The aroma of bay rum and talcum powder always hung heavy in the air in Ernie’s, a comforting and familiar scent that greeted you as you stepped through the door. The worn leather of the barber chairs creaked in a comforting rhythm as Ernie, with his steady hand and a twinkle in his eye, expertly wielded his scissors. Snip, snip, snip, the sounds blending with the gentle hum of conversation and the rustle of newspapers. The warmth of the old-fashioned radiator battled the ever-present Cumbrian chill, while the large window looking out onto Risedale Road offered a view of the world going by, a constant parade of familiar faces and everyday life in Barrow-in-Furness.
For 42 years, this small shop was a haven of affordability and friendly banter, a place where a £1 could buy you not just a haircut, but a slice of community spirit and the reassuring presence of Ernie, a true Barrow legend. “He used to offer me Spiderman cream or Batman cream,” “and we used to give him the nickname ‘Ernie All Off’.” Even after he retired, Ernie’s dedication to his customers continued. He even cut hair from his home on St Luke’s Avenue. “I remember going there as a child to get my hair cut.”
Even today, Ernie’s is fondly remembered, with locals sharing their memories and stories on the Furness Whisper Facebook page:
Stuart Evans: “spiderman cream lol”
Jack Johnson: “Stuart Evans wimp I use to get the batman cream pal hahaha hahaha”
Kenny Hitchen: “He used to clip me dads lug for going in there in the 50s”
These snippets of nostalgia paint a vivid picture of a bygone era, a time when a trip to the barber was a simple pleasure, and Ernie’s was at the heart of it all.