayor/former-mayors/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182432/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/council-democracy/mayor/former-mayors/ |archive-date=23 September 2015 |access-date=3 August 2015 |publisher=Borough of Barrow-in-Furness}}</ref> which was given [[municipal borough]] status in 1867, and county borough status in 1889.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Dalton-in-Furness |url=http://www.dalton-in-furness.org.uk/dalton-online/history/modern-town/modern-town-localgov.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810055439/http://www.dalton-in-furness.org.uk/dalton-online/history/modern-town/modern-town-localgov.html |archive-date=10 August 2007 |access-date=6 July 2007 |website=Dalton Online |publisher=Dalton Community Association }}</ref> The imposing red sandstone [[Barrow-in-Furness Town Hall|town hall]], designed by W.H. Lynn, was built in a neo-gothic style in 1887.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local History and Heritage |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=150 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609195921/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=150 |archive-date=9 June 2007 |access-date=8 July 2007 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council }}</ref> Prior to this, the borough council had met at the railway headquarters: the railway company's control of industry extended to the administration of the town itself.

[[File:Ancient roam (1).jpg|thumb|Map of Barrow dated 1890 showing no development on Walney Island and little north of the [[Furness Line]]]]
The Barrow Shipbuilding Company was taken over by the [[Sheffield]] steel firm of [[Vickers]] in 1897, by which time the shipyard had surpassed the railway and steelworks as the largest employer and landowner in Barrow. The company constructed [[Vickerstown]], modelled on [[George Cadbury]]'s [[Bournville]], on the adjacent Walney Island in the early 20th century to house its employees.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Partridge |first=Frank |date=16 March 2006 |title=The Complete Guide to: England's Islands |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent News & Media |location=London |url=http://travel.independent.co.uk/uk/article351869.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=10 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927211406/http://travel.independent.co.uk/uk/article351869.ece |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref> It also commissioned [[Sir Edwin Lutyens]] to design [[Abbey House, Barrow-in-Furness|Abbey House]] as a guest house and residence for its managing director, Commander Craven.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Homepage |url=http://www.abbeyhousehotel.com/ |access-date=3 August 2015 |publisher=Abbey House Hotel}}</ref>

===20th century===
[[File:Abbey House Hotel south elevation.JPG|thumb|left|upright=0.75|[[Abbey House, Barrow-in-Furness|Abbey House]] was commissioned by Vickers and designed by Sir [[Edwin Lutyens]]]]
[[File:Cornmillcrossing.jpg|thumb|left|Cornmill Crossing in 1895 (a former goods-depot on the [[Furness Railway]]), a [[Hindpool Retail Parks#Cornmill Crossing|retail park]] now exists on the site]]
By the 1890s the shipyard was heavily engaged in the construction of warships for the Royal Navy and also for export. The Royal Navy's first submarine, ''[[Holland 1]]'', was built in 1901,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Submarine History of Barrow-in-Furness |url=http://www.submarineheritage.com/history.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704042341/http://www.submarineheritage.com/history.html |archive-date=4 July 2007 |access-date=20 July 2007 |publisher=Submarine Heritage Centre}}</ref> and by 1914 the UK had the most advanced submarine fleet in the world, with 94% of it constructed by Vickers. Vickers was also famous for the construction of [[airship]]s and [[airship hangar]]s during the early 20th century. Originally constructed in a large shed at Cavendish Dock, production later relocated to [[Barrow/Walney Island Airport]]. [[HMA No. 1]], nicknamed the Mayfly is the most notable airship to have been built in Barrow. The first of its kind in the UK it came to an untimely end on 24 September 1911 when it was wrecked by wind during trials. Well-known ships built in Barrow include {{ship|Japanese battleship|Mikasa||2}}, the Japanese flagship during the 1905 [[Russo-Japanese War]], the liner {{SS|Oriana|1959|6}} and the aircraft carriers {{HMS|Invincible|R05|6}} and {{HMAS|Melbourne|R21|6}}. It should also be noted that there was a significant presence of Vickers' armament division in Barrow with the huge [[VSEL Heavy Engineering Workshop|Heavy Engineering Workshop]] on Michaelson Road supplying ammunition for the [[British Army]] and [[Royal Navy]] throughout both world wars. World War 1 brought significant temporary migration as workers arrived to work in the munitions factory and shipyard, with the town's population reaching to an estimated peak of around 82,000 during the War.<ref name="THB" /> Thousands of local men fought abroad during World War I, 616 were ultimately killed in action.<ref name="ukniwm.org.uk">{{Cite web |last=Museums |first=Imperial War |title=Barrow In Furness Cenotaph |url=http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/conMemorial.2079/fromUkniwmSearch/1 |website=Imperial War Museums |access-date=2 May 2010 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928221857/http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/conMemorial.2079/fromUkniwmSearch/1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During World War II, Barrow was a target for the [[Luftwaffe|German air force]] looking to disable the town's shipbuilding capabilities (see [[Barrow Blitz]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 February 2005 |title=The Battle of Britain – Diary – 2 September 1940 |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/september2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815202245/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/september2.html |archive-date=15 August 2007 |access-date=5 August 2007 |publisher=RAF}}</ref> The town suffered the most in a short period between April and May 1941. During the war, a 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 later adapted for television as ''[[Housewife, 49]]'' starring [[Victoria Wood]]. The difficulty in targeting bombs meant that the shipyards and steelworks were often missed, at the expense of the residential areas. Ultimately, 83 people were killed and 11,000 houses in the area were left damaged. To escape the heaviest bombardments, many people in the central areas left the town to sleep in hedgerows, with some being permanently evacuated. Barrow's industry continued to supply the war effort, with [[Winston Churchill]] visiting the town on one occasion to launch the [[aircraft carrier]] {{HMS|Indomitable|R92|6}}.<ref name="dock">{{Cite web |date=16 February 2005 |title=World War II |url=http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk/docs/Publication%20world%20war%20II-web.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813205557/http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk/docs/Publication%20world%20war%20II-web.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2007 |access-date=25 August 2007 |publisher=[[Dock Museum]]}}</ref> Besides the dozens of civilians killed during World War II, some 268 Barrovian men were also killed whilst in combat.<ref name="ukniwm.org.uk" />

[[File:Yokosuka-mikasa-08-2010.png|thumb|right|Barrow-built {{ship|Japanese battleship|Mikasa||2}} was the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]'s flagship during the [[Russo-Japanese War]]]]

Barrow's population reached a second peak in of 77,900 in 1951;<ref>{{Cite book |last=Freeman |first=TW |title=The Conurbations of Great Britain |date=1966 |publisher=The University Press |edition=Second |location=Manchester |page=239}}</ref> however, by this point the long decline of mining and steel-making as a result of overseas competition and dwindling resources had already begun.  The Barrow ironworks closed in 1963,<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 June 2005 |title=Project Corus (Workington) Steering Group Report |url=http://www.nwda.co.uk/docs/Project_Corus_July05.doc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928094413/http://www.nwda.co.uk/docs/Project_Corus_July05.doc |archive-date=28 September 2007 |access-date=31 August 2007 |publisher=Northwest Development Agency |format=[[DOC (computing)|DOC]] }}</ref> three years after the last Furness mine shut. The by then small steelworks followed suit in 1983,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barrow Steel |url=http://www.banklands.com/Barrow%20Steel.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702005911/http://www.banklands.com/Barrow%20Steel.htm |archive-date=2 July 2007 |access-date=21 July 2007}}</ref> leaving Barrow's shipyard as the town's principal industry. From the 1960s onwards it concentrated its efforts in submarine manufacture, and the UK's first nuclear-powered submarine, {{HMS|Dreadnought|S101|6}}, was constructed in 1960. {{HMS|Resolution|S22|6}}, the {{Sclass|Swiftsure|submarine|5}}, {{Sclass|Trafalgar|submarine|5}} and {{Sclass|Vanguard|submarine|2}}<nowiki/>s all followed. The last of these are armed with [[Trident missile|Trident II]] [[Submarine-launched ballistic missile|missiles]] as part of the British government's [[Trident nuclear programme]].

The end of the Cold War in 1991 marked a reduction in the demand for military ships and submarines, and the town continued its decline. The shipyard's dependency on military contracts at the expense of civilian and commercial engineering and shipbuilding meant it was particularly hard hit as government defence spending was reduced dramatically.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Maggie Mort |last2=Graham Spinardi |year=2004 |title=Defence and the decline of UK mechanical engineering – the case of Vickers at Barrow |journal=Business History |volume=46 |issue=1 |pages=1–22 |doi=10.1080/00076790412331270099 |s2cid=153992331}}</ref> As a result, the workforce shrank from 14,500 in 1990 to 5,800 in February 1995,<ref>{{Cite journal |date=23 May 1995 |title=Views of main parties as part of report into British Aerospace PLC proposed merger with VSEL |url=http://www.competition-commission.gov.uk/rep_pub/reports/1995/fulltext/365c5.pdf |url-status=dead |publisher=[[Competition Commission]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520023806/http://www.competition-commission.gov.uk/rep_pub/reports/1995/fulltext/365c5.pdf |archive-date=20 May 2011}}</ref> with overall unemployment in the town rising over that period from 4.6% to 10%.<ref name="unemployment">{{Cite web |date=23 May 1995 |title=Appendix on unemployment as part of report into British Aerospace PLC proposed merger with VSEL |url=http://www.competition-commission.gov.uk/rep_pub/reports/1995/fulltext/365a4.8.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928011251/http://www.competition-commission.gov.uk/rep_pub/reports/1995/fulltext/365a4.8.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2007 |access-date=31 August 2007 |publisher=[[Competition Commission]] }}</ref> The rejection by the [[Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering|VSEL]] management of detailed plans for Barrow's industrial renewal in the mid-to-late 1980s remains controversial.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mort |first=Maggie |title=Building the Trident Network |publisher=[[MIT Press]] |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-262-13397-5}}</ref> This has led to renewed academic attention in recent years to the possibilities of converting military-industrial production in declining shipbuilding areas to the offshore renewable energy sector.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schofield |first=Steven |date=January 2007 |title=Oceans of Work: Arms Conversion Revisited |url=http://www.basicint.org/nuclear/beyondtrident/oceans.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710111238/http://www.basicint.org/nuclear/beyondtrident/oceans.pdf |archive-date=10 July 2007 |access-date=25 August 2007 |publisher=[[British American Security Information Council]]}}</ref>

===21st century===

In a 2002 [[2002 Barrow-in-Furness legionellosis outbreak|outbreak of legionellosis]] in the town, 172 people were reported to have caught the disease, of whom seven died. This made it the fourth worst outbreak in the world in terms of number of cases and sixth worst in terms of deaths. The source of the bacteria was later found to be steam from a badly maintained air conditioning unit in the council-run arts centre [[The Forum Barrow|Forum 28]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 August 2002 |title=Legionnaires' source officially traced |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2205186.stm |url-status=live |access-date=21 July 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030814170447/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2205186.stm |archive-date=14 August 2003}}</ref> At the conclusion of the inquest into the seven deaths, the coroner for Furness and South Cumbria criticised the council for its health and safety failings.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 June 2007 |title=A Total Shambles |publisher=[[North West Evening Mail]] |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=508368 |access-date=21 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623083652/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=508368 |archive-date=23 June 2007}}</ref> In 2006, council employee Gillian Beckingham and employer [[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Barrow Borough Council]] were cleared of seven charges of [[manslaughter]]. Beckingham, the council senior architect was fined £15,000 and the authority £125,000. Following the trials the contractor responsible for maintaining the plant settled a £1.5 million claim by the council for damages.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 July 2006 |title=Bug Death Council Worker Cleared |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/5232086.stm |access-date=21 July 2007}}</ref> The borough council was the first public body in the country to face corporate manslaughter charges.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Back in the Line of Fire |url=http://www.cipfa.org.uk/publicfinance/features_details.cfm?News_id=24043 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006125830/http://www.cipfa.org.uk/publicfinance/features_details.cfm?News_id=24043 |archive-date=6 October 2007 |access-date=21 July 2007 |publisher=publicfinance.co.uk}}</ref>

2006 saw the construction of [[Barrow Offshore Wind Farm]], which has acted as a catalyst for further investment in offshore [[renewable energy]]. [[Ormonde Wind Farm]] and [[Walney Wind Farm]] followed in 2011, the latter of which became the largest offshore wind farm in the world. The three wind farms are located west of Walney Island and are operated primarily by [[Ørsted (company)]], contain a total of 162 [[Wind turbine|turbines]] and have a combined [[Intermittent energy source#Terminology|nameplate capacity]] of 607&nbsp;MW, providing energy for well over half a million homes. [[West of Duddon Sands Wind Farm]] was commissioned in 2014 while Walney was extended in 2018 to again become the world's largest such offshore facility.

