A recent article in the Guardian has highlighted two towns in the North West and the stories they have to tell. The article, ‘Where tourists seldom tread, part 6: ‘ugly, lovely towns’ with stories to tell’, features Burnley in Lancashire and Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, describing the history of the towns, and the hidden gems that are there to see.
Burnley
Formerly known as the “weaving capital of the world”, Burnley was once responsible for producing millions of miles of cloth. Despite this title, and the town’s former fame, its reputation declined following the industrial revolution.
Burnley’s residents will tell you there is much to discover in the town – for example, Towneley Hall and the town’s remaining mills in the Weaver’s Triangle, including Queen Street Mill.
Burnley rose to fame once more in recent times after the release of the film Bank of Dave, which follows the story of Dave Fishwick; the town’s most eminent entrepreneur.
Barrow-in-Furness
With its seafront location, Barrow-in-Furness became known for shipbuilding and is famed for being the place where Britain’s first submarine was built in 1886. Rope-making and ship repair followed as secondary industries.
Still a hub for many manufacturing jobs, the town is home to BAE systems.
Buildings in Barrow date from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, including a Beaux Arts library, the Custom House, a red brick and terracotta fire station, and the Gothic Revival Duke of Edinburgh Hotel. Piel Castle and a Victorian town hall are among the heritage buildings in Barrow.
The town also has the benefit of a west-facing view out toward the Irish Sea, featuring Piel Island with local wildlife such as sea birds and seals.
Lea Hough offer a wide range of building surveying services to clients in both of these two towns. We have very good links with Burnley Council and many schools and commercial businesses in the two towns including our client BAE Systems, who are active in Barrow-in-Furness. We have several schools and academies as clients, and regularly undertake commercial property surveys and valuations etc in both Burnley and Barrow-in-Furness.
Alongside this, we of course offer residential clients the full range of property surveying and valuation reports.
To discuss appointing one of our Chartered Surveyors to undertake a property survey, or to discuss our services for councils, commercial organisations or schools, please get in touch.
