Our Ground in the 1930s

[Jim]

Regarding my earlier query about the rail line, the 1933 map shows "British Griffin Chilled Iron Works (Disused)" at the end of the rail lines.

From GRACES GUIDE
British Griffin Chilled Iron and Steel Co
Exhibit at Ida Bay Railway.
1921. 'Komos' chilled castings.

of 139 Cannon Street, London

of Barrow-in-Furness, Lancs (1914)

1899 The company was registered on 5 October. [1]

1900 Had a capital of £75,000 fully subscribed, to commence the manufacture of chilled wheels and castings at Barrow, on Griffin's patents.[2]

1914 Manufacturers of railway and tramway wheels, chilled rolls and castings. Specialities: railway and tramway wheels, chilled rolls and castings of every description for crushing, grinding and cement machinery, patent chilled hammer heads, dies etc., brake blocks, steel-tyred wheels with special toughened and annealed semi-steel centres. [3]

1923 In the process of liquidation.[4]

[xerxes]

Great pic. Can probably date it to 1930…
Found this article on the history of Speedway in Barrow:

“Holker Street, the home of Barrow AFC, was first used for speedway in 1930. Northern Motor Sports Club hosted 7 meetings from June 12th until July 28th. The season was cut short as the football club needed to relay the turf in preparation for the new season”

That's interesting. I saw a similar photo, from a different angle, on a FB group recently, and one of the contributors was of the opinion that it was a dog track. I wonder if it was used for both?

[andyg]

Some seriously interesting maps and photos here. My grandparents and great grandparents lived together in Ainslie St. They bought their house in 1933 (have got the old transactions of the sale). They lived around the area of what is called on the map above the allotment gardens. So that map must be very early 1930's as they moved in, as I said, in 1933. Could see the ground clearly from the back bedroom of the house. My grandad had a pretty big big back-garden and grew peas amongst other things which I devoured every time I came to see them! Never realised the disused Griffin Iron works were so close to where they lived. I guess by the early 1960's they were, by then, totally demolished.

[Jonty]

The estate around there is still known as The Griffin. Never knew why, there you go I’ve learnt something new.

[madplumpy]

Some seriously interesting maps and photos here. My grandparents and great grandparents lived together in Ainslie St. They bought their house in 1933 (have got the old transactions of the sale). They lived around the area of what is called on the map above the allotment gardens. So that map must be very early 1930's as they moved in, as I said, in 1933. Could see the ground clearly from the back bedroom of the house. My grandad had a pretty big big back-garden and grew peas amongst other things which I devoured every time I came to see them! Never realised the disused Griffin Iron works were so close to where they lived. I guess by the early 1960's they were, by then, totally demolished.

I think my Grandparents also lived on that bit of Ainslie st. They’ll have bought theirs around that time. I’m sure it was brand new. They were in one of the semis directly opposite Matties chippie

[madplumpy]

The 1920 photo of the old main stand earlier in the thread shows it as originally built in Lancashire Combination days. It was extended by the addition of two wing stands around the time of entering the Football League in 1921, taking its capacity to 1500. Prior to this stand being built, plans show a very small construction there on the half-way line. (Could this have been a first press box?)

How interesting the original stand was extended by the addition of wing stands….vert similar set up for the current one. History repeating itself!

[Jonty]

Some pics of the ground and players credited to Sankey’s archive-…..

Barrow motor club Gymkhana at Holker Street circa 1930

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Barrow motor club Gymkhana at Holker Street Circa 1930

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Jim “Daisy” Bell Barrow AFC 1911-12 CF

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[Jonty]

Some more from Sankey archive….

Crowd at Holker Street undated

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James Johnstone Outside Right 1911-12

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Barrow AFC date unknown possibly between 1908-1911-12

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[pjdaly]

Thanks very much, Jonty, some sensational and historic pictures there. I trust the current BOD won't allow another motor club gymkhana on the pitch next close season . . . it was fatal enough for the club back in 1972 having bikes going around the pitch, but on it???

Ah, I see it's that man again, the legendary Jim 'Daisy' Bell! With all the gnashing and grinding of teeth on this forum over the shot-shyness from our current forwards we can but dream of what it would be like if Daisy Bell was up front for us! He seems to have first played for us in 1911-12 and stayed for a decade until the end of the 1920-21 season. From the get-go he was a veritable goalaholic for us. Scan down the seasons results and there's his name amongst the scorers over and over and over and over again. Just as one example, his last season produced 23 goals in 34 matches which included two hat-tricks and one match where he notched 5 in a 12-0 win. But on the downside, whisper it, it was only Lancashire Combination Division One and he departed the club before 1921-22 when we started life in the Football League Division Three North. And if anybody thinks we should still sign him back on then, too bad, his playing days are over.

[FanzoneFan]

Am I right in thinking the order of the grounds we played at are
1. The Parade Ground ( near the old Fire Station) 2. The Strawberry ( where Furness Rugby Club played)
3. Little Roose (near Ship Inn Pub) 4. Ainslie Street ( no one quite sure where that one is) 5 Holker Street.

[McMark]

Am I right in thinking the order of the grounds we played at are
1. The Parade Ground ( near the old Fire Station) 2. The Strawberry ( where Furness Rugby Club played)
3. Little Roose (near Ship Inn Pub) 4. Ainslie Street ( no one quite sure where that one is) 5 Holker Street.

https://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/barrow/

[andyg]

Some seriously interesting maps and photos here. My grandparents and great grandparents lived together in Ainslie St. They bought their house in 1933 (have got the old transactions of the sale). They lived around the area of what is called on the map above the allotment gardens. So that map must be very early 1930's as they moved in, as I said, in 1933. Could see the ground clearly from the back bedroom of the house. My grandad had a pretty big big back-garden and grew peas amongst other things which I devoured every time I came to see them! Never realised the disused Griffin Iron works were so close to where they lived. I guess by the early 1960's they were, by then, totally demolished.

I think my Grandparents also lived on that bit of Ainslie st. They’ll have bought theirs around that time. I’m sure it was brand new. They were in one of the semis directly opposite Matties chippie

My grandparents lived at 171 so they can't have been too far away from your family - probably knew each other.

[Alley_Cat]

I ate some chips from Matties a few years ago

[andyg]

I ate some chips from Matties a few years ago

Cant remember what the chippie was called in the 60's or 70's but we all eat from there on a Friday when we were around at our grandparents. Happy times.

[Cubbins Paratrooper]

Mattie Bull certainly ran it in the late sixties.