A 2016 statement submitted to Barrow Borough Council by Shepherd Architecture and Surveying, of Barrow, said: "The proposal will
breathe new life into a much-loved landmark, which has grown into a state of disrepair, by improving the commercial viability of the
premises.”
"This would be achieved by incorporating retail to the ground floor and modern office accommodation to the basement, hall and upper
storeys."
Under the plans, the ground floor would feature two retail outlets and an entrance and
lobby serving the new office space. The types of shop have not been specified. Office space
would be created in the basement, hall and upper storeys. The applicant also hopes to
demolish the entrance extension leading on to Michaelson Road.
The building was constructed in 1882 and is in the Barrow Island conservation area. It
was formerly used as an administrative space and canteen for the shipyard, in 2005 became
the Canteen Media and Arts Centre, when it was transformed into a thriving venue for live
music, comedy and cinema by Barrow entrepreneur Gary Robinson. By the time it closed in
September 2010, it had attracted household acts such as Idlewild, Enter Shikari, and British
Sea Power, and then-up-and-coming comedians including John Bishop and Kevin Bridges.
More recently the building, which had been re-named the Porthole, has been used for
rehearsals and recording, but the council has been told the income from that is not
sustainable.
The statement submitted to the planning department said: "At present, the media and arts centre is not generating sufficient revenue
to maintain the upkeep of the property, which is slowly growing into a state of disrepair. A change of use is needed to secure the future of
the property.
"The proposed alterations to the property will serve to faithfully restore the existing property as far as is practicable through the
demolition of non-original and aesthetically undesirable extensions, re-pointing of brickwork, reinstatement of windows in a style similar to
those that would have originally adorned the building , along with other necessary restorative measures."
We shall see, anything would be an improvement on the buildings present state.
The older pictures are mostly from the late 19th & early 20th century.
Some are Sankey postcards kindly loaned to me by the late Doreen Cleasby (ex-Postmistress). The more recent pictures are SpikePix.
Osbourne’s Bakery on the Coffee House corner, (the corner of
Bridge Rd & Michaelson Rd). In the 1920's it became a cinema
inevitably nicknamed ‘the Bun Hut.’
It has also been a shipyard canteen & latterly an events venue
predictably called, ‘The Canteen’ and has played host to some top
Indie bands.
OSBORNE & Co owned The Old Barrow Bakery, it won a succession of awards including the Trophy for the finest bread with the Gold
Medal and Diploma for "Crusty Cottage," given at the National Exhibition of Bakery and Confectionary held in Manchester, 1897; and at the
Annual Exhibition in the Royal Agricultural Hall, London, 1899, the Silver Medal and Diploma was awarded.
Adjacent to the bakery is, (right) the Coffee House from which the nearby tram and later bus stop took its name.
ABOVE: The Coffee House was Bryden’s Chemist in the 1950s, later
it became Dixon’s confectioners.
Once a busy Cake Shop, mass shipyard redundancies put paid to
passing trade. Today the Coffee House lies derelict.
© Joseph Warner
Osbourne Cinema aka The Bun Hut
Buxton Street a continuation of Devonshire Buildings named no
doubt after the area where the Duke’s main residence, Chatsworth
House, is situated - well he couldn’t name everything after
himself.
St Patrick’s Church (1933) in the background & the building on
the right have appeared. This derelict building has over the years
housed a printing firm, shipyard Technical Author’s office & years
ago it was a doss house!
Island Road Co-Operative Store c.1890, enlarged to it’s present size in
1905 [RIGHT]
Some years ago the Co-op lost its butchers on the right and I
believe there was a Drapery dept as well.
The government stole the railings during WWII to build the first ever
cast iron Spitfire.
The ‘new’ updated Co-op was officially opened by my Auntie Betty -
One of my very few claims to fame.
Artist’s impression of Devonshire Buildings (Buxton Street)
from Michaelson Road complete with Express Coach to the
Town Hall.
The buildings don’t change much but transport moves on. My old
wagon had 400 horse power.
LEFT: 2 close Devonshire
Buildings, the Addams Family
gather for a family photo for the
mantlepiece, (it’ll keep the kids
away from the fire)
RIGHT: Looks like Buxton
Street VE Day? Or maybe
Empire Day. Britannia stands
proud complete with trident &
shield on the first landing.
Ramsden Dock Station closure in the 1930’s, meant the tram lines
to it fell into disuse, as did the trams. This meant that surface air
raid shelters could be built on the tracks. I would have rather
taken my chances in the cellars of the sandstone tenements.
There is no trace today of the air raid shelters.
This picture which was taken in the 1960’s from the other end of
Ramsden Dock Road with the slipway cranes in the distance.
An earlier view across Ramsden Dock Rd. Looking down Ship
Street on the right & Devonshire Bldgs on the left. The correct
postal address is Devonshire Bldgs, Michaelson Road, so this is
the back of Dev Bldgs.
Honeyman’s shop is on the right & the Devonshire Hotel on the
left. He really couldn’t resist naming things after himself.
A more recent view of the same place. Where are all the people?
In the Dev? Well it is open.
Fine ales, open all day!
Egerton Buildings 1908: Now known as Egerton Court. Like changing
the name of Winscale to Sellafield, it gives a nice warm feeling.
Except for the residents both places remain basically unaltered.
Local feeling would like this place demolished but while the landlords
can squeeze a few more bob out of the place, it remains & declines.
During World War I soldiers pass Devonshire Buildings, on their
way to the docks? And who knows where?
A more peaceful scene today, they’ve turned the tramlines into the
inevitable car park.
Maybe an Edwardian Coronation parade, a certainly very floral
display makes its way past Devonshire Buildings.
An AS90 Propelled gun clears the street of unlicensed Hansom Cabs,
floral dancing & other such nonsense.
This c.1925 aerial photo shows the grid formation of the ‘Scotch Model’ buildings. Note
the two trams at the Coffee House, one turning right into Ferry Road for Walney. The other is
heading straight down to the Tea House and Ramsden Dock Station and not a car to be seen!
Some of the younger buildings inhabitants of Devonshire Buildings. Three brave mothers [back, left], are there to control
this unruly mob. (C.1930?).
However, I think this unruly mob of flat capped hooligans are beyond a
mother’s love. (Jeremy Corbyn’s grandad is 4th from the left, back row.)
At the TOP it says they are the, ‘Old Barrow Parliament’
LEFT side, it says, ‘Up the Reds’ [don’t think they mean Man Utd].
RIGHT side, ‘Down with the Capitalist’
A favourite tactic was to disorientate the Capitalist Running Dogs er….
victims, with clouds of pipe smoke then beat them senseless with their sticks.
They then evaded the Peelers by making a getaway in the highly tuned Bath
Chair to the Royal … their hideaway.
