1980 Car tour from Walney Island through Barrow-in-Furness to Hawcoat

This video was made using a JVC portable PAL VHS recorder in conjunction with a Hitachi camera purchased in 1978. At just over 20 lbs for the recorder alone it would by no means qualify as portable in 2021.The camera probably weighed in at over 10 lbs as well. The battery pack would keep it running for about an hour.
Unfortunately the original VHS tape was lost many years ago and the video content has been converted from PAL to NTSC, VHS to DV and finally to digital video so the quality is now very poor. Video enhancement has got rid of most of the noise but has created some ghoulish images in places.

[@CribGoch39]

I was 12 years old and living on Walney in 1980. Great video. Less traffic on the roads then nowadays and less litter. Tidy streets. Nicer then today. Great childhood memories of living in Barrow.

[@jeffnaylor4838]

Amazing, thanks for sharing this. Lived in Barrow from 76 to 81, so a real trip down memory lane.

[@jazzbox24]

Surreal seeing Barrow back in the early 80’s. A very different place to what is here now.

[@simonprodhan5050]

what a great video! how nice was the town back then? its not just nostalgia but it was a genuinely better place to live in in those days, i'm old enough to recall 1980, i was 15 and its really great to see how uncluttered the roads were, all the garages on abbey road, cyclists riding on the road and not the blasted pavements as many do now(is that not illegal?) the wonderful(now classic) cars, no yobs loitering around, i'm not whitewashing the past obviously there were problems then as there are in all eras but i honestly believe that Barrow was far better in the 60's, 70's and 80's, superb

[@davidnoble1485]

I have to agree with your thoughts on present day Barrow. My grandparents (were mayor and mayoress in 1939-1940) and would be disgusted with the town these days. The beautiful wide roads are gone, filled with stupid cycle lanes etc that nobody seems to use, 10 and 20 mph speed limits, beautiful old buildings demolished, Dalton Road a disgrace and trash everywhere. I loved my town growing up but have no desire to visit ever again.

[@garthqueen]

@@davidnoble1485 Cycle lanes are not stupid mate...give your head a shake 🤨

[@b.nichols3255]

There was a guy lived in North Scale village by the name of Ambrose Turner.. What he couldn't tell you about the area wasn't worth knowing. I met him a couple of times. Such a pity all his knowledge is lost.

[@themanhimself4998]

Good video I wasn't born until 1 year later thanks for sharing

[@explorationuk6737]

Only gone and found the world's first dash cam lol love your vids of our town well done buddy 👏

[@mikewilson438]

Clean streets, EO Number plates, Far less traffic & lots of buildings that are no more, Great video of a bygone era…Thanks for sharing .

[@davidnoble1485]

Thank you too

[@tendrosstoodross2976]

Quite enjoyed that.

[@martynskoipondandgarden4581]

nice video my friend im a barrow man born and bred still here too thank you for sharing all the best martyn 👍 subscribed as well buddy

[@davidnoble1485]

Much appreciated

[@petahertz5855]

Its so litter free compared with now! The people and council need a thrashing to get their arses in gear!

[@kyletheringer]

omg my school looked way smaller and was hardly visible in them times its right next to the golf club its called George hastwell school amazing vid btw

[@mistofoles]

@6:25 - That was the bus back to town ! :D

[@wilfdevereaux9798]

The red Ribble buses ran every 10 minutes to Ulverstonvia Dalton the route was shared with Barrow corporation transport dept.

[@mistofoles]

The (red) Ribble bus at Jubillee Gardens was probaly going to the Lakes.

[@zolder79]

Great video. Have you got any others from around this time?

[@davidnoble1485]

@zolder79 Sadly I do not have anything but family videos from that time. It was such a production to carry all the equipment that it was too much trouble to run on batteries.

[@Tinbasher1960]

I watched this and realised what disaster Barrow town planning has caused. So much knocked down for housing

[@davidnoble1485]

With the steelworks gone, BAE only building subs and no more ships, the smaller factories by Roose Station gone and the town centre without shops nobody seems to be able to explain where people work that need all the new houses.

[@johnbrocklebank7450]

its always been cows tarn lane and known locally as 13 cornered lane

[@mistofoles]

@11:06 - That place there that's lit up - didn't that used to be a shop that sold tiles ? I always thought it was an odd place for it..

[@allanfoster5418]

Very interesting video i been in barrow since 1998 amazing how the town centre has changed

[@frazz06]

what car was this taken in?

[@davidnoble1485]

That's a question I never expected! It was a 5 Series BMW. Long before many people even knew about the manufacturer.

[@frazz06]

@@davidnoble1485 very nice

[@Reggaejames]

@@davidnoble1485 One of the best 5 Series BMW ever made!

[@mistofoles]

@12:03 - Is that Popeye's Sandwich Bar ?

[@davidnoble1485]

I tried enhancing the original video but cannot make out the name. It certainly doesn't seem to say Popeye's

[@christopherkirkkirk308]

The Stand easy cafe and sandwich bar, if I remember correctly. It definitely had a picture of Popeye on the left though.

[@mistofoles]

@@christopherkirkkirk308 Ah, thanks ! I knew I wasn't imagining it !

[@flemit35]

12:10 close pass of a cyclist, poor driving! hope it's a bit better 40 years after.

[@davidnoble1485]

I thought it looked close when I initially reviewed the film but it might be the camera angle. Anyway, not to worry as the driver has been dead for 20 years!

[@flemit35]

@@davidnoble1485 that's a shame, nice seeing the old streets. more familiar then you'd expect, streets and buildings just look cleaner.