In 2016, the majority of the town voted to leave the EU in the [[Brexit]] referendum.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 June 2016 |title=EU referendum: Leave vote for most of Cumbria |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36598819 |access-date=13 May 2025 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

From the mid 2010's to present, investment has taken place at BAE Systems' shipyard in Barrow with an expansion to accommodate the new {{Sclass|Dreadnought|submarine|0}} submarine programme.<ref name=Shipyardexpansion1/> Commitments associated with the [[AUKUS]] nuclear submarine programme are thought to safeguard the shipyard's long-term future.<ref name="gov.uk">{{Cite web |title=British-led design chosen for AUKUS submarine project |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-led-design-chosen-for-aukus-submarine-project |accessdate=25 August 2023 |website=GOV.UK}}</ref>

During the initial wave of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Barrow had the highest rate of infection of any local authority in the United Kingdom. This was attributed to various socio-economic factors and a high level of testing also seen in the neighbouring authorities of South Lakeland and Lancaster.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coronavirus: Why does Cumbrian town of Barrow-in-Furness have highest rate of infection in UK? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-barrow-cumbria-covid-infection-rates-cases-uk-a9516636.html |access-date=5 June 2020 |work=The Independent|date=15 May 2020 }}</ref>

In 2020, Barrow's [[Marks & Spencer]] department store closed after over 100 years in business, this was followed by the closure of  [[Debenhams]] and a range of national retailers. From 2023 revitalisation of the town centre began with substantial investment from BAE Systems itself.<ref name="nyt" />

In 2023 investment in renewable energy has been taking place with emerging proposals to repurpose Rampside Gas Terminals to facilitate  [[carbon storage]] in the depleted Morecambe gas fields.<ref name="spirit-energy.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.spirit-energy.com/newsroom/press-releases/spirit-energy-launches-plan-for-carbon-storage-cluster/|title=Spirit Energy Launches Plan for Carbon Storage Cluster|website=Spirit Energy|accessdate=25 August 2023}}</ref>

In 2023 media reported that Barrow was "torn apart" by [[Eleanor Williams (criminal)|false grooming gang allegations]], with public demonstrations targeting the [[The Mail (Cumbria)|local newspaper]], the Asian community and police.<ref>{{Cite web 
|title=How one woman's lies tore a town apart – and finally unravelled 
|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/audio/2023/mar/17/how-eleanor-williams-lies-tore-town-apart-finally-unravelled-podcast
|access-date=8 August 2023 
|work=The Guardian
|date=17 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web 
|title=Eleanor Williams jailed: The false Facebook rape post that tore a community apart
|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/eleanor-williams-jailed-facebook-post-150352172.html
|access-date=8 August 2023 
|work=Yahoo News
|date=15 March 2023 }}</ref>
The scandal was the subject of the 2024 BBC documentary ''Liar: The Fake Grooming Scandal'' and the perpetrator [[Eleanor Williams (criminal)|Eleanor Williams]] was duly convicted and sentenced to eight and a half years in prison.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001vfd7/liar-the-fake-grooming-scandal | title=Liar: The Fake Grooming Scandal }}</ref>

On 22 September 2025, the Port of Barrow was formally granted [[List of place names with royal styles in the United Kingdom|Royal]] status. In recognition of the town’s strategic contribution to national defence and maritime industry.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 September 2025 |title=The King visits Barrow-in-Furness |url=https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2025-09-22/the-king-visits-barrow-in-furness |access-date=22 September 2025 |website=Royal.uk}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:The Town Hall, Barrow-In-Furness - geograph.org.uk - 7506195.jpg |thumb|right|Barrow's Grade II* listed [[Barrow-in-Furness Town Hall|town hall]] viewed from [[Schneider Square]]]]

Barrow is the largest town in the unitary authority area of [[Westmorland and Furness]]. Previously the town was in the borough of [[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Barrow-in-Furness]], which had directly inherited the municipal and county borough charters given to the town in the late 19th century, and the non-metropolitan county of Cumbria, both of which were abolished in 2023.<ref name="mayorlist">{{Cite web |title=Barrow Borough Council – Former Mayors |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2490 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928030726/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2490 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |access-date=18 August 2007 |publisher=[[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Barrow Borough Council]]}}</ref> Historically it is part of the hundred of [[Lonsdale (hundred)|Lonsdale]] 'north of the sands' in the [[Historic counties of England|historic county boundaries]] of [[Lancashire]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lancashire AncC: Historical Boundaries |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10173000&c_id=10001043 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001001412/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10173000&c_id=10001043 |archive-date=1 October 2007 |access-date=9 March 2007 |publisher=A Vision of Britain Through Time}}</ref>

===1974 reorganisation===
From the 1974 local government reforms until 2023, the town was within the administrative county of [[Cumbria]]. On 1 April 1974 the parish was abolished<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/barrow-in-furness.html|title=Barrow in Furness Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=31 December 2021}}</ref> and became an [[unparished area]]. It still forms a part of the [[Duchy of Lancaster]]. The [[Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council]] formed the 'lower' tier of local government under [[Cumbria|Cumbria County Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Draft Statutory Instrument 2004 The Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Date of Referendums, Referendum Question and Explanatory Material) (North West Region) Order 2004 |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2004/draft/20049539.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001000704/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2004/draft/20049539.htm |archive-date=1 October 2007 |access-date=18 August 2007 |website=Office of Public Sector Information}}</ref> Since the [[2011 Barrow-in-Furness Council election|2011 local election]], the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] has had overall control of the borough council, while the Borough elected six Labour and five Conservative Party councillors at the [[2017 Cumbria County Council election|2017 Cumbria County election]]. Until 2023 the town, along with [[Walney Island]], was unparished and formed the bulk of the wards which made the entire borough's area. The mayor and deputy mayor of Barrow were elected annually, and held the roles of chairman and vice-chairman of Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council.<ref name="mayorrole">{{Cite web |title=Barrow Borough Council – Mayor's Role |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/about-the-council/barrow-council/mayor/former-mayors/ |access-date=4 March 2017 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council}}</ref> The borough and former county borough of Barrow-in-Furness were served by 107 mayors, beginning with [[Sir James Ramsden]] in 1867 and continuing through to incumbent 2022 mayor Helen Wall.<ref name="mayorrole" />

{| style="margin:0 auto;" class="toccolours"
|align=center| '''Current Barrow Town Council Wards and Former Borough Wards (up to April 2023)'''
|-
|align=center|
[[Barrow Island, Barrow-in-Furness|Barrow Island]] | [[Central Barrow|Central]] | [[Hawcoat]] | [[Hindpool]] | [[Newbarns]] | [[Ormsgill]] | [[Parkside, Barrow-in-Furness|Parkside]] | [[Risedale]] | [[Roose]]cote | [[Walney North]] | [[Walney South]]
|}

===2023 reorganisation===
On 1 April 2023, both Barrow Borough Council and [[Cumbria County Council]] ceased to exist when the districts of Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland merged to form [[Westmorland and Furness]]. Westmorland and Furness is classified as a [[non-metropolitan county]] with no districts, making [[Westmorland and Furness Council]] a [[unitary authority]]. The area was previously in the non-metropolitan county of Cumbria; however, this was abolished in 2023, and Cumbria is now only a [[ceremonial county]] with no administrative function.

A civil parish was formed named just "Barrow" from the unparished area.<ref>Westmorland and Furness (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2022</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/168223.html|title=Barrow|publisher=Mapit|accessdate=11 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/westmorland-and-furness.html|title=Westmorland & Furness Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=11 November 2023}}</ref>

At the same time, ward boundaries within Barrow were redrawn, combining previously independent wards. These include: 'Old Barrow' (comprising the existing Barrow Island, Central and Hindpool wards), Hawcoat and Newbarns, Ormsgill and Parkside, Risedale and Roosecote and Walney Island.

===Members of Parliament===
The Barrow-in-Furness [[List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies|UK Parliament constituency]] first came into existence during the [[1885 United Kingdom general election]], with [[David Duncan (UK politician)|David Duncan]] of the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] becoming the first [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for the town. The seat was won by the Conservative Party in [[1892 United Kingdom general election|1892]], before being won for the first time by Labour in [[1906 United Kingdom general election|1906]]. In the subsequent 40 years the seat swung between Conservative and Labour, but since 1945 it has been generally considered a Labour safe seat.<ref name="Polling Report">{{Cite web |title=Barrow & Furness |url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/barrowandfurness/ |access-date=16 September 2013 |publisher=UK Polling Report}}</ref> In 1983, the constituency was expanded to include several commuter towns such as Dalton-in-Furness and Ulverston and was renamed [[Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency)|Barrow and Furness]]. It was subsequently won by the Conservatives, with the victory attributed to Labour's stance against the nuclear-powered submarines that were being constructed in Barrow.<ref name="Polling Report" /> Following a change in Labour policy the party won Barrow and Furness in 1992. [[John Woodcock (UK politician)|John Woodcock]] was the MP for the constituency between the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]] and [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], when Conservative [[Simon Fell (politician)|Simon Fell]] succeeded as MP for the Borough. In the 2024 [[General election|General Election]], Labour candidate [[Michelle Scrogham]] became MP for Barrow and Furness, with 18,537 votes.

==Geography==
Barrow is situated at the tip of the [[Furness]] peninsula on the north-western edge of [[Morecambe Bay]], south of the [[Duddon Estuary]] and east of the [[Irish Sea]]. [[Walney Island]], surrounds the peninsula's Irish Sea coast and is separated from Barrow by the narrow [[Walney Channel]]. Both Morecambe Bay and the Duddon Estuary are characterised by large areas of [[quicksand]] and fast-moving [[tidal bore]]s. Areas of [[sand dunes]] exist on coasts surrounding Barrow, particularly at [[Roanhead]] and [[North Walney]]. The town centre and major industrial areas sit on a fairly flat coastal shelf, with hillier ground rising to the east of the town, peaking at {{convert|94|m|ft|round=5}} at Yarlside. Barrow sits on soils deposited during the end of the [[Last glacial period|Ice Age]], eroded from the mountains of the [[Lake District National Park]], {{convert|10|mi|km|round=5}} to the north-east. Barrow's soils are composed of glacial lake clay and [[glacial till]], while Walney is almost entirely made up of reworked glacial morraine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=May |first=VJ |title=Walney Island |url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/gcrdb/GCRsiteaccount2042.pdf |access-date=16 July 2015 |publisher=DEFRA}}</ref><ref name="ICE">{{Cite journal |last=Raison |first=CA |date=1999 |title=North Morecambe Terminal, Barrow: pile design for seismic conditions |url=http://www.raisonfosterassociates.co.uk/downloads/barrow-piling.pdf |journal=Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Geotechnical Engineering |volume=137 |issue=3 |page=149±163 |doi=10.1680/gt.1999.370304 |bibcode=1999ICEGE.137..149R |access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref> Beneath these soils is a [[sandstone]] bedrock, from which many of the town's older buildings are constructed.<ref name="ICE" />

Barrow town centre is located to the north-east of the docks, with suburbs also extending to the north and east, as well as onto Walney. Barrow is the only major urban area in South Cumbria, with the nearest settlements of a similar size being [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] and [[Morecambe]]. Other towns nearby include [[Dalton-in-Furness]], [[Askam-in-Furness]], [[Ulverston]], [[Millom]], [[Grange-over-Sands]], [[Kendal]] and [[Windermere, Cumbria (town)|Windermere]].

<gallery mode="packed" heights="220px">
File:Barrow-in-Furness Map.png|Map of Barrow
File:Barrow-in-Furness aerial from the south.jpg|Aerial view of Barrow and Walney Island
File:Ordnance Survey 1-250000 - SD.jpg|Barrow within North West England (top left)
</gallery>

===Islands===

{{Main|Islands of Furness}}

Most of the town is sheltered from the Irish Sea by [[Walney Island]], a <span style="white-space:nowrap">14&nbsp;mile&nbsp;(22.5&nbsp;km)</span> long island connected to the mainland by the [[Bascule bridge|bascule]] type [[Walney Bridge|Jubilee bridge]]. About 13,000 live on the isle's various settlements, mostly in [[Vickerstown]], which was built to house workers in the rapidly expanding shipyard. Another significant island which lay in the Walney Channel was [[Barrow Island (England)|Barrow Island]], but following the filling of the channel to create land for the shipyard it is now directly connected to the town. Other islands which lie close to Barrow are [[Piel Island]], whose [[Piel Castle|castle]] protected the harbour from marauding [[Scot]]s, [[Sheep Island (England)|Sheep Island]], [[Roa Island]] and [[Foulney Island]].

===Parks and open spaces===

There are numerous natural and managed public parks and open spaces within Barrow. Walney North and [[South Walney|South Nature Reserves]] are protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, as is [[Sandscale Haws]]. Formal woodland areas within the town include Hawcoat/Ormsgill Quarry, How Tun Woods, [[Abbot's Wood, Cumbria|Abbotswood]], Barrow Steel Works & Slag Bank and Sowerby Wood. The 45-Acre [[Barrow Park]] is the largest and most centrally located man-made park in the town with smaller parks including Channelside Haven, Hindpool Urban Park and Vickerstown Park. There are also 25 council-owned playgrounds and 15 allotments.

===Climate===
{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | metric first = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = [[Barrow/Walney Island Airport|Walney Aerodrome]] (1991–2020)
 | Jan high C = 7.1
 | Feb high C = 7.5
 | Mar high C = 9.3
 | Apr high C = 12.1
 | May high C = 15.0
 | Jun high C = 17.2
 | Jul high C = 18.9
 | Aug high C = 18.8
 | Sep high C = 17.1
 | Oct high C = 13.8
 | Nov high C = 10.3
 | Dec high C = 7.9
 | year high C = 12.9
 | Jan low C = 3.0
 | Feb low C = 2.9
 | Mar low C = 3.9
 | Apr low C = 5.8
 | May low C = 8.4
 | Jun low C = 11.2
 | Jul low C = 13.1
 | Aug low C = 13.2
 | Sep low C = 11.3
 | Oct low C = 8.7
 | Nov low C = 5.9
 | Dec low C = 3.5
 | year low C = 7.6
 | rain colour = green
 | Jan rain mm = 91.2
 | Feb rain mm = 75.6
 | Mar rain mm = 73.2
 | Apr rain mm = 54.1
 | May rain mm = 57.4
 | Jun rain mm = 68.2
 | Jul rain mm = 79.3
 | Aug rain mm = 89.9
 | Sep rain mm = 94.2
 | Oct rain mm = 117.8
 | Nov rain mm = 112.6
 | Dec rain mm = 113.3
 | year rain mm = 1027.0
 | unit rain days = 1 mm
 | Jan rain days = 15.6
 | Feb rain days = 12.4
 | Mar rain days = 13.0
 | Apr rain days = 10.6
 | May rain days = 10.2
 | Jun rain days = 9.6
 | Jul rain days = 11.3
 | Aug rain days = 12.2
 | Sep rain days = 12.0
 | Oct rain days = 15.2
 | Nov rain days = 16.8
 | Dec rain days = 16.6
 | year rain days = 155.4
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="MetOffice">{{cite web
|url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gctevvhkf
|title = Walney Island (Cumbria) UK climate averages - Met Office
|publisher = Met Office
|access-date = 15 July 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Demography==

===Population===
The [[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Barrow council district]], which included adjacent urban areas, had a population of 67,407 according to the 2021 census. This is -0.25% less than the 2011 figure and one of only five district which saw a decline in population, although the rate of decline is much lower than the 4% reduction seen between 2001 and 2011.<ref name="population">{{Cite web |title=Census statistics for Barrow-in-Furness 2001 |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/16uc.asp |access-date=11 May 2007 |publisher=National Statistics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 July 2012 |title=Census 2011: At a glance |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18681865}}</ref> The Office for National Statistics states Barrow's population as being in long term decline with a projected population of around 65,000 by 2037. This is largely a result of negative [[net migration]] although is based on historic trends thus does not take account of investment at BAE Systems and associated substantial job creation.<ref name="decline">{{Cite web |title=Table 2: 2012-based Subnational Population Projections for Local Authorities in England |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/snpp/sub-national-population-projections/2012-based-projections/rft-population-las.xls |access-date=20 August 2014 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref> The population within the town of Barrow itself was 55,489 as at 2021.

===Ethnicity and language===
The 2021 census states 95.7% of the former Borough of Barrow's population (I.e. Barrow, Dalton and villages) as [[White British]], and ethnic minority populations in Barrow stood at 4.2%.<ref name="2021ethnicity">{{Cite web |title=Ethnic Group, 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/ethnicity/bulletins/ethnicgroupenglandandwales/census2021#toc |access-date=26 November 2023 |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] }}</ref> Other ethnic groups in Barrow include [[White Other (United Kingdom Census)|Other White]] 1.4%, [[Asian people|Asian]] 1.4%, [[British Mixed|Mixed Race]] 0.8%, [[Black British|Black]] 0.5%, [[British Arab|Arab]] 0.1% and [[Other ethnic group (United Kingdom Census)|all other ethnic groups]] represented 0.2% of the population. The first people to settle in what is now Barrow were the [[Celts]] and [[Norsemen|Scandinavians]] followed by the [[Cornish people|Cornish]]. Most Barrovians however are descended from migrants from [[Scotland]], [[Ireland]] and other parts of England who arrived from the late 19th century onwards.

