Memories of Barrow’s historic high streets and ‘lost shops’ are being sought as part of a cultural programme.
Barrow Borough Council received £1.1 million in funding from Historic England last year for a four-year High Streets Heritage Action Zone scheme to restore properties on Duke Street.
The money will also be used to launch exciting cultural events such as the Re:discover Barrow Project.
Now, people are being asked to share their memories of businesses in this historic area at one of three memory stalls this month.
The informal events will invite people to cast their mind back for anecdotes and reminiscences which may be recorded on the day or as part of a longer conversation at a future date.
Perhaps the memories might be of someone’s first Saturday job on Duke Street, buying their first ever suit, helping in a family business, fetching pies from the butchers or enjoying a drink in a favourite pub.
The memory stalls will take place at:
- Barrow Library – 10am-3pm Thursday October 14
- The Forum Barrow – 10am-3pm Friday October 15
- Barrow Market – 10am-3pm Saturday October 16
Anyone can drop in and enjoy a free cup of tea while they share tales of the past.
Councillor Helen Wall, Barrow Borough Council’s lead member for heritage and wildlife, said: “The memory stalls will build on the research done and the many comments and anecdotes received for the Re:discover Barrow – Armchair Walk.
“We are asking anyone with a memory or tale about the shops on Duke Street and Cornwallis Street to share them with us, to be preserved for future generations”
Re:discover Barrow is a project led by Barrow Borough Council and will see the reinstatement of historic shops fronts alongside building repairs with grants available for businesses on Duke Street and improvements to the public open space on Duke Street and Cornwallis Street.
Re:discover Barrow: Lost Shops is a partnership between Barrow Borough Council, Art Gene, Full of Noises, Theatre Factory, Signal Film & Media, Barrow Archives Centre and Barra Culture, with support from Barrow Cultural Consortium.
The memories collected will be recorded as research and material for artists and arts organisations to create new artwork for Barrow over the next four years. This could include sound art, theatre, performance, visual arts or film.
After the project, all of the stories and memories collected will be housed in Barrow Archives Centre.
