Ramsden Square
Barrow-in-Furness
Cumbria
LA14 1LL

Telephone: 01229 407377

Email:  barrow.archives@cumberland.gov.uk 

Image of Barrow Library buildingBarrow Archive Centre Searchroom

Original historical documents relating to the area of Furness (Lancashire North of the Sands) and South West Cumberland, particularly for Barrow, Ulverston and Millom. 

These include: 

  • Church of England Parishes 
  • Nonconformist Churches 
  • Local Authorities 
  • Civil Parishes 
  • Schools 
  • Businesses and Industries 
  • Landed Estates 
  • Solicitors 
  • Societies. 

Estate papers of the Duke of Buccleuch, reflecting the local iron ore industry c1854-1963 (BDBUC); Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. including gun mounting drawings c1898-1950 (BDB 16 and others); Hodbarrow Mining Company Ltd 1824-1969 (BDB 21) and Millom Hematite Ore and Iron Company Limited (and associated companies 1824-1970 (BDB 47).

Ordnance Survey maps; local studies collection of photographs, slides, postcards and pamphlets.


Microfilms of Church of England and Non-conformist churches registers of Baptism, Marriage and Burial. Cemetery records (on microfiche) and some indexes for Barrow, Dalton, Ulverston, Grange-over-Sands.

Newspapers (on microfilm) including: 

  • Soulby's Ulverston Advertiser 1848-1914
  • Barrow News 1883-1985 
  • North Western Daily/Evening Mail 1898-current
  • Lancaster Gazette

The library holds books relating to Barrow, Furness and the counties of Lancashire, Cumberland and Westmorland.  A selection will be available in the library but the rest can be requested. There is also a collection of periodicals, most of which need to be requested:

  • Chetham Society
  • Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society
  • Fell and Rock Climbing Club Journal
  • Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire
  • Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society
  • Lancashire and Cheshire Naturalist
  • Lancashire Parish Register Society
  • Northern History
  • Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire
  • Surtees Society

Census returns for Furness and Cartmel areas, and South Cumberland including Millom, 1841-1901 with some printed indexes.

  • One public access computer in the Archive Centre and one in the Local Studies Library to allow brief 'look-ups' of a limited selection of useful websites containing local sources, including CASCAT, Ancestry and Find My Past
  • Wheelchair access
  • Vending machine and seating area available in adjoining library

Our Prior Ordering page gives details of collections which require advance ordering before a visit to our Archive Centres. If you would like to deposit or donate records, please visit our Depositing Records webpage before making your visit. We accept only cash or UK cheques in our Archive Centres. 

If you want to see original archives you will need to obtain or already have a valid Archives Card.

Finding the Centre, parking and access
LocationDisabled AccessCar ParkingBusesTrains
Town Centre next to Barrow LibraryYesParking in the area limited to 2 hours. Free parking available at west end of Duke Street; pay and display car park behind Town Hall on Duke Street.Buses to Barrow stop on Duke Street across the road from the Archive Centre5-10 minute walk to train station. Trains run to Barrow from Carlisle, and from Preston and Lancaster.