Sharing Barrow's past, present and future

Banners and historic photographs inside the Shipbuilders Gallery.
Inside the new shipbuilding gallery which is showcasing the area's rich heritage. Credit: The Dock Museum.

Heritage Grants

Date awarded
Location
Old Barrow and Hindpool
Local Authority
Westmorland and Furness
Applicant
Westmoreland and Furness Council
Award Given
£848500
The Dock Museum in Barrow-in-Furness has undergone a major refurbishment to celebrate the area’s rich shipbuilding and engineering heritage.

Built over a 19th-century dry dock, the museum explores the town’s history and maritime industry. It has undergone its first transformation in over two decades, ensuring that the heritage is shared with visitors now and in the future.

The shipbuilding gallery and museum entrance have been refurbished, featuring new interpretation to showcase their long and important history. The installation of solar panels has helped the museum become more energy efficient.

Securing the collection for the future

The transformed gallery now holds many items of unique shipbuilding heritage, which were previously unable to go on display. Digital activities to preserve this heritage in exciting and innovative ways, include:

  • digitising thousands of images including slides, plans and historic photographs
  • creating a mobile phone app with guided tours helping visitors to explore the site

Charlotte Hawley, Curator at The Dock Museum, said: “We are incredibly excited to showcase our gallery to all of our visitors, whether they be new or returning. There is something new in here for everyone to enjoy. We are so very proud of our museum, telling the stories about the people who have made Barrow great and its industrial past, present and future, on a global scale.”

Explore the collection on The Dock Museum's website.

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