For generations, folks in Barrow have whispered a tale about the town’s founding. Legend speaks of a skilled archer who, with a mighty twang of his bowstring, fired an arrow that soared through the crisp air. It landed with a thud, not on bare earth, but right through a buzzing bee! Astonished, the archer gathered the townsfolk, and where the arrow pierced the bee, they decided to build a grand town hall, a symbol of their new community. They named the town “Bearrow,” a testament to the curious incident, and adopted the motto “Semper Sursum” – ever onwards – to embody their spirit of progress and ambition.

But like many fireside stories, this tale holds a hidden truth. While the legend is charming, historians tell a different story. Their research points to the ancient burial mounds, or barrows, that dotted the landscape here long before the town itself. These silent sentinels of the past gave the area its name – Barrow.

The origin of “Furness” takes us further back. The name itself is believed to come from the Old Norse language. Experts interpret it as “headland by the rump-shaped island”, referring to the Furness peninsula jutting out into the sea. The “rump-shaped island” might be Piel Island, just off the coast. So, “Barrow-in-Furness” became the full name, signifying a town built amidst burial mounds on the Furness peninsula.

The town’s official emblem, with its bee and arrow, pays homage to both stories. It’s a clever play on words, with “barrow” sounding like “b-arrow”, a nod to the legend. But the bee also represents industry, a fitting symbol for a town that thrived on iron and steel production. And
above it all, the town motto “Semper Sursum” serves as a constant reminder of the town’s enduring spirit and its commitment to progress.

So, the next time you see the emblem, remember the whispers of the past. It’s a reminder that Barrow-in-Furness carries both the fantastical spirit of its legends and the undeniable weight of its rich history, with its name reflecting both the ancient burial mounds and the Norse influence on the land. And with “Semper Sursum” as its guiding principle, Barrow-in-Furness continues to move ever onwards.

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