Barrow-in-Furness

Barrow-in-Furness lies at the end of the Furness Peninsula yet is only about 20 minutes away from the Lake District. It was a pretty fishing hamlet until the mid 19th century when heavy industry transformed the place forever.

In 1850 large-scale iron deposits were discovered and in just over a quarter of a century Barrow had evolved into the largest steelworks in the world. To this day heavy industry prevails and the town is a major centre for the production of nuclear submarines. The Dock Museum is housed in a Grade II listed dry dock and explores the town’s social and industrial history, as well has running a very contemporary exhibition & events programme.

A mile and a half to the north of the town is the soaring remains of Furness Abbey, which was one of the most important Cistercian abbeys in the country. The sandstone building is set among lovely grounds in a peaceful valley and you can see that this was once home to an extremely wealthy monastic order.