Dave Oldfield Barrow-in-Furness, Town Center Early 1980s. wmv

[@Muninman]

I rarely comment on KZbin, but I will make an exception for this one. I had a brief (and very unsuccessful) period as a policeman in Barrow-in-Furness between August 1985 and July 1986, and I've only been back once in 1991. I searched for video of Barrow just out of curiosity and found this (and a few more). The shop fire immediately caught my attention because it was me who was on duty that night and reported it. I was chatting with a colleague (Caroline Hastings I think) and we heard a series of loud bangs as hot paint tins were exploding. We raced over there and realised it was a fire - the intensity of the heat had to been experienced. I'd love to say I remember the town well, and in some ways I do, but this really does feel like a different era. For the record it was definitely 1986 and I would have placed it later than February. I must make a journey back before I pop my clogs.

[@mistofoles]

@Muniman - Did you know a copper called PC Crabtree while you were posted in Barrow ?

[@Muninman62]

@@mistofoles Sorry - can't recall a Crabtree. I was only there for such a short time... Still not been back, though now retired from teaching / lecturing!

[@veronicabell5443]

I have just found these videos by accident. Sleep will not be in a hurry 2night. Thans a million times over to you all.

[@ianbannister8404]

I remember Barrow fondly I was 16yrs old and a apprentice at the shipyard in 1986 good old days happy times 😊

[@StevenBray-o4m]

Superb video. I was 10. I still walk these areets today. Oh for a time machine.

[@johnthorley8162]

Looks pretty much the same as when i was there in 1977-78, working at the end of ramsden dock road, barrow might be a rundown town, but i still love the place, and visit every few years.

[@frazermurray8605]

This took me back down memory lane. I left this, my home town, in the 80s. I have many fond memories of growing up in the 60s and 70s. Sad to see what it has become. Thank you for this!.

[@mistofoles]

23rd Feb 1986 was a Sunday, which explains why all the shops are closed. (No 7 day opening back then).

[@bryandent3544]

Great. Video

[@TraceyChumley]

Lol very interesting, it's amazing how time flies and many changes since, well done!

[@zolder79]

Great stuff. I remember the Prospect Zero writing on the black wall in Greengate St. It was there for about 10 years. Hope you have more videos from the 80s

[@Boilingfrogg]

I'd say it was more than 10 years? More like. 25.

[@zolder79]

@@Boilingfrogg I first noticed it in 1981 when I was 7. So it could've been there long before that. Maybe 70s, it has a very 70s style, lol. I used to do a bit of videoing in Barrow in the early 90s and I remember it had gone by 1992 on the video I have of greengate street. I'm glad footage of it exists.

[@Boilingfrogg]

@@zolder79 Yeah I'd say around 1880 81. I did a bit of filming in the 90s onwards. I'd film punk and alternative bands that would play at healys pub and elsewhere. unity promotions.

[@zolder79]

@@Boilingfrogg Ah brilliant. I might know you then. I used to gig at Healeys when i was younger. I have a few videos of the amphi gigs, 1985 and 1992 I think. I also have a video of Hash 'n' Thrash from 1988 at The Labour Club on Forshaw St. I did send it to Kev a while back and I think he uploaded it to KZbin.

[@zolder79]

@@Boilingfrogg When I was very young I was in an original band called Tyrus. I then played in a cover band called Shellshocked renamed Heart 'n' Soul. Then a band called A2Z. Late 90s early 2000s I played in a covers/originals band called Hysteria. I then left Barrow and joined a band from away. I've not played in Barrow for about 15 years.

[@nickm6050]

Great video; brings back a lot of memories. I'd have been in my second infant year at Chetwynde when this was filmed.

[@smiffymiffed2734]

It was a cracking town back in the day!

[@WolfMorningstar]

Good grief, it all looks so different! 1986 right? A year before I was even born. Thanks for uploading this little archive, good to see what the town used to look like before Dalton Road became the state it is now.

[@mistofoles]

When I was a kid, there was a secondhand shop on the corner of Cavendish Street/Rawlinson Street called Vera Survivals, what an odd name.

[@groovygraham]

I had forgotten what a mess the Wards wallpaper shop fire made. Much as it was nice to finally get the big names into the town, The loss of the independants was a real shame. No empty shops back then!

[@aljack1979]

My town when I was 6 yrs old. Good to see

[@mistofoles]

Film starts on William Street which connected Foreshaw Street to Cavendish Street.

[@LabRat6619]

I sponsor a child in Barrow. With the money he can go to school with clean clothes. His community is also drilling a well for fresh water.

[@bazcole5100]

3 years on that's still some funny shit 🤣

[@elizabethcallow2523]

you drove past my house which id just moved in to!!! Great video to see how much our town has changed.

[@misterchippie]

Brilliant - subscribed! (I have a few videos of Barrow town from the early 90s on here). Just after the great Ward's fire! My first job was with Ward Glass in 1989 when they were in Emlyn Street. Cheers!

[@ABCDEF-yf4yu]

I can tell the make of car you in by the sound of the engine, and I'm almost certain it is an Austin Metro. The date was mentioned, February 23, 1986 and was a Sunday.

[@htimseel]

We left in 1980....very cool, bring them on mate!