Barrow's Chinese connections were the subject of a documentary on Chinese state television in 2014.<ref name="China">{{Cite web |title=Links Between Barrow and China to be Featured in Film |url=http://www.in-cumbria.com/links-between-barrow-and-china-to-be-featured-in-film-1.1100560 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140817153354/http://www.in-cumbria.com/links-between-barrow-and-china-to-be-featured-in-film-1.1100560 |archive-date=17 August 2014 |access-date=17 August 2014 |publisher=in-cumbria.com}}</ref> The programme covered diplomat [[Li Hongzhang]]'s fact finding mission to the town's steelworks and shipyard in 1896 as well as the 2012 discovery of a hoard of Chinese coins discovered in Barrow dated around a similar time that have been suggested as having been brought over by sailors or labourers.<ref name=China/> The [[Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding]] is a charity with a branch based in Barrow that aims to develop relations with the [[British Chinese]] community and the general British population. It was established in 1975 and publishes the quarterly ''China Eye'' magazine.

In 2021 93.0% of the borough's population was born in England, 2.3% in [[Scotland]], 0.5% in [[Wales]] and 0.4% in [[Northern Ireland]]. 3.8% of the town's 2021 population were born elsewhere in the world. The five most common foreign countries of birth were the [[Philippines]], [[India]], [[Nigeria]], [[Germany]] and [[Poland]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Country of Birth (detailed), 2021 (TS012) |url=https://ons-dp-prod-census-publication.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/TS012_country_of_birth_60a/UR-ltla%2Bcountry_of_birth_60a.xlsx |access-date=26 November 2023 }}</ref>

According to the 2021 census, 98.4% of Barrovians spoke English as a main language, with [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], the various Chinese dialects and [[Polish language|Polish]] prevailing as the second, third and fourth most common main languages (0.3%, 0.2% and 0.2% of the population respectively). The Tagalog-speaking population represents the second highest of any district in northern England by percentage of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Main Language (detailed), 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/language/bulletins/languageenglandandwales/census2021#language-england-and-wales-data |access-date=26 November 2023 }}</ref>

===Religion===
{{See also|List of places of worship in Barrow-in-Furness}}
[[File:St James Church, Barrow-in-Furness - geograph.org.uk - 3333247.jpg|thumb|[[St. James' Church, Barrow-in-Furness|St James' Church]], the largest place of worship in Barrow]]
In the 2021 census 53.1% of the Borough of Barrow's population stated themselves as being Christian. People stating no religion or chose not to state totalled 45.5% combined. Other religious groups represented 1.4% of the population, with [[Islam]] and [[Buddhism]] prevailing as the first and second most common groups.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion, 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000027 |access-date= 1 December 2023}}</ref> Conishead Priory, the first [[Kadampa]] Buddhist centre in the west, is home to around 100 Buddhists and is located off the Barrow to Ulverston Coast Road.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Conishead Priory, Ulverston |url=http://www.aboutulverston.co.uk/location/conisheadpriory.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070804012408/http://www.aboutulverston.co.uk/location/conisheadpriory.htm |archive-date=4 August 2007 |access-date=21 July 2007 |publisher=AboutUlverston.co.uk }}</ref> Historically Barrow was home to a notable [[Ashkenazi Jews|Ashkenazi Jewish]] community that peaked in size during the 1930s with a synagogue in the town. Nonetheless, it closed in 1974 and less than 20 Jews were recorded by the 2021 census.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barrow-in-Furness Jewish Community & Synagogue |url=http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/barrow/ |access-date=3 August 2015 |publisher=Jewish Communities and Records}}</ref>

===Notable Individuals===
{{further| List of people from Barrow-in-Furness}}

==Economy==
[[File:Audacious Under Construction MOD 45155780.jpg|thumb|left|An [[Astute-class submarine|''Astute''-class]] submarine under-construction inside [[Devonshire Dock Hall]] in 2013]]
Historically Barrow's economy was dominated by the manufacturing sector, with the [[Barrow Hematite Steel Company]] and [[Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering]] being amongst the most important global companies in their respective fields during the 20th century. In the present day, manufacturing remains the largest employment sector in the town. [[BAE Systems]] is the single largest employer with around 14,500 employees as at 2025, anticipated to increase further.<ref name="BAE Workforce 2025">[https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/25384948.barrow-90k-job-offer-lead-towns-economic-transformation/ BAE Workforce 2025]</ref> However, like most of the UK, employment trends have greatly diversified since the 20th century and there are no other predominant employment sectors in Barrow.

===Shipyard and port===
Barrow has played a vital role in global ship and submarine construction for around 150 years. [[Ottoman submarine Abdül Hamid|Ottoman submarine ''Abdül Hamid'']] was built in the town in 1886 and became the first submarine in the world to fire a live torpedo underwater, while oil tanker ''British Admiral'' became the first British vessel to exceed 100,000 tonnes when launched in 1965. The vast majority of all current and former Royal Navy submarines were constructed in Barrow as well as numerous [[Royal Navy Fleet Flagship]]s.

[[File:HMS Invincible (R05).jpg|thumb|right|Former Royal Navy flagship {{HMS|Invincible|R05|6}} is one of the most famous ships to have been built in Barrow]]
The [[BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines]] shipyard at Barrow is the largest in the UK by workforce, with 14.500 employees<ref name="nyt">{{Cite news |last=Nelson |first=Eshe |date=12 May 2025 |title=Can the U.K.'s Military Spending Push Revive Its Small Towns, Too? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/business/uk-military-spending-economy.html |access-date=13 May 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> ahead of [[BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships]] in [[Govan]]. It was expanded in 1986 by construction of a new covered assembly facility, the [[Devonshire Dock Hall]] (DDH), completed by [[Alfred McAlpine]], on land that was created by infilling part of the [[Devonshire Dock]] with 2.4 million tonnes of sand pumped from nearby Roosecote Sands.<ref>The Road to Success: Alfred McAlpine 1935 – 1985 page 174, Tony Gray, Rainbird Publishing, 1987</ref> The main hall has a height of {{convert|51|m|ft|abbr=on}}, length of {{convert|268|m|ft|abbr=on}}, width of {{convert|51|m|ft|abbr=on}} and an area of {{convert|25000|m2|sqft|}}. An extension to the hall in the late 2010s has taken the total area to over {{convert|35000|m2|sqft|}}, retaining its place as one of the largest shipbuilding construction complex of its kind in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Alison |title=Marine Marvel |url=http://www.thecqi.org/Documents/community/Special-Interest-Groups/Defence/Marine_marvel_jul_07.pdf |access-date=3 August 2015 |publisher=The Chartered Quality Institute |archive-date=11 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311033011/http://www.thecqi.org/Documents/community/Special-Interest-Groups/Defence/Marine_marvel_jul_07.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= http://fedf.co.uk/supply-chain/how-to-supply-to/bae-systems-site-infrastructure/the-primary-build-capability/ |title= The Primary Build Capability |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref>

The DDH provides a controlled environment for ship and submarine assembly, and avoids the difficulties caused by building on the slope of traditional slipways. Outside the hall, a 24,300 tonne capacity shiplift allows completed vessels to be lowered into the water independently of the tide. Vessels can also be lifted out of the water and transferred to the hall.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=BAE Systems |title=Devonshire Dock Hall (DDH): One of the most advanced Shipbuilding Complexes in the World |url=http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/documents/ss_asset/bae_subs_ddhdatasheet.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704111547/http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/documents/ss_asset/bae_subs_ddhdatasheet.pdf |archive-date=4 July 2007 |access-date=3 June 2007}}</ref> The first use of the DDH was for construction of the {{Sclass|Vanguard|submarine|2}}s, and later vessels of the {{Sclass|Trafalgar|submarine|4}} were also built there. The shipyard is currently constructing the {{Sclass|Astute|submarine|2}}s, the first of which was launched on 8 June 2007.<ref name="Astute_launch">{{Cite news |date=8 June 2007 |title=New UK nuclear submarine launched |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6733777.stm |url-status=live |access-date=14 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070618113755/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6733777.stm |archive-date=18 June 2007}}</ref> BAE Systems is currently studying the design of a [[British replacement of the Trident system|new class]] of ballistic missile submarines. BAE Systems also has orders for submarine pressure domes for the [[Spanish Navy]].<ref name="Spanish_subs">{{Cite news |date=2 May 2007 |title=BAE lands submarine export order |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6615139.stm |url-status=live |access-date=14 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605155840/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6615139.stm |archive-date=5 June 2007}}</ref>

The shipyard has been awarded contracts for the construction of submarines which will carry nuclear missiles in a [[Dreadnought-class submarine|successor programme]] to the current ''Vanguard'' class containing the [[UK Trident programme|Trident system]].<ref name="Shipyardexpansion1">{{Cite web |title=Defence boom will create thousands of BAE jobs in Barrow |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/News/Defence-boom-will-create-thousands-of-BAE-Systems-jobs-in-Barrow-f2441d1a-a8f9-401e-befd-67a5aa217b58-ds |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085451/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/News/Defence-boom-will-create-thousands-of-BAE-Systems-jobs-in-Barrow-f2441d1a-a8f9-401e-befd-67a5aa217b58-ds |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=13 March 2014 |publisher=North West Evening Mail }}</ref> BAE Systems is investing £300 million in Barrow's shipyard to construct buildings capable of manufacturing and assembling the new class of submarines. This major development is the largest in 25 years at the shipyard and will see thousands of new jobs created, further cementing its place as the UK's largest shipyard and one of the few to have seen continuous contracts since founding over a century ago.<ref name=Shipyardexpansion1/>

In 2023 the governments of the United Kingdom, [[United States]] and [[Australia]] committed to construction of a new class of nuclear submarine as part of the [[AUKUS]] military alliance. The new [[SSN-AUKUS]] class of submarines will be designed and predominantly constructed in Barrow securing the shipyard's long term future even beyond Dreadnought. Submarines to be constructed in Australia will also be based on design principles established in Barrow.

[[File:Return to base - geograph.org.uk - 580030.jpg|thumb|left|[[Barrow Offshore Wind Farm]]]]
The most recent surface vessels to be constructed in Barrow were {{Sclass2|Wave|tanker|2}} {{ship|RFA|Wave Knight|A389|6}} and {{Sclass|Albion|landing platform dock|0}} amphibious assault ships {{HMS|Albion|L14|6}} and {{HMS|Bulwark|L15|6}} in the early 2000s when the shipyard was part of [[BAE Systems Marine]] division. It also undertook fitting out and commissioning of helicopter carrier {{HMS|Ocean|L12|6}} in the mid-1990s after the ship was built by [[Kvaerner Govan]] in Glasgow.

[[Associated British Ports Holdings]] owns and operates the [[Royal Port of Barrow]] which can berth vessels up to {{convert|200|m|ft|abbr=on}} long and with a draught of {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The four main docks include [[Buccleuch Dock]], [[Cavendish Dock]], [[Devonshire Dock]] and [[Ramsden Dock]], with the latter handling almost all of the port's cargo. Buccleuch and Devonshire Docks are utilised primarily by BAE Systems, while Cavendish Dock the largest by surface area is now a reservoir. Principal traffic includes the export of condensate by-product from the production of gas at the [[Rampside Gas Terminal]], wood pulp and locally quarried limestone which is exported to Scandinavia for use in the paper industry. The port, which has deep water access, also handles the shipment of nuclear fuels and radioactive waste for [[BNFL]]'s nearby [[Sellafield]] plant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Port of Barrow |url=http://www.abports.co.uk/custinfo/ports/barrow.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927122945/http://www.abports.co.uk/custinfo/ports/barrow.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=20 August 2007 |publisher=Associated British Ports}}</ref> The port was granted [[List of place names with royal styles in the United Kingdom|royal patronage]] by [[King Charles III]] in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nuclear submarine port to be granted Royal title |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czje83kjjy7o |publisher=BBC News |access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref>

[[James Fisher & Sons]], a service provider in all sectors of the marine industry and a specialist supplier of engineering services to the nuclear industry in the UK and abroad,<ref>{{Cite web |year=2005 |title=Welcome to James Fisher |url=http://www.james-fisher.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070828041321/http://www.james-fisher.co.uk/ |archive-date=28 August 2007 |access-date=30 August 2007 |website=James Fisher official website |publisher=James Fisher and Sons}}</ref> was founded in Barrow in 1847.<ref>{{Cite news |last=MacIsaac |first=Mary |date=6 April 2003 |title=With a fair wind blowing there are profits to be made on the high seas |work=The Scotsman |location=UK |url=http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=895&id=401272003 |url-status=live |access-date=30 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810073535/http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=895&id=401272003 |archive-date=10 August 2007 |series=Armchair Investor}}</ref> It is listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] and is the largest company to have its headquarters in Cumbria.<ref name="Largestplc">{{Cite news |title=Barrow Company's Profits Soar by 11 Percent |work=Whitehaven News |url=http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk/barrow-company-s-profits-soar-by-11-per-cent-1.931938 |url-status=dead |access-date=5 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608051838/http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk/barrow-company-s-profits-soar-by-11-per-cent-1.931938 |archive-date=8 June 2015}}</ref> Annual revenue stood at £307 million in 2012 (up 15% from £268 million in 2011), as well as staff numbers standing at over 1,500 worldwide, with 120 of those in the Barrow headquarters.<ref name=Largestplc/><ref>{{Cite news |date=29 August 2007 |title=Jobs Hope as Fisher Booms |publisher=North West Evening Mail |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=536629 |access-date=30 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926212059/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=536629 |archive-date=26 September 2007}}</ref> Numerous vessels are registered at the Royal Port of Barrow, with the majority being owned by James Fisher & Sons and [[International Nuclear Services]]/Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited.

===Energy generation===
[[File:North Walney Beach - geograph.org.uk - 209770.jpg|thumb|West Shore Beach at [[Earnse Bay]] with [[Black Combe]] visible in the distance]]
In 1899 Barrow Corporation built and operated the coal-fired [[Barrow-in-Furness power station]] in Buccleugh Street adjacent to the railway line. This eventually had a generating capacity of 23 MW; it was decommissioned in 1960.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Garrett|first=Frederick|title=Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56|publisher=Electrical Press|year=1959|location=London|pages=A-30}}</ref>

[[Roosecote Power Station|Roosecote power station]] was a 120 MW coal-fired generating station commissioned in 1953,<ref name=":0" /> it was later converted to gas firing and closed in 1986. A 120 MW combined cycle gas turbine station was commissioned in 1991, it was closed in 2012.  From 2018 the site has been the location of 49 MW battery storage facility.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Battery storage plant to supply power|url=https://www.centricabusinesssolutions.com/case-study/battery-storage-plant-supply-power-thousands-homes|access-date=9 October 2020|website=centrica}}</ref>

In 1985, gas was discovered in Morecambe Bay, and to this day the products have been processed onshore at [[Rampside Gas Terminal]] in south Barrow.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.centrica.com/index.asp?pageid=459 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906181440/http://www.centrica.com/index.asp?pageid=459 |archive-date=6 September 2007 |access-date=21 July 2007 |publisher=Centrica Gas }}</ref> The complex is operated jointly Spirit Energy. Directly adjacent to Rampside Gas Terminal is [[Roosecote Power Station]] which was the first [[Combined cycle|CCGT]] power station to supply electricity to the United Kingdom's National Grid. Although originally coal-fired, the station became gas-fired until it was mothballed in 2015.

