Shipyard (1935) | Britain on Film - BFI on YouTube
Step back to a time when the streets of Barrow-in-Funress are packed with workers, bicycles, and laundry lines, but just one solitary private motor vehicle.
The year 1935 was a pivotal moment for the town of Barrow-in-Furness and its world-renowned shipbuilding industry. Situated on the tip of the Furness Peninsula in Lancashire (now Cumbria), Barrow was dominated by the massive engineering and shipbuilding complex of Vickers-Armstrongs Limited. By the mid-1930s, the town was beginning to emerge from the shadow of the Great Depression, fueled largely by the start of the British naval rearmament program. The shipyard was not just a place of work; it was the economic engine of the entire region, shaping the social, physical, and political landscape of the town.
To understand Barrow in 1935, one must look at its rapid transformation from a small hamlet in the mid-19th century to a "boom town" of the Victorian era. The discovery of high-quality hematite iron ore led to the establishment of the steel industry, which in turn birthed the shipyard. By 1935, Vickers-Armstrongs had become the town’s primary employer, and the yard was famous globally for its ability to design and construct the most complex vessels of the age, particularly submarines and capital ships for the Royal Navy.
The Economic Climate and Rearmament
The early 1930s had been exceptionally difficult for Barrow. The global economic downturn and the restrictions placed on naval construction by international treaties, such as the London Naval Treaty of 1930, had led to high unemployment and a stagnant order book. However, by 1935, the geopolitical situation in Europe was changing rapidly. The British government began to move away from disarmament, recognizing the need to modernize the fleet in the face of rising tensions.
In 1935, this shift resulted in a surge of activity at the Barrow yard. The "special relationship" between the Admiralty and Vickers-Armstrongs meant that Barrow was often the first choice for experimental and high-priority naval projects. The town began to hum with the sound of pneumatic riveting hammers once again. This was a year of transition where the despair of the "slump" was being replaced by the intense, structured labor of a town preparing for a more uncertain international future.
Employment and the Workforce
In 1935, employment figures at Vickers-Armstrongs were on a steady upward trajectory. While the yard had seen its workforce dip significantly during the worst years of the Depression, by the middle of the decade, it employed approximately 12,000 to 14,000 people. When including the associated steelworks and local service industries, nearly every family in Barrow had at least one member whose livelihood depended on the shipyard.
The workforce was highly stratified and specialized. It consisted of "tradesmen" such as shipwrights, platers, riveters, caulkers, and engineers, alongside a small army of apprentices. In 1935, the apprenticeship system was the backbone of the town’s social structure. Young men starting at age 14 or 15 would undergo rigorous training, ensuring that the specific "Barrow skills" were passed down through generations. The yard also employed a significant number of "white-collar" workers in the drawing offices and administrative blocks, which were among the most advanced technical centers in the country.
The Construction of HMS Ajax and HMS Penelope
One of the most significant events in Barrow’s shipbuilding calendar for 1935 was the progress and delivery of major naval vessels. The Leander-class cruiser HMS Ajax, which had been launched in 1934, was undergoing its final fitting out and sea trials in early 1935 before being commissioned into the Royal Navy. This ship would later gain fame during the Battle of the River Plate, but in 1935, it stood as a testament to the precision engineering of the Barrow workforce.
Another major project occupying the berths in 1935 was the construction of the Arethusa-class light cruiser HMS Penelope. The keel had been laid in 1934, and throughout 1935, the hull began to take its final shape against the Barrow skyline. The construction of these cruisers required thousands of tons of specialized steel and miles of electrical cabling, much of which was sourced or manufactured within the town itself. The yard was a hive of activity where the coordination of dozens of different trades was required to bring these massive steel structures to life.
Submarine Development: The "S" and "T" Classes
While the large surface ships were the most visible products of the yard, Barrow’s true specialty in 1935 was submarine construction. Vickers-Armstrongs at Barrow was the premier submarine builder for the British Empire. By 1935, work was well underway on the "S" class of submarines, which were designed for patrols in the North Sea and the Mediterranean.
Crucially, 1935 saw the design and early planning stages for the "T" class (or Triton-class) submarines. These were larger, long-range vessels that would become the workhorses of the submarine fleet during the Second World War. The submarine sheds at Barrow were highly restricted areas, shrouded in secrecy. The technical challenges of building vessels that could withstand the pressures of the deep while housing complex diesel-electric engines and torpedo systems placed the Barrow engineers at the absolute forefront of global maritime technology.
Social Impact and the "Vickers" Influence
In 1935, Vickers-Armstrongs was more than just a company; it was a paternalistic force that influenced every aspect of life in Barrow. The company provided housing, particularly in the Vickerstown estate on Walney Island, which had been built to house the influx of workers during earlier expansion periods. By 1935, Vickerstown was a mature community with its own schools, parks, and social clubs, all maintained under the influence of the shipyard management.
The social life of the town revolved around the "subsidiary" organizations of the yard. The Vickers Sports and Recreation Club provided facilities for football, cricket, and athletics, and the various factory brass bands were among the best in the North of England. In 1935, the distinction between "work" and "home" was blurred; the siren of the shipyard dictated the timing of meals, school runs, and social gatherings. This created a powerful sense of community identity, but also meant that the town’s fortunes were dangerously tied to a single industry.
Technical Innovations and the Yard Layout
The physical layout of the Barrow shipyard in 1935 was a marvel of industrial efficiency. It occupied a vast site along the Devonshire and Buccleuch Docks. The yard featured some of the largest cranes in the world, capable of lifting entire engine blocks and heavy gun turrets into place. In 1935, the transition from riveting to welding was beginning to be explored, though traditional riveting remained the primary method of hull construction.
The yard also housed its own dedicated engine works and armaments divisions. This meant that a ship could be designed, built, engined, and armed all within the same complex. This "vertical integration" was rare and gave Barrow a significant competitive advantage. The town’s geography was uniquely suited to this; the deep-water access provided by the Walney Channel allowed for the launch of massive vessels that would have been impossible in shallower rivers like the Tyne or the Wear.
Infrastructure and Town Development
Outside the shipyard walls, the Barrow of 1935 was a town of stark contrasts. The town center featured grand Victorian buildings and wide boulevards, reflecting the wealth generated by the industry. However, the rapid growth had also led to pockets of overcrowded terraced housing near the docks. The local council in 1935 was actively involved in slum clearance and the building of new municipal estates to improve the living conditions of the shipyard workers.
Transport in 1935 was dominated by the tram system and the railway. The Furness Railway, which had been absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), provided essential links for bringing in raw materials and transporting specialized naval components. The "Shipyard Specials"—dedicated trains for workers—were a daily feature, bringing in laborers from as far away as Dalton-in-Furness and Ulverston. The town was a self-contained industrial ecosystem, focused entirely on the production of maritime power.
Helpful Links
Dock Museum Barrow Cumbria County Council - Archive Service Vickers-Armstrongs Shipbuilders - Grace's Guide
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