Historic Barrow Island tenement set for new artwork

Plans have been submitted to Westmorland and Furness Council by Maddi Nicholson of Art Gene to install 14 screen-printed, enamelled metal signs at the tenements in Steamer Street and Island Street.

The aim is to increase awareness of the building’s significance and that of its occupants.

The Grade II listed buildings were completed in February 1884 during a time of rapid development in Barrow.

Known as the Barrow Island Flats, these were the last of ten accommodation blocks built to tackle overcrowding among dockyard workers.

These blocks have been in constant use since their completion, noted for their bold presentation on main streets, though most home entrances are discreetly located at the rear.

The Maritime Streets and Gardens project, launched in 2013, improved the public realm in the blocks’ centres.

In 2024, Westmorland and Furness Council and Historic England embarked on a housing market improvement project for Steamer Street, commissioning an artwork as part of this initiative alongside repairs and upgrades.

The new art project, titled ‘A Place Lived’, seeks to give identity to the staircases, emphasising their historical value to Barrow’s development.

‘A Place Lived’ consists of 14 panels.

One panel, positioned at the corner of Ship and Steamer Streets, will feature concise information about the site’s history, the project specifics, and its funding.

The remaining 13 panels will display individual stair numbers and narrate the stories of past occupants tied to specific themes across the registers, and highlight their professions.

In this way, the artwork aims to bring to life the building’s history, making it more legible and relatable for contemporary audiences.

This artistic venture is not an isolated one but part of a series by Miss Nicholson of Art Gene, exploring the intangible heritage of working-class housing in diverse UK locations.

A notable aspect of the Barrow Island blocks is their architectural modification.

Initially adopting a model similar to the Peabody model dwellings in London by Henry Darbishire, the buildings were adapted by architects Paley and Austin for the Barrow Island blocks, specifically the first two blocks, known as the red sandstone Devonshire Buildings on Michaelson Road.

105 neighbouring properties have been notified about the application, inviting them to participate in the consultation process.

This process commenced on February 23 and is set to end on March 20.