In 2023 with gas reserves in Morecambe Bay depleting, Spirit Energy revealed plans to utilise the former gas fields as a carbon storage cluster capable of storing a gigaton of carbon dioxide. It is anticipated that carbon emitted from industrial uses across the north will be transported via both pipelines and ships.<ref name="spirit-energy.com"/>

Barrow and its wider urban area form part of 'Britain's Energy Coast',<ref>{{Cite web |title=ACTING LOCALLY, THINKING GLOBALLY |url=http://www.britainsenergycoast.com/ |access-date=25 June 2011 |publisher=Britain's Energy Coast}}</ref> and has one of the highest concentrations of [[wind farm]]s in the world, the vast majority are located offshore and have been built during the early 2010s. All four of these wind farms are located off the coast of Walney Island, including the 189 turbine [[Walney Wind Farm]], 108 turbine [[West Duddon wind farm]], 30 turbine [[Barrow Offshore Wind Farm]] and 30 turbine [[Ormonde Wind Farm]]. Walney Wind Farm was the largest offshore wind farm in the world upon completion, in 2015 it received government consent to be trebled in size. [[DONG Energy]] and [[Scottish Power]] maintain a wind farm operations base with 30 full-time staff members at the Royal Port of Barrow.<ref name="Windoperations">{{Cite web |title=New £4 Million Wind Farm Operations Base in Barrow Seeks Skilled Workers |url=http://www.scottishpowerrenewables.com/news/pages/new_4_million_wind_farm_operations_base_in_barrow_seeks_skilled_workers.asp |access-date=8 July 2014 |publisher=Scottish Power}}</ref>

[[Sellafield]] and [[Heysham nuclear power station]]s are also located within {{convert|25|mi|km}} of Barrow.

===Tourism and leisure===
Although it is at the end of a peninsula, Barrow is only around 20 minutes from the [[Lake District]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barrow in Furness |url=http://www.totaltravel.co.uk/travel/north-west/carlisle-cumbrian-coast/south-cumbria/travel-guides/Destinations/barrow-in-furness |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011092642/http://www.totaltravel.co.uk/travel/north-west/carlisle-cumbrian-coast/south-cumbria/travel-guides/Destinations/barrow-in-furness |archive-date=11 October 2007 |access-date=14 August 2007 |publisher=totaltravel.com}}</ref> Barrow has been referred to as a "gateway to the lakes" and "where the lakes meets the sea",<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2007 |title=Half Term Fun for the Kids Just on the Doorstep |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=467814 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926210914/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=467814 |archive-date=26 September 2007 |access-date=14 August 2007 |publisher=North West Evening Mail}}</ref> a status which could be enhanced by the new marina complex and planned cruise ship terminal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2005 |title=November 2005 – Executive Committee Agenda |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/docs/November%202005%20-%20Executive%20Committee%20Agenda.doc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928030709/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/docs/November%202005%20-%20Executive%20Committee%20Agenda.doc |archive-date=28 September 2007 |access-date=14 August 2007 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council |pages=5 |format=DOC }}</ref>

Barrow itself has several tourist attractions that support just over 1,000 jobs; the town saw a higher growth in tourist expenditure during the 2000s than Cumbria as a whole and had about 2.3 million overnight stays during 2008.<ref name="Touriststats">{{Cite web |title=Cumbria Local Economic Assessment |url=http://www.cumbriaobservatory.org.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/536/675/4356/40501155120.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416145143/http://www.cumbriaobservatory.org.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/536/675/4356/40501155120.pdf |archive-date=16 April 2014 |access-date=6 April 2013 |publisher=Cumbria Observatory}}</ref> Barrow's most popular free-entry tourist attraction is the [[Dock Museum]]. The museum tells the history of Barrow (including the steelworks industry, the shipyard and the [[Barrow Blitz]]), as well as offering gallery space to local artists and schoolchildren. It is built upon and around an old graving dock.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barrow Dock Museum |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/enjoy_cumbria/places/barrow_dock_museum.shtml |access-date=14 August 2007 |website=Enjoy Cumbria |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Walney Island has two world-renowned nature reserves (the 130 hectare (0.5 sq mi) South Walney Nature Reserve<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Walney |url=http://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/south-walney.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903122209/http://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/south-walney.html |archive-date=3 September 2011 |access-date=2 September 2011 |publisher=Cumbria Wildlife Trust }}</ref> and the 650 hectare (2.5 sq mi) [[North Walney Nature Reserve]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=North Walney: what makes it special? |url=http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/northwalneywhatmakesitspecial.aspx |access-date=2 September 2011 |publisher=Natural England}}</ref> Both nature reserves have [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] designation, as do the [[Duddon Estuary]] and [[Sandscale Haws]] to the north of the borough. Barrow has a number of beaches which are popular in the summer with sunbathers, kitesurfers and caravanners. They include [[Earnse Bay]], Biggar Bank, [[Roanhead]] and [[Rampside]]. The first two of these provide views of the [[Isle of Man]] and [[Anglesey]] on exceptionally clear days. The wider borough has more than 60&nbsp;km of coastline.<ref name="Beaches">{{Cite web |title=Beaches |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=153 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724154537/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=153 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |access-date=6 April 2013 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council}}</ref> The Park Leisure Centre is a fitness suite with a pool, set in the {{convert|45|acre|ha|adj=on}} [[Barrow Park]].<ref name="aboutbritain">{{Cite web |title=Barrow-in-Furness Tourist Information |url=http://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/barrow-in-furness.asp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070828073226/http://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/barrow-in-furness.asp |archive-date=28 August 2007 |access-date=25 August 2007 |publisher=AboutBritain.com}}</ref> The historic ruins of [[Furness Abbey]] and [[Piel Castle]], which are both managed by [[English Heritage]], are also popular tourist destinations.
[[File:The White House And The Castle.jpg|thumb|right|[[Piel Island]] and [[Piel Castle|castle]] are a popular attraction in Barrow]]

The town centre is home to a large indoor market<ref>{{Cite news |last=van der Zee |first=Bibi |date=7 August 2007 |title=Pitch Perfect, Part Two |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,,1838907,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=27 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702120519/http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0%2C%2C1838907%2C00.html |archive-date=2 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 March 2007 |title=Barrow Borough Council – Barrow Markets |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=149 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824210003/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=149 |archive-date=24 August 2007 |access-date=27 July 2007 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council}}</ref> and Portland Walk Shopping Centre, the latter previously hosting a number of major national retailers although many have since vacated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shopping and Town Centre |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=161 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911122313/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=161 |archive-date=11 September 2007 |access-date=23 September 2007 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council }}</ref> Barrow has many retail and leisure parks for a town of its size, including [[Hindpool Retail Parks#Cornmill Crossing|Cornmill Crossing]], [[Hindpool Retail Parks#Cornerhouse Retail Park|Cornerhouse Retail Park]], [[Hindpool Retail Parks#Hollywood Park|Hollywood Park]], [[Hindpool Retail Parks#Hollywood Park|Hindpool Retail Park]] and Walney Road Retail Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exploring the Area around Barrow-in-Furness |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=137 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911222136/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=137 |archive-date=11 September 2007 |access-date=23 September 2007 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=24 Hour Shopping |url=http://www.barrow.furness.co.uk/barrow_lifestyle.asp?ID=L6 |access-date=30 August 2007 |website=Barrow. Furness.co.uk |publisher=Furness Enterprise Ltd.}}</ref> Between them they host a number of supermarkets, electrical, home furnishing, clothing and discount stores, gyms, restaurants and Cumbria's largest cinema. Other modern visitor attractions in Barrow include Lazer Zone in Hindpool Road's former [[Custom House, Barrow-in-Furness|Custom House]] and a similar Lazer Quest, [[escape room]] and play centre in the former Hitchens building on Buccleuch Street.

===Regeneration and redevelopment===
[[File:BAE Central Yard Facility.jpg|thumb|right|The Central Yard Facility, photographed in September 2018, is at the centre of BAE Systems' £300 million redevelopment]]
[[File:Abbey Road and Holker Street, Barrow.PNG|thumb|[[Duke of Edinburgh Hotel]] and [[Emlyn Hughes House]]]]

Urban regeneration has been ongoing in Barrow since the 1990s. Portland Walk Shopping Centre opened in 1998 anchored by [[Debenhams]] as part of a major reconstruction of Barrow town centre. Around the same time the [[Hindpool Retail Parks]] and [[Dock Museum]] were constructed over various former industrial sites in Barrow, including the [[dry dock]], the [[Barrow Jute Works]] and the [[Barrow Hematite Steel Company|Barrow Steel Works]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barrow Dock Museum |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/enjoy_cumbria/places/barrow_dock_museum.shtml |access-date=16 July 2015 |publisher=BBC Cumbria}}</ref> Recent construction projects in the town also include the £43 million expansion of [[Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness|Furness College]]'s Channelside campus,<ref name="Redevelopmentcollege">{{Cite web |title=New build |url=http://www.furness.ac.uk/new-build |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701184904/http://www.furness.ac.uk/new-build |archive-date=1 July 2013 |access-date=26 June 2013 |publisher=Furness College}}</ref> £22.5 million [[Furness Academy]] new build,<ref name="Redevelopmentacademy">{{Cite web |title=Furness Academy's £22.5 million vision to finally become reality |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/furness-academy-s-22-5m-vision-finally-to-become-reality-1.913623?referrerPath= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628032403/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/furness-academy-s-22-5m-vision-finally-to-become-reality-1.913623?referrerPath= |archive-date=28 June 2013 |access-date=26 June 2013 |publisher=North West Evening Mail}}</ref> £14.5 million central Barrow flood relief scheme,<ref name="Floodrelief">{{Cite web |title=Barrow DG5 Flood Relief Scheme |url=http://www.waterprojectsonline.com/case_studies/2009/UU_Barrow_2009.pdf |access-date=8 July 2014 |publisher=waterprojectsonline.coml |archive-date=15 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215141530/http://www.waterprojectsonline.com/case_studies/2009/UU_Barrow_2009.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> £8.5 million Barrow police station,<ref name="Redevelopmentpolice">{{Cite web |title=Multi million pound plans for Barrow police station revealed |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/home/multimillion-pound-plans-for-barrow-police-station-unveiled-1.1065289?referrerPath=home |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628032342/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/home/multimillion-pound-plans-for-barrow-police-station-unveiled-1.1065289?referrerPath=home |archive-date=28 June 2013 |access-date=26 June 2013 |publisher=North West Evening Mail}}</ref> £5 million town centre redevelopment scheme,<ref name="Redevelopmentcentre">{{Cite web |title=Barrow town centre scheme on schedule |url=http://www.capitasymonds.co.uk/news__events/news/barrow_town_centre_scheme_on_s.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506111214/http://capitasymonds.co.uk/news__events/news/barrow_town_centre_scheme_on_s.aspx |archive-date=6 May 2013 |access-date=26 June 2013 |publisher=Capita Symonds}}</ref> £4 million Scottish Power wind farm operations centre<ref name="Windoperations" /> as well as the North Central Renewal Area, shake up of the town's residential and retirement homes and a number of large-scale hotel schemes catering for the influx of contractors working for BAE Systems (namely [[Holiday Inn Express]], [[Premier Inn]] and [[Wetherspoon]]).<ref name="Redevelopmentnorthcentral">{{Cite web |title=North Central Renewal Area |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/PDF/NorthCentralNRAAug2008.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714202300/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/PDF/NorthCentralNRAAug2008.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=26 June 2013 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council}}</ref>

[[The Waterfront Barrow-in-Furness|The Waterfront]] is an ambitious ongoing £200 million dockland regeneration project, which began in 2007. The project includes a new Barrow Marina Village which will incorporate an £8 million 400-berth marina, 650 homes, restaurants, shops, hotels and a new state of the art bridge across Cavendish Dock. A large watersports centre is also proposed, with the possibility of a cruise ship terminal. Some cruise ships are already scheduled to dock in Barrow, mainly for tourists to visit the Lake District, although there is no official cruise ship terminal yet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Little-Known Barrow Plans British Fanfare for Princess Cruise Passengers |url=http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=3166 |access-date=16 July 2015 |publisher=Cruise Critic}}</ref> Developments have stalled since 2010 when the [[Northwest Regional Development Agency]]  was disbanded and essential government funding was lost. Despite this Barrow Borough Council has since purchased land needed to make the development a reality and currently controls 95% of the site.<ref name="Marinafuture">{{Cite web |title=Work on Barrow's Marina Vision Could Begin 'Within Three Years' |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/work-on-barrow-s-marina-vision-could-begin-within-three-years-1.1161141 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911212037/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/work-on-barrow-s-marina-vision-could-begin-within-three-years-1.1161141 |archive-date=11 September 2014 |access-date=11 September 2014 |publisher=North West Evening Mail}}</ref> The executive director of the council has stated construction of the Waterfront could resume by 2017 as economic prospects improve and has pledged funds to conduct a market testing exercise. The allocation of Growth Deal investment (2014–2021) will make improvements to the Barrow Waterfront Enterprise Zone far more secure,<ref name=Marinafuture/> whilst the project also received [[Levelling Up]] funding in 2022. In 2014 a £300 million investment into the shipyard was announced by BAE Systems, in anticipation of the [[trident replacement|new generation of UK nuclear submarines]].<ref name="Shipyardexpansion1" /><ref name=Shipyardexpansion2/> Construction will take up to eight years and create thousands of new jobs at the shipyard thereafter.<ref name=Shipyardexpansion1/> Amongst proposals are an extension to the DDH complex and new buildings in the central yard area off Bridge Road on Barrow Island (a site formerly mooted for a huge construction hall for the construction of [[Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier|''Queen Elizabeth''-class aircraft carrier]] sections which the yard failed to win contracts for), these will house pressure hull units ready for shot blasting and painting, and be a place for joining submarine equipment modules.<ref name="Shipyardexpansion2">{{Cite web |title=BAE Systems Development will change Barrow skyline |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/bae-systems-development-will-change-barrow-skyline-1.1122540 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313165418/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/bae-systems-development-will-change-barrow-skyline-1.1122540 |archive-date=13 March 2014 |access-date=13 March 2014 |publisher=North West Evening Mail}}</ref> Redevelopment of the 5.8 hectare central yard area was completed in 2018 and is dominated by the [[Central Yard Complex Facility]] which measures {{convert|178|m|ft|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|94|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide and {{convert|41|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall, only 10% smaller than the volume of the pre-expansion Devonshire Dock Hall.

