This summer, enjoy a series of photography projects as part of Sankey: Lives Through the Lens. Unfolding across multiple public locations in Barrow-in-Furness, the photographs capture Barrow through a new lens, celebrating its people, bodies of water, and its working spirit. Discover two new photography series: The Binding Tide outdoor exhibition by photographer Nicholas J.R. White and The Workers, by Dawn Parsonage.

The Workers is a photography trail exploring Barrow workers inspired by the Sankey Photography Archive. Capturing businesses in Barrow today and celebrating them as part of our history.

The work is displayed along an outdoor trail covering Barrow Library, the Train Station, Dandy’s Furniture Store, Cavendish St ginnel and the Town Hall. Dawn wanted to capture businesses in Barrow today that people have connections to. Her photographs echo equivalents of the Sankey workers through a modern lens. They recognise familiar workplaces and staff that Barrovians come across in their day-to-day lives; Dawn worked closely with the staff of Dandy’s, Identity, Cumbria Sewing and Craft Centre, Timpson, Barrow Railway Station, Boss Hair and Beauty Studio, Tuk’s Thai Food, and Finger Prints to create the final images. Signal and Dawn would like to give a huge thank you to all the businesses that helped bring this project to life.

“Everyone took it in their stride, and after seeing the images from 100+ years ago, understood that they were part of history themselves.” Dawn Parsonage