Risedale Secondary School, a name that stirs nostalgia for many Barrow-in-Furness residents, wasn’t always a pile of bricks replaced by a discount grocer’s. Built in 1926, it echoed with the sounds of school bells clanging, the rumble of students’ chatter in the hallways, and the squeak of chalk on blackboards. It catered to the growing demand for education in the post-war era. There’s even a fascinating (though slightly fuzzy on the exact date) YouTube video from 1970 showcasing a school fashion show [YouTube 1970 Risedale School Fashion Parade].
Sadly, by 1979, the school’s story took a turn. Risedale merged with Alfred Barrow School and Thorncliffe School, forming the Parkview Community College of Technology. This new entity offered a broader curriculum, but the Risedale name faded. Parkview itself closed in
2009, its students finding a new home at Furness Academy.
But that’s not the end of the story! The plot of land that once housed Risedale saw another transformation. A Netto supermarket took its place, a familiar sight for many Barrow shoppers, with its distinctive yellow and black logo and the jangle of those metal baskets. However, the Netto era wasn’t meant to last. The store closed down for a while, leaving a vacant space in the town’s memory.
Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there. Today, the site proudly holds an Aldi store, a testament to the area’s constant evolution.
While the physical building might be gone, Risedale Secondary School lives on in the memories of its alumni and the rich history of Barrow-in-Furness.