Other large-scale developments associated with BAE include a {{convert|30,000|sqm|sqft|abbr=on}} logistics centre which was constructed in the Waterfront Business Park in 2015 and a {{convert|8,100|sqm|sqft|abbr=on}} central training facility which is proposed at Buccleuch Dock Road.

===Other===
Other major employers include the [[National Health Service (England)|National Health Service]], through [[Furness General Hospital]], which employs 1,800 staff,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cumbria Prosperity Priorities Summit held on 2 April 2004 |url=http://www.nwra.gov.uk/downloads/documents/imported/321089760698.doc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927121818/http://www.nwra.gov.uk/downloads/documents/imported/321089760698.doc |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=20 August 2007 |publisher=North West Regional Assembly |format=DOC }}</ref> the [[Kimberly Clark]] paper mill, which has 400 employees,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Furness Enterprise – Fast Moving Consumer Goods |url=http://www.furnessenterprise.co.uk/furness_enterprise_sectors.asp?menuID=13&ID=IS6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929040235/http://www.furnessenterprise.co.uk/furness_enterprise_sectors.asp?menuID=13&ID=IS6 |archive-date=29 September 2007 |access-date=20 August 2007 |publisher=Furness Enterprise }}</ref> BAE Systems' [[BAE Systems Land & Armaments|Land and Armaments]] division, [[Furness Building Society]] which is one of the 20 largest of its kind and [[Westmorland and Furness Council]]. Amongst many retailers that have established themselves in Barrow, the furniture store [[Stollers]] is noted as being one of the largest shops of its kind in the UK.

===Employment===
[[File:Craven House, office block - panoramio (1).jpg|thumb|[[Craven House]] is headquarters of [[James Fisher & Sons]], the only Barrow company on the [[London Stock Exchange]]]] [[File:Tesco Barrow, Cumbria.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tesco]] is a significant employer, with several outlets across Barrow]]
According to the 2011 census, 78.2% of males aged 16–64 and females aged 16–59 in Barrow were economically active. This figure is higher than the North West and England averages.<ref name="Employment">{{Cite web |title=Key Figures for Economic Deprivation |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=6275013&c=barrow&d=13&e=4&g=6411253&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1367432044166&enc=1 |access-date=1 May 2013 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref> 73.8% of the population was employed, which again is higher than regional and national averages; the unemployment rate stood at 5.6% which is lower than both averages.<ref name=Employment/> Despite this the percentage of people claiming key benefits, which is independent of the unemployment figure, is much higher than both averages at 21.0%, or almost a quarter of all Barrovians of working age.<ref name=Employment/> The most common form of benefit received was the [[Incapacity Benefit]], claimed by 11.0% of the adult population, while 4.0% claimed [[Jobseeker's Allowance]], which is on a par with the national average.<ref name=Employment/>

The list below shows how many people were employed in certain sectors according to the 2011 census. Little change occurred between the 2001 and 2011 census; Barrow still has a much higher percentage of workers in the manufacturing sector than the national average, ranking third in 2011 behind [[Borough of Corby|Corby]], Northamptonshire and [[Borough of Pendle|Pendle]], Lancashire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Area: Barrow-in-Furness (Local Authority) |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=6275013&c=barrow&d=13&e=9&g=6411253&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1367430603744&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2538 |access-date=4 July 2013 |publisher=statistics.gov.uk |archive-date=8 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608060712/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=6275013&c=barrow&d=13&e=9&g=6411253&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1367430603744&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2538 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Employmenttrends">{{Cite web |date=5 June 2013 |title=170 Years of Industrial Change across England and Wales |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census-analysis/170-years-of-industry/170-years-of-industrial-changeponent.html |access-date=22 April 2014 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref> The percentage working in manufacturing has increased further during the 2010s given thousands of new roles created at the shipyard in association with the Trident renewal programme.

South West Cumbria has one of the UK's most self-contained workforces, and Barrow itself has the sixth lowest proportion of people who travel outside of the country for work.<ref name="othercommute">{{Cite web |title=2011 Census Analysis – Distance Travelled to Work |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171776_357812.pdf |access-date=22 June 2015 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref> In 2001, 76% of the working age population in Barrow commuted within {{convert|5|km}} for work, when compared to the England average of 54%.<ref name="Traveltowork">{{Cite web |title=Distance Travelled to Work – Workplace Population, 2001 (UV80) |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6275013&c=barrow&d=13&g=6411253&i=1001x1003x1006&k=distance&m=0&r=1&s=1435005696594&enc=1&domainId=16&dsFamilyId=189 |access-date=22 June 2015 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |archive-date=23 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623002626/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6275013&c=barrow&d=13&g=6411253&i=1001x1003x1006&k=distance&m=0&r=1&s=1435005696594&enc=1&domainId=16&dsFamilyId=189 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A significant proportion of the town's population are employed at the [[Sellafield]] nuclear facility.
* Manufacturing: 6,570 employed (21.0% of the town's working population)
* Wholesale and retail trade: 4,728 (15.1%)
* Human health and social work: 4,539 (14.5%)
* Construction: 2,387 (7.6%)
* Education: 2,381 (7.6%)
* Accommodation and food service activities: 1,962 (6.3%)
* Public administration and defence: 1,913 (6.1%)
* Transport and storage: 1,296 (4.1%)
* Administrative and support service: 1,055 (3.4%)
* Professional, scientific and technical: 1,000 (3.2%)
* Information and communication: 496 (1.6%)
* Financial and insurance: 492 (1.6%)
* Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply: 441 (1.4%)
* Water supply: 264 (0.8%)
* Real estate: 221 (0.7%)
* Mining and quarrying: 165 (0.5%)
* Agriculture, forestry and fishing: 122 (0.4%)
* Other: 1,225 (3.9%)

==Transport==

===Road===
[[File:Crook Scar - geograph.org.uk - 160218.jpg|thumb|right|[[Walney Bridge]] (officially Jubilee Bridge) links Barrow Island to Walney Island]]

Barrow's principal road link is the [[A590 road|A590]]. This runs to Barrow from the [[M6 motorway]] via [[Ulverston]], skirting the southern [[Lake District]].<ref name="Map">{{Cite web |title=Barrow area map |url=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Barrow+in+Furness&ie=UTF8&ll=54.173287,-2.999268&spn=0.205782,0.6427&z=11&om=1 |access-date=26 August 2007 |website=[[Google Maps]] |publisher=Google Maps |format=Flash}}</ref> Just north of Barrow is the southern end of the [[A595 road|A595]], linking the town to [[West Cumbria]].<ref name="Map" /> The A5087 connects Barrow's southern suburbs to Ulverston via a scenic coastal route. [[Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness|Abbey Road]] is the principal road through central Barrow, whilst [[Walney Bridge]] connects Barrow Island to [[Walney Island]].

The possibility of a bridge link over [[Morecambe Bay]] is occasionally raised, and feasibility studies have been carried out.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hetherington |first=Peter |date=19 May 2004 |title=Council gives thumbs up to <span style="white-space:nowrap">12&nbsp;mile&nbsp;(19&nbsp;km)</span> bridge for Morecambe Bay |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,3604,1220030,00.html |access-date=9 March 2007}}</ref>

===Bus===
Bus 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. The original bus station, since demolished, was known for its role in a 1970s television commercial for [[Chewits]] sweets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barrow Chewits ad |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2006/03/30/cumbriaonfilm_chewits_feature.shtml |access-date=17 July 2007 |publisher=BBC Cumbria}}</ref> As well as local suburban and village services, longer-distance buses run to [[Ulverston]], [[Millom]], [[Bowness-on-Windermere|Bowness]], [[Windermere, Cumbria (town)|Windermere]] and [[Kendal]].

===Rail===
[[File:Barrow-in-Furness Station, Cumbria.jpg|thumb|left|[[Barrow-in-Furness railway station]] viewed from [[Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness|Abbey Road]]]]
[[Barrow-in-Furness railway station]] provides connections to [[Whitehaven]], [[Workington]] and [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] to the north, via the [[Cumbrian Coast Line]], and to [[Ulverston]], [[Grange-over-Sands]] and [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] to the east, via the [[Furness Line]] – both of which connect to the [[West Coast Mainline]]. Numerous daily trains run to [[Manchester Piccadilly station|Manchester]]. The station handles over 600,000 passengers annually. Barrow has a second railway station, [[Roose railway station|Roose]], which serves [[Roose|the suburb of the same name]].

[[Furness Abbey railway station|Furness Abbey]], Barrow's third main line station, closed in 1950. There was also a station on [[Island Road railway station|Barrow Island]], for commuters between the shipyard and nearby towns served by the Furness Railway. This railway link was severed in 1966 when the famous cradle bridge across the docks was closed permanently for safety reasons. There were also stations at [[Piel railway station|Piel]], Rabbit Hill, [[Rampside railway station|Rampside]], [[Ramsden Dock railway station|Ramsden Dock]] and [[Barrow-in-Furness Strand railway station|Strand]].

Between 1885 and 1932, the [[Barrow-in-Furness Tramways Company]] operated a [[double-decker tram]] service over several miles, primarily around central Barrow, Barrow Island and Hindpool.

===Air===
[[Barrow/Walney Island Airport]] ([[IATA airport code]]: BWF, [[ICAO]]: EGNL) is a former commercial airport and [[Royal Air Force]] base currently owned by BAE Systems which operates two [[Beechcraft King Air]] B200 and one B250 aircraft which fly to various destinations across the UK every weekday, including Bristol, Glasgow, London and Manchester. The airport's runways take on a triangular form, the longest runway is almost {{convert|4000|ft|m}}. The airport was expanded by BAE in 2018 including the construction of a new terminal building, hangar and control tower.

[[Liverpool John Lennon Airport]] is the closest major airport to the town.

In 2018 a [[heliport]] was built on a site adjacent to Park Road, Ormsgill for energy firm [[Ørsted (company)|Ørsted]] and to support the offshore energy sector.

===Sea===
Despite being one of the UK's leading shipbuilding centres, the [[Associated British Ports]]' [[Royal Port of Barrow]] is only a minor port. Historically, the [[Isle of Man Steam Packet Company]] and the [[Barrow Steam Navigation Company]] (a subsidiary of the Furness Railway and later [[London, Midland & Scottish Railway]]) operated a number of steamers and passenger ferry services between Rampside and [[Ramsden Dock]] and [[Ardrossan]] (Scotland), [[Belfast]] (Northern Ireland), [[Blackpool]], [[Douglas, Isle of Man|Douglas]] (Isle of Man), [[Fleetwood]] and [[Heysham]].<ref name="Ferry">{{Cite web |title=Go Anywhere On a Boat From Barrow |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/memories/go-anywhere-on-a-boat-from-barrow-1.116441?referrerPath=home/2.4856 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112185109/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/memories/go-anywhere-on-a-boat-from-barrow-1.116441?referrerPath=home%2F2.4856 |archive-date=12 January 2015 |access-date=11 January 2015 |publisher=North West Evening Mail}}</ref> All services had ceased operation by the mid-20th century.

For a short period during the early 1880s, transatlantic travel was possible from the town. [[Anchor Line (steamship company)|The Anchor Line]] operated a fortnightly service utilising three of its steamships, ''Alexandria'', ''Caledonia'' and ''Columbia'', between Barrow and [[New York City]] via [[Dublin]]. There are proposals to construct a cruise ship terminal in Barrow as part of the Waterfront redevelopment project.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 July 2005 |title=Town chosen for cruise ship terminal |publisher=BBC |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/4706191.stm |access-date=15 June 2007}}</ref>

==Sport==
[[File:Holkerstreetmainstand.jpg|thumb|[[Holker Street]], the home of Barrow A.F.C.]]

===Football===

{{Main|Barrow A.F.C.|Holker Old Boys F.C.}}

[[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]] are in [[EFL League Two]], the fourth tier of English football and are the town's only professional sports team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sports in Barrow and Furness |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=151 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070828161827/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=151 |archive-date=28 August 2007 |access-date=19 August 2007 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council }}</ref> The team, founded in 1901, are nicknamed the Bluebirds and play their home games at the [[Holker Street]] stadium.<ref name="Bluebirds">{{Cite web |title=Barrow Football Club |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/sport/clubs/barrow/12_2003.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419175538/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/sport/clubs/barrow/12_2003.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 April 2013 |access-date=19 August 2007 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> The side were members of the [[Football League]] until they failed to be re-elected in 1972.<ref name="Bluebirds" /> In 1990, they won the [[FA Trophy]] beating [[Leek Town F.C.|Leek Town]] 3–0 in the final at [[Wembley Stadium (1924)|Wembley Stadium]], London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The FA Trophy |url=http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/football/fatophy.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823063143/http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/football/fatophy.php |archive-date=23 August 2007 |access-date=19 August 2007 |publisher=Napit.co.uk}}</ref> Twenty years later, on 8 May 2010, [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]] repeated the feat, beating [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage Borough]] 2–1 after extra time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Walker wins it for hometown Barrow |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFATrophy/Match%20Centre/Final%202010/080510 |access-date=8 May 2010 |publisher=TheFA.com}}</ref>

After 48 years in non-league football, Barrow were crowned champions of the [[National League (division)|National League]] on 17 June 2020, sealing their return to the [[English Football League|Football League]].

Football players born in Barrow include England internationals [[Emlyn Hughes]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 November 2004 |title=Emlyn Hughes Obituary |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/11/10/db1001.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116122612/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2004%2F11%2F10%2Fdb1001.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 January 2008 |access-date=8 July 2007 }}</ref> and [[Gary Stevens (footballer, born 1963)|Gary Stevens]],<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Pike |first1=Richard |last2=Poutianinen, Marko |year=1999 |title=Stevens, Gary 1981–88 |url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/history/legends/Stevens.asp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611233558/http://toffeeweb.com/history/legends/Stevens.asp |archive-date=11 June 2007 |access-date=8 July 2007 |website=Hall of Fame |publisher=ToffeeWeb}}</ref> as well as [[Harry Hadley]],<ref>{{Englandstats|ref=y|280|Harry Hadley|access-date=21 July 2007}}</ref> and [[Vic Metcalfe]].<ref>{{Englandstats|ref=y|705|Vic Metcalfe|access-date=7 August 2007}}</ref>
Of current professional footballers, [[Georgia Stanway]] of [[FC Bayern Munich (women)|Bayern Munich]], [[Wayne Curtis]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 May 2007 |title=Wayne makes Wembley History |work=[[North West Evening Mail]] |publisher=[[CN Group]] |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/unknown/viewarticle.aspx?id=500925 |access-date=7 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926211331/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/unknown/viewarticle.aspx?id=500925 |archive-date=26 September 2007}}</ref> [[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]] striker, [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] midfielder [[George Thomason (footballer)|George Thomason]] and Iran Under-20 and [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] winger Shana Haji<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dastafshan |first=Afshin |title=Shana Haji, the first Iranian player in Scotland |url=http://www.persianmirror.com/Article_det.cfm?id=1367&getArticleCategory=42&getArticleSubCategory=4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927010053/http://www.persianmirror.com/Article_det.cfm?id=1367&getArticleCategory=42&getArticleSubCategory=4 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=21 June 2007 |publisher=Persian Mirror }}</ref> hail from the town.

