Furness Local History
Journey through the rich heritage and captivating stories of our region
Our Research Area
Research Area Map
Our research focuses on a specific area of Furness — from the sweep of Morecambe Bay to the heights of the fells — where our team of researchers, historians, and volunteers work together to uncover and preserve local heritage. Each of us brings unique skills and knowledge to create a comprehensive understanding of our area's fascinating history.
Historical Stories
Dive into our collection of local history and heritage stories — there's so much to discover
Part 3: Mummy’s Hand & Vanished Wings
Hidden-Gems
The salty breeze whispers secrets through the cobbled streets of Barrow-in-Furness. This time, it carries tales of not one, but two missing museum mar
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The Restless Monk Furness Abbey Legend
Hidden-Gems
A chill grips the air as twilight descends upon Furness Abbey, the ancient stones seeming to exhale the secrets of centuries past. This isn’t your a
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Back in Time with a BANG! Explore the Secret History of Backbarrow’s Booms
Backbarrow
Ever wander through Backbarrow and feel a strange tingle in your toes? It’s pure village magic! Nestled in this charming spot lies a surprising secr
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The Headless Horseman of Furness Abbey: Fact, Fiction, or Frightful Fun?
Hidden-Gems
Have you ever wandered through a place so steeped in eerie legend it sent shivers down your spine? The tale of the Headless Horseman Furness Abbey has
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Peggy Braithwaite: The Woman Who Kept Walney’s Light Shining
Barrow-in-Furness
Walney Island’s historic lighthouse has stood guard over Cumbria’s coast for centuries, but for two decades, its beacon shone brighter thanks to t
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Burlington Slate’s Historic Legacy
Kirkby-in-Furness
Imagine this: a quaint Cumbrian village nestled amongst rolling hills, the air filled with the bleating of sheep and the scent of damp earth. Fluffy s
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The Lindal Railway Incident Mystery
Lindal-in-Furness
Locomotives are supposed to be the kings of the rails, not disappearing acts! But that’s exactly what happened to Furness Railway’s No. 115 back i
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King John’s Lost Treasure: Abbey Legends!
Hidden-Gems
King John lost treasure might just be one of the greatest medieval mysteries in England – and the legend still glimmers through the ruins. King J
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Remembering Richard Johnson’s Legacy
Lindal-in-Furness
This blog post takes a heartfelt turn thanks to our reader, Jack Johnson. While digging into his family tree, Jack discovered that his great-grandfath
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Fueling the Hearth: Peat Cutting
Askam-in-Furness
This scene of peat cutting in Askam-in-Furness was likely captured around 1920 at a local peat farm. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across t
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Echoes of the Axe: A Woodcutter’s History of Backbarrow
Backbarrow
Backbarrow Woodcutting History, Nestled in the bonnie Cumbrian countryside, Backbarrow has a long and storied past when it comes to woodcutting. For c
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Ulverston Station Master House, 1910
Ulverston
Step into your very own time machine – that dusty photo in your hand! It’s a peek into the parlour/dining room of the Ulverston Station Master hou
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Nella Last: From Kitchen Sink to Wartime Heroine
Barrow-in-Furness
Picture this: It’s 1939, England. The air is thick with anticipation. The news on the wireless crackles with unsettling reports, casting a shadow ov
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Part 1: Greenodd: From Viking Haven to Pirate Paradise
Greenodd
Greenodd industrial history begins in the mists of the Leven Estuary, where Norse settlers once named the “green headland” Grœnn oddr. Though no
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Part 2: Greenodd: The Tides of Time But time
Greenodd
Greenodd, Cumbria, is a village shaped by tides, trade, and time. Like the tide that ebbs and flows in the Leven Estuary, bringing with it the salty t
Read MoreFurness Timeline
Travel through thousands of years of Furness history — from prehistoric times to the present day
🏞️ Prehistoric to Roman Period
- c. 4000–2500 BC (Neolithic) — Evidence of early farming and settlement on Walney Island and Low Furness; stone tools and cairns near Urswick and Coniston.
- c. 1000 BC (Bronze Age) — Burial cairns and stone circles appear across Furness Fells and Coniston.
- c. 1st–4th century AD (Roman) — Furness lies near the Roman road from Ravenglass to Watercrook (Kendal). Minor coastal forts and signal stations protect Morecambe Bay; possible outpost near Urswick.
⚔️ Early Medieval / Anglo-Saxon & Norse Period
- 7th century — Anglian settlers reach Low Furness; Christianity spreads via Lindisfarne and York missions.
- 9th century — Norse settlers from Ireland and the Isle of Man colonise Furness; Old Norse place-names emerge (e.g. "-thwaite", "-beck", "-ness").
- 10th century — Area loosely under the Kingdom of Strathclyde or Northumbria before incorporation into England.
🏰 Norman & Monastic Period
- 1086 (Domesday Book) — Records several Furness settlements: Roose, Hougenai (Walney), Hietun (Hawcoat). Dalton noted as the chief manor.
- 1123–1127 — Furness Abbey founded at Bekanesgill (later the Vale of Nightshade near Barrow) by Stephen, Count of Boulogne (later King Stephen). Initially Savigniac, soon Cistercian.
- 12th–13th centuries — The Abbey becomes one of England's richest monasteries; controls land across Furness, parts of Lancashire, and the Isle of Man.
⚒️ Early Modern Period
- 16th–17th centuries — Furness divided between Low Furness (agricultural) and High Furness (pastoral, woodland, mining).
- 1643–1651 — Civil War skirmishes occur near Dalton and Ulverston.
- 1660s–1700s — Ulverston expands as a market town and maritime trading port.
🚂 Industrial & Victorian Expansion
- 1839 — Henry Schneider arrives, prospecting iron ore in Low Furness.
- 1846 — Furness Railway opens between Dalton and Kirkby; later extended to Barrow and Ulverston.
- 1850s–1870s — Massive iron ore extraction at Lindal, Askam, and Stank.
⚓ 20th Century — War, Industry & Community
- 1901 — First British submarine (Holland 1) built in Barrow.
- 1914–1918 (WWI) — Furness shipyards produce Royal Navy vessels; Dalton, Ulverston support war industries.
- 1939–1945 (WWII) — Barrow and Ulverston contribute to the war effort; shipyard bombed during air raids.
🏙️ 21st Century — Modern Furness
- 1984 — Furness General Hospital opens.
- 2000s — Focus on defence (BAE Systems Submarines) and tourism in Coniston, Ulverston, and the Furness Fells.
- 2023 (1 April) — Cumbria abolished; Furness becomes part of the new Westmorland and Furness Unitary Authority.
Our Research Focus
Our research concentrates on specific locations and periods within our area. We work together, combining our different skills and expertise — and we warmly encourage community input and feedback. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to sharing local knowledge and memories; every contribution enriches our understanding.
Share Your Knowledge
We welcome stories, memories, and information from local residents. Your personal experiences and family history are invaluable to our research — every story adds another layer to our shared heritage.
Share your Furness story with us →Community Feedback
We encourage open discussion and feedback on our research findings. Different perspectives help us build a more complete picture of our area's history — your input truly matters.
Collaborative Research
Our team approach ensures that research is thorough and well-rounded. We combine archival work, fieldwork, and community knowledge to uncover the full story.