The start of Barrow shipbuilding

The shipbuilding and Engineering Works at Barrow - in - Furness were founded in 1871 by Barrow Shipbuilding Company on an 'Island' site formed between a newly completed docks system  and the tidal Walney Channel.

It was an ideal place for a shipyard, with shelving land giving launch access to deep water at high tides, and the docks complex providing cranage, access alongside and calm waters for fitting purposes.

The opening of the new docks at a time when Victorian Britain was expanding its trading routes provided the commercial justification for a local shipyard and, indeed, the first ships were ordered were 3000-ton steam and sail-driven merchant/passenger vessels to serve the Barrow-India run.

The company grew from strength to strength, not limiting itself to any particular type or size of vessel and seemingly turning its hand to any merchant craft required. Even in these early days, the ships built were of good quality - and certain of the earliest vessels remain in service in various guises to this day.

New warship building facilities have been constructed at Barrow, which herald the end of traditional dynamic slipway launches for all but the smaller export boats, replaced by a gentle lowering into the water on an electric ship lift. A large construction hall dominates the Barrow skyline, which has built the Trident Class submarines.