[[Holker Old Boys F.C.|Holker Old Boys]], based at Rakesmoor Lane, are an amateur football team that play in the [[North West Counties Football League]] Division One.

===Rugby===
{{Main|Barrow Raiders}}

[[File:Craven Park, Barrow.jpg|thumb|left|[[Craven Park (Barrow)|Craven Park]], the home of Barrow Raiders]]
The town is considered one of [[rugby league]]'s traditional heartlands at semi-professional and amateur levels.<ref name="rugby">{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Andy |date=16 October 1997 |title=RUGBY LEAGUE: CARLISLE MERGER SIGNALS RETHINK |page=27 |work=The Guardian |location=UK |quote=Now Carlisle's decision to move in with Barrow, a traditional hotbed of league where the amateur game remains as strong as ever, may be followed by a new club from [[South Wales]] entering Super League next year.}}</ref> [[Barrow Raiders]], the town's semi-professional team, whose home games are at [[Craven Park (Barrow)|Craven Park]], currently operate in the second-tier [[RFL Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Barrow Raiders promoted to the Betfred Championship |url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/36000/barrow-raiders-promoted-to-the-betfred-championship |publisher=Rugby-League.com |access-date=3 March 2022}}</ref>

In the 1950s the side played in three [[Challenge Cup]] finals, winning the last of these against [[Workington Town]]. In the 1997 reorganisation of the sport the original Barrow RLFC team merged with [[Carlisle RLFC|Carlisle Border Raiders]] to form Barrow Border Raiders,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Andy |date=16 October 1997 |title=RUGBY LEAGUE: CARLISLE MERGER SIGNALS RETHINK |page=27 |work=The Guardian |location=UK |quote=CARLISLE and Barrow have decided to merge into a new club, Barrow Border Raiders, with repercussions extending well beyond the Second Division and Cumbria.}}</ref> with the word "border" later dropped. Players who were born in the town and played at a professional level include brothers [[Ade Gardner|Ade]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 April 2007 |title=Gardner out for indefinite period |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/6599411.stm |url-status=live |access-date=21 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711031424/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/6599411.stm |archive-date=11 July 2007}}</ref> and [[Mat Gardner]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=David |date=11 March 2006 |title=A Welcome MAT for My Mate ADE; HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS V ST HELENS, TOMORROW, KICK-OFF 3&nbsp;pm |page=57 |work=Daily Mirror |publisher=[[Mirror Group Newspapers]] |location=UK |quote=Mat, brought up in Barrow with Ade, said: "It's always been a dream of mine to play against my elder brother and this could be the time it becomes a reality. There's also a big chance we could be meeting head-on on the wing and that would be fantastic. I was pleased with my performance at [[Wakefield Trinity]], I just hope Jon Sharp was pleased too – that's obviously the key to me playing against Saints."}}</ref> and [[Willie Horne]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 January 2006 |title=Vickerstown Cricket Club, Walney |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/goingout/viewarticle.aspx?id=326017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926211104/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/goingout/viewarticle.aspx?id=326017 |archive-date=26 September 2007 |access-date=21 June 2007 |publisher=[[North West Evening Mail]]}}</ref> The latter captained Barrow to their Challenge Cup victory and represented Great Britain at an international level. He was inducted into the "Barrow Hall of Fame" along with former Barrow players [[Phil Jackson (rugby league born 1932)|Phil Jackson]] and [[Jimmy Lewthwaite]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fagan |first=Sean |title=Rugby League History – Interview with Phil Jackson |url=http://www.rl1908.com/Legends/jackson.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060511184546/http://www.rl1908.com/Legends/jackson.htm |archive-date=11 May 2006 |access-date=4 August 2007 |website=RL1908.com}}</ref>

At an amateur level, eight rugby league teams participate in the Barrow & District League. They include Askam, Barrow Island, Dalton, Hindpool, Millom, Roose Pioneers, Ulverston and Walney.

===Golf===

Barrow is home to two large golf clubs. Barrow Golf Club, founded in 1922, is in [[Hawcoat]] and covers some {{convert|6209|yd|m|}} with 18 holes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barrow Golf Club |url=http://www.englishgolf-courses.co.uk/cumbria/barrow.php |website=www.englishgolf-courses.co.uk}}</ref> Furness Golf Club, founded in 1872, is the sixth oldest golf club in England and is possibly the more famous of the two. It is located on [[Walney Island]], just {{convert|50|yd|m|}} from the [[Irish Sea]]. It also offers an 18-hole course, a shop and other facilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Furness Golf Club,Barrow In Furness,Cumbria,England |url=http://www.golftoday.co.uk/clubhouse/coursedir/cumbria/furness.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517135054/http://www.golftoday.co.uk/clubhouse/coursedir/cumbria/furness.html |archive-date=17 May 2008 |access-date=10 May 2008 |website=www.golftoday.co.uk }}</ref> The Furness Golf Centre is located on the outskirts of Barrow close to Roanhead and is home to a 14-bay driving range, golf shop, swing studio and the Fairway Hotel.<ref name="Fairway">{{Cite web |title=Fairway Hotel and Furness Golf Centre |url=http://www.fairway-hotel.co.uk/index.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404005520/http://www.fairway-hotel.co.uk/index.php |archive-date=4 April 2013 |access-date=6 April 2013 |publisher=Fairway Hotel}}</ref> The hoaxer [[Maurice Flitcroft]], known as the "world's worst golfer" lived and worked in the town.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Murray |first1=Scott |title=The Phantom of the Open: Maurice Flitcroft, The World's Worst Golfer |last2=Farnaby |first2=Simon |date=2011 |publisher=Yellow Jersey Press |isbn=978-0224083171}}</ref>

===Motor sports===

Barrow has staged [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] racing at three venues since the pioneer days in the late 1920s. The first track was at Holker Street. This venue had a revival for a short spell in the early to mid-1970s being utilised by the short-lived [[Barrow Bombers]]. In 1930 the sport moved to Little Park but this a somewhat hazy venue. The sport had a revival in 1978 at Park Avenue Industrial Estate but this was relatively short lived.

====Bike racing====

Barrow has produced a number of noteworthy motorcyclists throughout the years, such as Manx Grand Prix winner Eddie Crooks, TT Rider Dan Stewart, Speedway ace [[Adam Roynon]] and multiple British Sandtrack Champion John Pepper.

====Karting====

Kart racer Kristian Brierley<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kristian Brierley &#124; Karting Mag |url=http://www.kartingmagazine.com/news/maxxis-tkm-festival-double-honours-bonus/attachment/kristian-brierley/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810144546/http://www.kartingmagazine.com/news/maxxis-tkm-festival-double-honours-bonus/attachment/kristian-brierley/ |archive-date=10 August 2018 |access-date=21 January 2019 }}</ref> received national attention after successfully winning the internationally televised TKM Karting Festival in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Askam speedster earns national karting title |url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/other-sport/junior-sport/16463770.askam-speedster-earns-national-karting-title/ |website=The Mail|date=2 September 2015 }}</ref> He followed this up by winning the opening round of the British Championship in 2016 and ultimately went on to finish the season in 6th place.

Multiple other 'Barrovians' have also competed at national level in karting such as Max Davis, Daniel Pepper,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kirkby karter Dan revved up for shot at Super-stardom |url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/other-sport/motor-sport/16460258.kirkby-karter-dan-revved-up-for-shot-at-super-stardom/ |website=The Mail|date=18 January 2016 }}</ref> Kieran Pepper, Mark Fell, Oliver Dilks and Jake Calvert.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barrow teenager is the karting king of Britain |url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/other-sport/junior-sport/16463928.barrow-teenager-is-the-karting-king-of-britain/ |website=The Mail|date=September 2015 }}</ref>

In 2020 Max Davies became the first person from the Barrow area to be selected to represent Team GB at the ROK World Finals where he finished 29th overall out of 75 competitors from 25 competing countries, he was also the youngest member of Team GB to compete that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vortex-rok.com/download/superfinal/2020/results_senior.pdf|title=Senior results 2020|website=vortex-rok.com|access-date=25 August 2023}}</ref>

In 2021 Max Davies was selected for Team GB again as was fellow 'Barrovian' Daniel Pepper after Pepper had finished that years British championship in 2nd with Davies placing in 3rd.

Pepper's 2nd place finish in the 2021 British Championship gave him the highest placed seeding of a Barrow born driver in the 21st century,  breaking the record of his own brother Kieran Pepper who had been seeded 3rd the previous year.

Mark Fell remains the only driver from the Barrow area to have won a British Championship which dates back to the early 1990s.

===Other sports===

Barrow is home to the [[Walney Terriers]] [[American football]] club, formed in 2011 the club originally trained at Memorial Fields on Walney Island before establishing training grounds elsewhere in Barrow and Ulverston. The Terriers play in the North West conference of the [[British American football Association|BAFA]]'s National League alongside the likes of the [[Manchester Titans]] and [[Merseyside Nighthawks]].

One of the town's most notable annual sporting events is the [[Keswick to Barrow]] (K2B), a {{convert|40|mi|km|adj=on|sigfig=1}} walking and running event that has taken place every year since 1967 between [[Keswick, Cumbria|Keswick]] and Barrow. The event has raised millions for charity and regularly sees in excess of 3,000 participants.<ref name="K2B">{{Cite web |title=About The Walk |url=https://www.keswick2barrow.co.uk/about.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219014716/http://www.keswick2barrow.co.uk/about.asp |archive-date=19 February 2013 |access-date=3 May 2013 |publisher=Keswick to Barrow}}</ref>

==Culture==
Barrow contains a wealth of natural and built heritage assets, which includes 274 [[Listed building|Listed Buildings]] and four [[Site of Special Scientific Interest|SSSIs]]. The 2016 Heritage Index formed by the [[Royal Society of Arts]] and the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]] placed the borough as sixth highest of 325 English districts for 'assets' with especially high scores relating to nationally important landscape and natural heritage assets and industrial heritage assets.<ref name="HeritageIndex">{{Cite web |title=Explore the Heritage Index for England |url=https://www.thersa.org/action-and-research/rsa-projects/public-services-and-communities-folder/heritage-and-place/England/ |access-date=13 July 2019 |publisher=The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce |archive-date=24 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191124023352/https://www.thersa.org/action-and-research/rsa-projects/public-services-and-communities-folder/heritage-and-place/England |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Architecture===
{{See also|Listed buildings in Barrow-in-Furness|List of tallest buildings and structures in Barrow-in-Furness}}
{{Panorama
 | image      = File:Barrow Panorama 1 (June 17).jpg
 | caption    = View of Barrow looking south from the [[Barrow Hematite Steel Company#Legacy|Slag Bank]] including (left to right) Fells of the [[Lake District]], [[Thorncliffe Cemetery and Crematorium|Thorncliffe Crematorium]], [[Ormsgill]], [[Holker Street]], [[Hindpool]], [[St. James' Church, Barrow-in-Furness|St. James' Church]], [[Piel Castle]], the [[Barrow-in-Furness Town Hall|Town Hall]], BAE Systems Central Yard Facility and [[Devonshire Dock Hall]], Barrow Police Station, [[Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness|Furness College]], [[Walney Bridge]] and Walney Channel, [[Vickerstown]], the [[Irish Sea]], [[Walney Wind Farm|Walney]] and [[Ormonde Wind Farm]]s and [[Barrow/Walney Island Airport]]
 | height     = 250
}}
{{Panorama
 | image      = File:Barrow panorama from Walney July 2017.jpg
 | caption    = View of Barrow looking east across Walney Channel including (left to right) Fells of the [[Lake District]], Slag Bank, Furness College, St. James' Church, the [[Dock Museum]], [[Devonshire Dock Hall]], BAE Systems Central Yard Facility and [[Walney Bridge]]
 | height     = 250
}}

[[File:Barrowterracota.png|thumb|right|Red brick and terracotta were popular building materials at the turn of the 20th century in Barrow – a style which is imitated to this day]]

Barrow is one of Britain's few planned towns, and the spacious tree-lined avenues within the oldest parts of the town (including Central Barrow, Hindpool and Salthouse) are more akin to the layout of a much larger city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Destination guide for Barrow-in-Furness |url=http://www.enjoyengland.com/destinations/find/englands-northwest/cumbria/barrow-in-furness.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711101803/http://www.enjoyengland.com/destinations/find/englands-northwest/cumbria/barrow-in-furness.aspx |archive-date=11 July 2007 |access-date=8 August 2007 |publisher=Enjoy England}}</ref> Planned by an industrialist, however the town is "not as picturesque as the towns nearby", so newcomers often choose to move into one of the surrounding towns.<ref name="nyt" /> The town centre is distinguished by its [[Victorian era|Victorian]] and [[Edwardian era]] civic buildings, such as the [[Barrow-in-Furness Town Hall|Town Hall]], [[Barrow-in-Furness Main Public Library|Main Public Library]], former [[Nan Tait Centre|Technical School]], former [[Barrow-in-Furness Central Fire Station|Central Fire Station]], [[Salvation Army]] Building, [[Custom House, Barrow-in-Furness|Custom House]], [[National Westminster Bank, Barrow-in-Furness|National Westminster Bank]], [[The Duke of Edinburgh Hotel]], [[St. George's Church, Barrow-in-Furness|St. George's Church]], [[St. Mary of Furness Roman Catholic Church|St. Mary's RC Church]] and [[St. James' Church, Barrow-in-Furness|St. James' Church]]. Oppositely, several distinctive buildings have been demolished in Barrow since the mid-20th century as a result of neglect or war damage, amongst the most iconic are [[Abbot's Wood, Cumbria|Abbots Wood]], [[Barrow-in-Furness railway station|Barrow Central Railway Station]], [[Infield House]], [[St. George's Square, Barrow-in-Furness#North Lonsdale Hospital|North Lonsdale Hospital]], [[Scotch Buildings]] and the Waverley Hotel. Lancaster architects [[Sharpe, Paley and Austin]] were prolific throughout the development of Barrow. A number of Barrow's landmark buildings were constructed from locally sourced sandstone, evident from the high number of brown and red coloured stone buildings in the town. Similar materials were used in a number of local buildings in the early 20th century, and often accompanied by terracotta. There are also an increasing number of modern office buildings as well as the shipyard's construction halls which dominate much of Barrow's skyline. Despite much of Barrow having been constructed from the late 19th to mid 20th centuries, architectural styles vary greatly across the town from the [[Art Deco]] [[John Whinnerah Institute]] to the [[Byzantine architecture|Byzantine style]] [[St. John's Church, Barrow-in-Furness|St. John's Church]], [[Elizabethan architecture|Neo-Elizabethan]] [[Abbey House, Barrow-in-Furness|Abbey House]] and [[Tudor Revival architecture|Tudor Revival]] [[Vickerstown]] estate.

