How Barrow has Changed
Key Factors in the growth of Barrow
1) The Railway.
It was primarily iron ore which brought the Furness Railway into being and it was the transport of the ore by rail that provided its wealth.
1846 The Furness Railway was established; its headquarters were based in Barrow. This important event coincided with the emergence of Barrow's first City Father, James Ramsden. Visionary and opportunist, he was at the centre of every major undertaking; he was promoted from secretary, to general manager, to director of the Furness Railway.
William Fisher recorded the following in his diary: "Railway on the 30th April 1846 the locomotive engin belonging to the Furness Railway was for the first time driven up to Kirkby Ireleth. After staying for some time She departed for Barrow", (spelling as in the actual diary). And, on 24th August "the Railway from Roa to Dalton was opened for passenger".
1853 New railway lines were laid in the village.
2) Iron and Steel
1841 "The first day ore was led from Thwaite Flat to Barrow' (W.Fishers Diary).
1850 The important ore mine at Park was sunk; it was named the Buccleuch pit.
1856 Henry Bessemer invented his method for converting iron into steel.
1857 H.W. Schneider (another City Father), and Robert Hannay decided to manufacture iron at Hindpool and Barrow became an industrial town as well as a port.
View of Barrow Haematite Iron and Steel Works