[@delyamary]

Love this. Thanks

[@Daicidus]

Damn that demolished building is Macdonald's now

[@johnpatus]

great video i remember barrow like this not like the one way system today great video

[@mistofoles]

TOYS AND TALES next to MARKS! So it was still there in 1986..

[@stephenduncan3605]

Yes it was. Loved that shop as a child, was gutted when it closed!

[@mistofoles]

Do you remember what year it closed ?

[@mistofoles]

Last time I was in Barrow, Diggles had moved premises all the way to...just round the corner on Dalton Road. What was the point in moving the whole place 5 yards ??

[@masstransit2]

Didn't notice the 1984 bit and was thinking this wasn't too early in the decade because the paint spot has obviously already gone up in flames by this time. Good nostalgia though.

[@billycoyle7470]

Masstransit2

[@marialanson1653]

Wow, I lived here around this time as a child. We are trying to workout a timeline of events as part of some family research and one element we can only place because it was around the time that the first McDonald's opened in town. Does anybody happen to know that date?

[@mistofoles]

1987, I think.

[@Daicidus]

Took me a few minutes to realise where you are in the start, then I realized, so different now, man...

[@mistofoles]

Film starts at William Street then right onto Cavendish Street

[@Abisnail88]

Amazing how there are barely any cars parked on the sides of the road!

[@mistofoles]

When you turned off Greengate into the estate, it still looks almost identical to this day !

[@BarrowZigger]

Wards shop was still there in 1985 as my Dad worked there so your video is a little later, 1986 maybe?

[@mistofoles]

Ok....I've not been back to Barrow for ages, but I think you started by turning right onto Cavendish Street, left onto Dalton Road, left again along High Street, then the picture cuts. Then you're heading towards Cavendish Street again, this time you turn right, back onto Dalton Road, up to the top, by the market hall, then left off onto Greengate, right?

[@mistofoles]

I just wished you had taken a quick run up Rawlinson Street, I would have love to have seen MOSTLY BOOKS, SANTA'S KAVE and GORDON'S BAZAAR again!

[@groovygraham]

Not forgetting Harry Vincents. He had just about everything in there. Used to trade stuff in too :)

[@mistofoles]

Good film. Just a small point, this was after 1984, because @1:40 somebody in the car clearly says "What's the date? 23rd February, 1986." !

[@mistofoles]

Along William Street, right onto Cavendish Street, left onto Dalton Road, left again down High street, back to Cavendish Street

[@mlucifersam]

The filmer says it's 23rd April 1986 if you listen!

[@mistofoles]

Nope, he says 23rd Feb

[@mistofoles]

I'm guessing this was filmed on a Sunday, because most of the shops appear to be closed?

[@redmille1000]

A boat load of Syrians washed up on Barrow, took one look and rowed home!

[@wilkinsonbarraboy]

great stuff David, have you got anymore footage of Barrow, especially the pubs?

[@misterchippie]

Ford Cortinas everywhere lol, just as I remember it. Spotted a Vaxhaull Viva Coupe I think too...

[@b.nichols3255]

I recognised Mickey Hagen's yard 😀

[@Barrabootboy]

What the fuck is all the clanging. Sound like pot's n fucking pans rolling around in that A40.

[@FDCLDN]

Bollocks...That was filmed last year.

[@PotatoQueenLove]

I live there. That fire happened at least 20 years ago it looks almost completely different hardly any of the shops on there are here

[@PotatoQueenLove]

I live there. That fire happened at least 20 years ago it looks almost completely different hardly any of the shops on there are here

[@viclip180]

what was the building that was getting knocked down, what shop was that, my family have seen the video and are trying to remember what was there

[@groovygraham]

viclip180 There was Liptons grocers on the corner and a coat shop next door.

[@bungobill3637]

Cosmi Cuts used to be on that corner at one point.

[@gavinwestern4619]

viclip180 Hitchens was the name of the shop on that corner.

[@surreyscouse2873]

40 years ago when driving was a pleasure, not a nightmare.... Even if youre driving a 💩 car with a 💩 gearbox and a tappety camshaft lol.

[@Adam1993bmx]

That was mental

[@岡充太郎]

Battleship Mikasa was built here. She was the flagship of Imperial Japanese Navy. Luckily we could destroy the whole Imperial Russian Navy in 1905.A lot of thanks to citizens there.

[@keithwoodburn7895]

Mikasa survives as a museum ship in Yokosuka, Japan

[@mehallica666]

There is a road in Barrow named after her. 'Mikasa Street'.

[@yourmasyourda7995]

Better times

[@bryonydddddddv]

No maccies there

[@koln1996]

That's creepy!!! I had a boyfriend "some" years ago who hailed from Barrow!!! His initials are G.W.S.!!!

[@HaElRi]

feck me it was sunny!

[@niamhhoran480]

Pretty fashionating

[@mrcumbria]

"Fascinating" darling daughter. How do you have a you tube account?

[@mehallica666]

@@mrcumbria Ha ha ha!!! A bit late, I know.

[@hjp1hjp22]

Barrow in Furness is not an exciting place. It should have been made into a seaside town like Blackpool.

[@nerdicwarrior]

And just how do you suppose people do that?

[@surrealmadrid7971]

@@nerdicwarrior just put a little mesh fence between the swimmers and the nuclear submarines LOL