Barrow has 8 [[Grade I listed buildings]], 15 [[Listed building|Grade II*]] and 249 [[Grade II]] buildings. The majority of Grade I listed buildings and structures are in and around the Furness Abbey complex while many Grade II* listed buildings in the town are 19th century tenements on Barrow Island including the [[Devonshire Buildings]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Listed Buildings |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2758 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928030802/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2758 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |access-date=16 August 2007 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council}}</ref> There are a number of [[Conservation Area (United Kingdom)|Conservation Areas]] across Barrow named as such for their architectural or historical significance, they include [[Barrow Island, Barrow-in-Furness|Barrow Island]], [[Biggar, Cumbria|Biggar]], [[Central Barrow]], [[Furness Abbey]], [[North Scale]], North and South [[Vickerstown]] and [[St. George's Square, Barrow-in-Furness|St. George's Square]].<ref name="Conservation">{{Cite web |title=Conservation Areas in the Borough |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1696 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123213335/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=1696 |archive-date=23 November 2012 |access-date=9 June 2013 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council}}</ref> Historically Barrow's skyline was dominated by shipyard cranes and industrial chimneys, although little evidence of this remains in the present day with the last [[Crane (machine)#Hammerhead|hammerhead crane]] – the iconic yellow crane of [[Buccleuch Dock]] – being dismantled in 2011, despite calls for listing status like the smaller [[Titan Clydebank]] in Glasgow. The tallest building in Barrow is [[Devonshire Dock Hall]] at {{convert|51|m|ft|0}}. Also worthy of note are the turbines of [[Ormonde Wind Farm]] located just off the coast of Barrow which stand at {{convert|152|m|ft|0}}.

In terms of housing, the majority of dwellings in Barrow are Victorian [[Terraced house|terraces]]. At 47.0% of local housing stock in 2011, the figure is much higher than England's average of 24.5%. 29.7% of dwellings are [[semi-detached]], 12.09% [[Single-family detached home|detached]] and 10.2% flats, maisonettes or apartments.<ref name="Housing">{{Cite web |title=Accommodation Type – Households, 2011 |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=6275013&c=barrow&d=13&e=7&g=6411253&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1365528720388&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2570 |access-date=9 April 2013 |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] |archive-date=30 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730234345/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=6275013&c=barrow&d=13&e=7&g=6411253&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1365528720388&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2570 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Great variety in housing styles is a feature across central Barrow, Barrow Island, Hindpool, and Vickerstown.  Most were built around a [[Grid plan|grid design]] in accordance with plans drawn up by James Ramsden.

===Arts===

;Music
Barrow has produced several musical performers of note. They include [[Thomas Round]], a singer and actor in D'Oyly Carte productions of [[Savoy Opera]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thomas Round |url=http://diamond.boisestate.edu/GaS/whowaswho/R/RoundThomas.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903104943/http://diamond.boisestate.edu/gas/whowaswho/R/RoundThomas.htm |archive-date=3 September 2006 |access-date=7 August 2007 |publisher=Boise State University}}</ref> as well as [[Glenn Cornick]], the original bass guitarist in the rock band [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glenn Cornick |url=http://www.j-tull.com/musicians/pastmembers/glenncornick.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815135747/http://www.j-tull.com/musicians/pastmembers/glenncornick.html |archive-date=15 August 2007 |access-date=7 August 2007 |publisher=The Official Jethro Tull Website}}</ref> Paul MacKenzie, bass player with 1980s [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]]-based thrash metal band [[Xentrix]], is from Barrow.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Metalist Magazine |url=http://www.metalist.co.il/interviewprivate.asp?id=141&lang=eng |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716200952/http://www.metalist.co.il/interviewprivate.asp?id=141&lang=eng |archive-date=16 July 2011 |access-date=10 January 2009}}</ref> Stephen Fitzpatrick (1994/95-2019),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Stewart |date=29 March 2019 |title=Both Members of British Band Her's, and Their Tour Manager, Die in U.S. Car Crash |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/both-members-british-band-hers-die-car-crash-1203175844/ |access-date=25 June 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> lead singer and guitarist of the late indie duo [[Her's]], was also from Barrow.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 March 2019 |title=Her's: Band's crash caused by 'wrong-way driver' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-47751801 |access-date=25 June 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref> More recently, hip-hop DJ and record producer [[Aim (musician)|Aim]] has had considerable commercial success.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sue |first=David |date=23 June 2006 |title=Superstar DJ continues to Aim high |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |publisher=Guardian Media Group |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/rock_and_pop/s/216/216434_superstar_dj_continues_to_aim_high.html |access-date=7 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165611/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/rock_and_pop/s/216/216434_superstar_dj_continues_to_aim_high.html |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref>

;Expressive arts
Several notables in Art and Literature have come from Barrow. Artist [[Keith Tyson]], the 2002 [[Turner Prize]] winner, was born in nearby [[Ulverston]], attended the Barrow-in-Furness College of Engineering and worked at the then [[Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering|VSEL]] shipyard.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Keith Tyson Biography |url=http://collection.britishcouncil.org/collection/artist/5/19092 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629202045/http://collection.britishcouncil.org/collection/artist/5/19092 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |access-date=4 August 2007 |publisher=[[British Council]]}}</ref> [[Constance Spry]], the author and florist who revolutionised interior design in the 1930s, and 1940s, moved to the town with her son Anthony during World War I to work as a welfare supervisor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Constance Spry / Florist, Author + Social Reformer (1886–1960) |url=http://www.designmuseum.org/design/constance-spry |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806082527/http://www.designmuseum.org/design/constance-spry |archive-date=6 August 2007 |access-date=4 August 2007 |publisher=Design Museum}}</ref> [[Peter Purves]], later a [[Blue Peter]] presenter, began his acting career with 2 years as a member of the Renaissance Theatre Company at the town's Her Majesty's Theatre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Purves in the Theatre |url=http://www.peterpurves.com/inthetheatre.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911234336/http://www.peterpurves.com/inthetheatre.html |archive-date=11 September 2007 |access-date=4 August 2007 |publisher=peterpurves.com}}</ref>

During the mid-20th century, Barrow contained a wealth of theatres/cinemas including the Coliseum, Electric Theatre, Essoldo, Her Majesty's Theatre, Hippodrome, Pavilion, [[Ritz Cinema, Barrow-in-Furness|Ritz]], [[Roxy Cinema, Barrow-in-Furness|Roxy]], Royalty Theatre and Tivoli. All but the Pavilion and Roxy have since been demolished, most recently in 2004 with the demolition of the Apollo (formerly the Ritz). The Canteen Media & Arts Centre – known simply as "The Canteen" – and [[Forum 28|The Forum]] is closed and awaiting demolition, but alternative venues are being used, such as the Banqueting Hall of the nearby Town Hall, while the [[Vue Cinemas|Vue Cinema]] in [[Hindpool Retail Parks#Hollywood Park|Hollywood Park]] is the only cinema in the town.

;Literature

*Barrow and [[Vickerstown]] on [[Walney Island]] featured in children's book series ''[[The Railway Series]]'', which developed into the show ''[[Thomas the Tank Engine]]'', as the point where the fictional [[Sodor (fictional island)|Island of Sodor]] connected to mainland Britain and the national rail network.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thomas the Tank Engine books |url=http://www.storybookengland.com/authors.php?form_id=3413682892 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070921151657/http://www.storybookengland.com/authors.php?form_id=3413682892 |archive-date=21 September 2007 |access-date=25 August 2007 |publisher=Storybook England }}</ref>
*A number of the [[Lake Poets]] have referred to locations in present day Barrow: for example, [[William Wordsworth]]'s 1805 autobiographical poem ''[[The Prelude]]'' describes his visits to Furness Abbey.
*The Portuguese poet [[Fernando Pessoa]] wrote a series of [[sonnet]]s called "Barrow-on-Furness" (sic). His "heteronym" [[Álvaro de Campos]] lived in Barrow when he was studying ship engineering, but Pessoa himself had never visited, and mistakenly assumed that "Furness" was the name of a river.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Álvaro de Campos's Geography |url=http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/obra-visor/hispania--11/html/ |access-date=1 January 2012 |publisher=Hispania}}</ref>
*According to narrative exposition in Chapter 5 of [[Dorothy L. Sayers]]' 1926 novel ''[[Clouds of Witness]]'', Inspector Charles Parker, Lord Peter Wimsey's friend and eventual brother-in-law, attended Barrow-in-Furness Grammar School.
*Renowned novelist [[D. H. Lawrence]] was in Barrow at the outbreak of World War I and wrote about his experiences in the town.
*The 2015 novel ''[[Career of Evil]]'' by Robert Galbraith (a pseudonym of [[J. K. Rowling]]) was partially set in Barrow.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith review – a daft but enjoyable hunt for a serial killer |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/oct/21/career-of-evil-by-robert-galbraith-review |access-date=20 November 2015}}</ref>

===Media===
[[File:Portland Walk.jpg|thumb|right|Portland Walk, one of Barrow's primary retail areas]]

====Newspapers====
There is one paid-for evening daily paper, ''[[The Mail (Cumbria)|The Mail]]''.

====Radio====
Barrow and the Furness area is served by local community radio CandoFM, which broadcasts to the Barrow and Furness area, Ulverston and surrounding areas, plus online. CandoFM is based Barrow-in-Furness and run by 50 plus volunteers providing local news, local information as well as an eclectic mix of shows.

Barrow is served by one commercial radio station, [[Heart North West]], which broadcasts from Manchester and serves the area around [[Morecambe Bay]]. Another commercial station, [[Abbey FM]], ceased broadcasting in February 2009 when it went into administration.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 January 2009 |title=Abbey FM ceases broadcasting |work=Radio Today |url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.4343.2 |url-status=dead |access-date=24 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205190014/http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.4343.2 |archive-date=5 February 2009 }}</ref> The BBC's local radio service is [[BBC Radio Cumbria]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC – Cumbria – Local Radio – The Barrow Office. |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2005/10/19/barrow_office_feature.shtml |access-date=16 August 2007 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

====Television====
Barrow lies in the [[ITV Granada]] – [[BBC North West]] region with the main signal coming from the [[Winter Hill transmitting station|Winter Hill]] transmitter near [[Bolton]]. There is also a relay transmitter at [[Millom]] whose signal can be received in the northern end of the town.

Various television personalities were born in the district. Dave Myers was a biker born in Barrow, and found fame as one half of television cookery duo [[the Hairy Bikers]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Greenstreet |first=Rosanna |date=10 May 2006 |title=My Home: Dave Myers of the Hairy Bikers |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent News & Media |location=London |url=http://money.independent.co.uk/property/homes/article363011.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=7 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927211243/http://money.independent.co.uk/property/homes/article363011.ece |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref> [[Karen Taylor (comedian)|Karen Taylor]] is a TV comedian best known for her BBC Three sketch show ''[[Touch Me, I'm Karen Taylor]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 June 2007 |title=Karen's sketch show opens |work=North West Evening Mail |publisher=CN Group |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=508863 |access-date=25 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926212137/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=508863 |archive-date=26 September 2007}}</ref> [[Steve Dixon (newsreader)|Steve Dixon]] is a newsreader for Sky News,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jardine |first=Cassandra |date=3 November 2003 |title=Diabetes is not as simple as it appears |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2003/11/03/hdiab03.xml |access-date=7 August 2007}}</ref> while [[Nigel Kneale]] was a well-known film and television scriptwriter.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 November 2006 |title=Nigel Kneale |page=71 |work=The Times |location=London |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article622130.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=8 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211131713/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article622130.ece |archive-date=11 February 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Barrow-in-Furness statue collage.jpg|thumb|right|Barrow has many public works of art, including statues of prominent political figures and sporting personalities]]
Wartime diarist and local housewife [[Nella Last]]'s memoirs were adapted for television, with parts of the town used in filming. The resulting programme, ''[[Housewife, 49]]'', written by and starring comedian [[Victoria Wood]], was broadcast by ITV in 2006. It won two [[British Academy Television Awards 2007|BAFTA]] awards – one for Best Single Drama, the other for Best Actress (Wood).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wylie |first=Ian |date=1 December 2006 |title=Victoria plays it straight |work=Manchester Evening News |publisher=Guardian Media Group |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_tv/s/229/229723_victoria_plays_it_straight.html |access-date=5 August 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 2007 |title=Top Award for Diary Drama Set in Barrow |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=481129 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926211416/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=481129 |archive-date=26 September 2007 |access-date=14 August 2007 |publisher=[[North West Evening Mail]]}}</ref>
CITV children's show ''[[The Treacle People]]'' had two villains named Barrow and Furness.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Treacle People microsite |url=http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/T/treacle/series2.html |access-date=10 May 2007 |publisher=Channel 4}}</ref>

===Dialect and accent===
{{main|Barrovian}}

Furness is unique within Cumbria and the local dialect and accent is fairly [[Lancashire dialect and accent|Lancashire]]-orientated. Until 1974 Furness was an [[exclave]] of Lancashire, however as with [[Liverpool]], for example, the ''Barrovian'' dialect has been influenced by large numbers of settlers from various regions. During the town's rapid growth from 1860 onward, thousands came to Barrow from [[Scotland]], [[Ireland]], [[Wales]] and elsewhere in northern England. As [[Glasgow patter|Glaswegian]] and [[Geordie]] dialects mingled in Barrow numerous more migrated from Lancashire and other parts of England which in effect created the noticeably [[Northern England English|Northern]] ''Barrovian'' dialect. In general the ''Barrovian'' accent tends to drop certain letters (including ''H'' and ''T'').

===Nightlife===
[[File:The Crow's Nest Pub - geograph.org.uk - 1559003.jpg|thumb|The Crow's Nest on Barrow Island, a typical Victorian era public house]]
There are many pubs and [[working men's club]]s in Barrow. Barrow has fourteen of the latter, one of the highest number per capita of any British town.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Kate |date=5 October 2008 |title=Barrow-in-Furness: The working class capital of Britain |website=[[Daily Mirror]] |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/10/06/barrow-in-furness-the-working-class-capital-of-britain-115875-20779478/}}</ref> Bars and clubs are found primarily in [[Central Barrow|Barrow town centre]] along Cavendish Street and Dalton Road. Cornwallis Street and Duke Street were, during much of the late 20th/early 21st centuries, the centre of the town's nightlife, however the closure of around a dozen venues has left a cluster of vacant buildings and only one remaining bar. Between 2004 and 2010 Barrow was home to one of North West England's largest nightclubs, the {{formatnum:2500}}-capacity Blue Lagoon occupied the entire hull of the former Danish ferry [[Princess Selandia]], which has now left the town.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gardinersecurity.co.uk/articles.asp?pID=1&id=314 |title=Gardiner Security UK |website=www.gardinersecurity.co.uk |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060420144514/http://www.gardinersecurity.co.uk/articles.asp?pID=1&id=314 |archive-date=20 April 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Barrow's largest nightclub is now [[Roxy Cinema, Barrow-in-Furness|Manhattans]], which opened on Cavendish Street in late 2011.

