Barrow’s Dock Museum awarded nearly £250k for major heritage project
Funding will digitise Ken Royall's photographic collection and engage the community
Barrow's Dock Museum is on the brink of a transformative project, having secured nearly £250,000 in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside a £10,000 grant from the Furness Maritime Trust.
The funding will deliver "Barrow in Focus," a two-year project that aims to celebrate and safeguard the town’s industrial and social heritage through the photographic collection of the renowned local photographer, Ken Royall.
Charlotte Hawley, Museums and Collections Manager for Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “We are thrilled to secure this significant funding, allowing us to digitise and fully catalogue more than 20,000 photographs and negatives, making Ken Royall's work freely accessible online for the first time."
The project will also include oral histories, exhibitions, outreach activities, and photography workshops, aiming to engage local communities and gather personal stories related to the images. There will be a particular focus on young people, families, and older residents, fostering connections across generations.
Helen Featherstone, Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund for England, North, expressed delight at supporting the Dock Museum through this initiative, highlighting the importance of showcasing Barrow-in-Furness's heritage.
In addition to the funding, the Dock Museum is celebrating recent accolades, including winning the Best Art/Culture Venue at the Cumbria Life Awards 2026 and a high visitor experience score from VisitEngland.
Furthermore, the museum, located in a historic 19th-century graving dock, will be undergoing heating maintenance starting from 4th November, with plans to reopen in the new year.
Charlotte Hawley noted that while the museum will close temporarily, work on the "Barrow in Focus" project will begin as planned, ensuring Barrow's rich heritage remains a vibrant part of the community.