===Food===
A traditional favourite food in Barrow is the [[pie]], and particularly the [[meat and potato pie]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Tarbuck |first=Martin |title=The 10 Greatest Pies In Britain |url=http://sabotagetimes.com/life/10-greatest-pies-britain |magazine=Sabotage Times |access-date=17 July 2015}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> [[Pie shop]]s are common, and Green's of Jarrow Street is noted as a favourite of Barrow-born celebrity chef [[Dave Myers (presenter)|Dave Myers]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Green's Green Food of Home |url=http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/the-green-s-green-s-food-of-home-1.158252 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721042202/http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/the-green-s-green-s-food-of-home-1.158252 |archive-date=21 July 2015 |access-date=17 July 2015 |publisher=North West Evening Mail}}</ref> and journalist Martin Tarbuck, who declared them to be Britain's best pies in a book dedicated to the subject.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Upper crust: Writer scoffs his way to a winner in search for Britain's favourite pie |work=Daily Mirror |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/upper-crust-writer-scoffs-way-5282206 |access-date=17 July 2015}}</ref>

Barrow was also the home of [[soft-drink]] company Marsh's, which produced a distinctive [[sarsaparilla (soft drink)|sarsaparilla]]-flavoured fizzy drink known as ''Sass''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mystery that threatens cult soft drink |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mystery+that+threatens+cult+soft+drink.-a060206032 |access-date=17 July 2015 |publisher=Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd}}</ref> Marsh's was purchased by Purity Soft Drinks of Birmingham in 1993, and the company stopped producing Sass in 1999. Remaining bottles have subsequently sold for high prices as a collector's item.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Record Bid for Bottle of Sass |url=http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/record-bid-for-bottle-of-sass-1.486029 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721002701/http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/record-bid-for-bottle-of-sass-1.486029 |archive-date=21 July 2015 |access-date=17 July 2015 |publisher=North West Evening Mail}}</ref> A new product, labelled "Barrow Sass", was launched in 2014 in a bid to replicate traditional Sass.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sass in the Miz at Barrow Cocktail Bar |url=http://www.in-cumbria.com/sass-in-the-mix-at-barrow-cocktail-bar-1.1219999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721070012/http://www.in-cumbria.com/sass-in-the-mix-at-barrow-cocktail-bar-1.1219999 |archive-date=21 July 2015 |access-date=17 July 2015 |publisher=North-West Evening Mail}}</ref> The coasts around Barrow have rich [[Cockle (bivalve)|cockle]] beds from which cockles have traditionally been gathered, although numbers have been low following intensive gathering during the early 2000s, in the run-up to the [[2004 Morecambe Bay cockling disaster]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Restraint needed to restore cockles |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/News/Restraint-needed-to-restore-cockles-5387c86f-f860-4811-b37e-c5f677214e2c-ds |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721104102/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/News/Restraint-needed-to-restore-cockles-5387c86f-f860-4811-b37e-c5f677214e2c-ds |archive-date=21 July 2015 |access-date=17 July 2015 |publisher=North West Evening Mail }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Cocklers' gangmaster made £100 a day |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/jan/24/ukcrime1 |access-date=17 July 2015}}</ref> One of England's few remaining [[Oyster farming|oyster farms]] is in the [[Biggar, Cumbria|Biggar]] area of Walney. Traditional [[Cumberland sausage]]s are less associated with Barrow itself than the rest of Cumbria, but are readily available from the surrounding rural area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Butchers' campaign to protect sausage in Cumbria |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/News/Butchers-campaign-to-protect-sausage-in-Cumbria-6701513e-0a11-4974-a183-72c55fb022ee-ds |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721080507/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/News/Butchers-campaign-to-protect-sausage-in-Cumbria-6701513e-0a11-4974-a183-72c55fb022ee-ds |archive-date=21 July 2015 |access-date=17 July 2015 |publisher=North-West Evening Mail }}</ref> Cumbria has produced a number of famed dishes and is home to countless [[Michelin Guide]] restaurants, one of which is in Dalton.

==Social issues==

=== Lifestyle ===
[[File:Parade Street, Barrow-in-Furness.jpg|thumb|right|The majority of housing within the town is [[Terraced house|terraced]], built for working-class families]]
Having emerged as mixture of working-class cultures from across Britain and Ireland in the 19th century, subsequent low levels of migration and a continued tradition of industrial employment mean that Barrow's culture still reflects many of the traditions of the British [[working class]].<ref name="Blue Cap">{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Caroline |title=Barrow, capital of blue-collar Britain |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/oct/05/1 |access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref> In September 2008, Barrow was named as the most working-class location in the United Kingdom, based on a series of measures devised to judge the lifestyle of the people.<ref name="workingclass">{{Cite web |title=Have your say on Barrow's flat cap image |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow/1.244620 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201022016/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow/1.244620 |archive-date=1 December 2008 |access-date=6 October 2010 |publisher=North West Evening Mail}}</ref> The research was carried out by Locallife.co.uk which determined that there is a [[Fish and chips|fish and chip shop]], [[working men's club]], [[bookmaker]]s or [[Trade union|trade union office]] for every 2,917 people ([[Crewe]], [[Doncaster]], [[Wolverhampton]] and [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] completed the top five of 'the most working class places in Britain').<ref name="workingclass2">{{Cite web |date=5 October 2008 |title=Barrow-in-Furness: The working class capital of Britain |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/10/06/barrow-in-furness-the-working-class-capital-of-britain-115875-20779478/ |access-date=6 October 2010 |publisher=The Mirror}}</ref> This is in direct contrast to the 1870s, when a developing Barrow had more [[Aristocracy (class)|aristocrats]] per head of the population than anywhere else in the country.<ref name=workingclass/>

In the 2019 [[Deprivation index|Indices of Deprivation]], Barrow was ranked as the 44th most deprived district in England (out of a total of 326).<ref name="Deprivation">{{Cite web |title=Indices of Deprivation 2019 Local Authority Summaries |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d8b3cfbe5274a08be69aa91/File_10_-_IoD2019_Local_Authority_District_Summaries__lower-tier__.xlsx |access-date=5 December 2023 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref> The equivalent figures for 2007, 2010 stood at 29th, 32nd and 44th most deprived respectively.<ref name="Deprivation2">{{Cite web |title=Indices of Deprivation 2010 |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1572 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911203616/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1572 |archive-date=11 September 2014 |access-date=11 September 2014 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref> The Indices of Deprivation is based on income, employment, education, health, crime and barriers to housing and services and living environment. Within these subcategories, most notably Barrow ranked as the 4th most deprived in terms of health deprivation and disability, and in huge contrast, 316th most deprived in terms of access to housing and services (i.e. 10th least deprived).<ref name=Deprivation/> In the 2019 Indices of Deprivation, seven [[Lower Super Output Area]]s across Barrow Island, Central and Hindpool were amongst the 1% most deprived areas in the country, while large parts of suburban Barrow including Newbarns and Roose were amongst the 25% of least deprived areas in England.<ref name=Deprivation2/>

=== Health ===
[[File:Furness General.jpg|thumb|right|[[Furness General Hospital]], the primary hospital for Barrow and South West Cumbria]]
The principal hospital in Barrow is [[Furness General Hospital]], operated by the [[University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust]] and located on the outskirts of the town. As of December 2023 there were 10 NHS GP practices/doctors' surgeries in Barrow.<ref name="NHSsearch">{{Cite web |title=GP surgeries near LA13 9AX |url=https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp/results/LA13%209AX |access-date=5 December 2023|publisher=[[National Health Service (England)|NHS]]}}</ref> The [[life expectancy]] for males in Barrow is 76.6 years (compared to the England average of 78.7) and 80.6 years for females (compared to the national average of 82.8).<ref name="NHSpublication">{{Cite web |year=2021 |title=Barrow-in-Furness Health Profile |url=https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/health-profiles/data#page/1/ati/301/are/E07000027 |access-date=5 December 2023|publisher=NHS}}</ref> A 2021 [[National Health Service (England)|NHS]] in depth publication on health in Barrow (the former district) indicated that the population of Barrow is by most measures in a worse state than the national average.<ref name=NHSpublication/> Indicators such as rate of cardiovascular disease, self-harm and suicide, alcoholism and excessive weight are worse than the England average. However, a number of indicators are similar to the average or are significantly better, including the percentage of children in absolute low income families.<ref name=NHSpublication/>

=== Crime ===
[[File:Barrow Police Station June 2015.JPG|thumb|Barrow's new main police station (under construction) in June 2015]]
Policing is by [[Cumbria Constabulary]], which alongside the county of Cumbria was formed in 1974. Previously the town was policed by Barrow-in-Furness Borough Police. Barrow previously had one full-time police station in Market Street in the [[Central Barrow|Central]] ward. A new multi-million pound building was built on James Freel Close on Channelside in [[Hindpool]] and is the town's only police station, with extra jail cells and improved facilities. Several consecutive annual publications by Cumbria Constabulary entitled the 'Cumbria Community Safety Strategic Assessment' have stated that overall crime in Barrow is declining, with some indicators far better than the national average.<ref name="Crimeobserv">{{Cite web |year=2012 |title=Cumbria Community Safety Strategic Assessment |url=http://www.cumbriaobservatory.org.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/536/671/4674/5172/41260152144.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910200016/http://www.cumbriaobservatory.org.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/536/671/4674/5172/41260152144.pdf |archive-date=10 September 2014 |access-date=9 September 2014 |publisher=Cumbria Intelligence Observatory}}</ref>

In November 2019 the [[Ministry of Defence Police]] established a station within the [[BAE Systems]] Shipyard. MDP Officers conduct mobile armed patrols of the BAE site and surrounding areas of the town, both on foot and in marked police vehicles.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Armed cops to start patrolling BAE Systems |url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/17984972.armed-cops-start-patrolling-bae-systems/ |work=[[The Mail (Cumbria)|The Mail]]}}</ref>

==Education==
{{See also|List of schools in Barrow-in-Furness}}
[[File:Furness College campus, Barrow-in-Furness.jpg|thumb|The Copper Box building at [[Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness|Furness College]]'s Channelside campus]]
[[File:Furness Academy - geograph.org.uk - 3740416.jpg|thumb|right|[[Furness Academy]] was established in 2009 and opened a new site in 2013]]
Education in the state-funded sector includes fifteen [[primary school]]s, five [[infant school]]s, five [[junior school]]s and many nurseries. The three [[secondary school]]s in the town are: [[Furness Academy]], [[St. Bernard's Catholic High School]] and [[Walney School]]. [[Chetwynde School]] is an all-through school for children aged 4 to 18. Formerly a [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private school]], Chetwynde became a state-funded [[Free school (England)|free school]] in 2014.

In the further education sector there is one college, [[Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness|Furness College]]. Furness College merged with [[Barrow Sixth Form College]] in 2016 forming the largest college in Cumbria.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barrow colleges merger hailed "exciting new era for education" |url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow/Barrow-colleges-merger-hailed-exciting-new-era-for-education-c401988c-92d0-4bde-9806-3b13892705b3-ds |access-date=17 January 2017 |website=North West Evening Mail|date=28 July 2016 }}</ref> Technical and professional qualifications are delivered at the Channelside campus, with A levels delivered at the Rating Lane campus, the home of the former sixth form college. Although there are currently no [[higher education]] institutions based in Barrow, Furness College offers several higher apprenticeships, [[foundation degree]]s, [[Bachelor's degree|Bachelor's]] and [[Master's degree|Master's]] programmes accredited by the [[University of Cumbria]], [[University of Lancaster]] and the [[University of Central Lancashire]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=University Education |url=http://www.furness.ac.uk/course-index/university-education |access-date=22 July 2015 |publisher=Furness College}}</ref> In March 2023 plans were approved for a 1,400-capacity campus of the University of Cumbria on Barrow Island which is expected to be open for September 2025. The university campus is situated adjacent to BAE's Submarine Academy and forms a new 'Learning Quarter' for the town.

The town's main library is the [[Barrow-in-Furness Main Public Library|Central Library]] in [[Ramsden Square]], situated near the town centre.<ref name="Library">{{Cite web |title=Libraries and Archives |url=http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=163 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827135601/http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=163 |archive-date=27 August 2007 |access-date=18 August 2007 |publisher=Barrow Borough Council }}</ref> The library was established in 1882 in a room near the town hall, and moved to its current premises in 1922. A branch of the County Archive Service, opened in 1979 and containing many of the town's archives, is located within adjoining premises,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cumbria County Council (Barrow) |url=http://www.familia.org.uk/services/england/cumbria_barrow.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906141740/http://www.familia.org.uk/services/england/cumbria_barrow.html |archive-date=6 September 2007 |access-date=18 August 2007 |publisher=Familia}}</ref> whilst until 1991 the library also housed the Furness Museum, a forerunner of the Dock Museum.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum History |url=http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk/museum_history.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070805222430/http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk/museum_history.htm |archive-date=5 August 2007 |access-date=18 August 2007 |publisher=[[Dock Museum]] |format=Flash}}</ref> Smaller branch libraries are currently provided at [[Walney]], [[Roose]] and [[Barrow Island, Barrow-in-Furness|Barrow Island]]. Known librarian Michael Wilson originates in Barrow-in-Furness. Michael Wilson is currently leader of the Collection Logistics Alpha Team at Cambridge University Library.<ref name="Library" />

==See also==
{{Portal|Cumbria}}
* [[Barrovian]]
* [[Borough of Barrow-in-Furness]]
* [[Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency)]]
* [[List of people from Barrow-in-Furness]]
* [[List of ships and submarines built in Barrow-in-Furness]]
* [[Listed buildings in Barrow-in-Furness]]
* [[List of places of worship in Barrow-in-Furness]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{EB1911 poster|Barrow-in-Furness}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Barrow-in-Furness}}
*[http://www.cumbriacountyhistory.org.uk/township/barrow-furness Cumbria County History Trust: Barrow-in-Furness] (nb: provisional research only – see Talk page)
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Barrow-in-Furness}}

{{Cumbria}}
{{Barrow-in-Furness topics}}
{{Barrow-in-Furness}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrow-In-Furness}}
[[Category:Barrow-in-Furness| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Cumbria]]
[[Category:Furness]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Irish Sea]]
[[Category:Planned communities in England]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Cumbria]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1867]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in North West England]]
[[Category:Morecambe Bay]]
[[Category:1867 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Cumbria]]
[[Category:Westmorland and Furness]]