It is sad to report that Hall Street is another terraced street not photographed before the war. Indeed, there seem not to be any images of it immediately after it was bombed either; unlike, for example, Exmouth Street – which was also badly hit.

Hall Street was, with a number of Barrow’s worst bombed roads, just another ordinary place where working people lived or went about their business. Yet on the night of 10th May 1941, the western half of Hall Street (the blocks that lay between Fell Street and Allison Street) fell prey to a parachute mine dropped by a German bomber(2). Most shops and houses on neighbouring blocks on Crellin Street and Cavendish Street were also demolished as a result of this bombing. 

In all, eight people died on Hall Street. In one household, No 6, people became separated; some died at home, some in the air raid shelter. 

Grandparents, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sons – their deaths left behind grieving, and sometimes dazed and injured relatives and neighbours; who looked to the Air Raid Wardens, the rest centres and others, for help and refuge.

The survivors had to cope not only with losing loved ones, but also their homes too. In some instances a few possessions were salvaged from the wreckage: a cup and saucer from a tea-set given as a wedding present; a picture frame with a christening photograph; an old chair, covered in dust and debris, but still in one piece.  These things became significant not because they survived the bombing, but for the memories they held.  They became intimate and treasured family momentos, to be passed down through the generations – lest anyone forget what happened in May 1941.

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The following information is from the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It names those killed in Hall St, their home addresses, where they died (at home or in the shelter). All of those listed below died on 10th May 1941.

• BIDDULPH, IRENE – died at 6 Hall St, aged 23
• DUXBURY, JOHN – died 6 Hall St, aged 65
• FISHER, EDWARD – lived 6 Hall St, died at Hall St Shelter, aged 72
• HARPER, WILLIAM – died at 1 Hall St, aged 55
• HOWIE, ELIZABETH ANN – died at 8 Hall St, aged 74 
• HOWIE, ROBERT – died at 8 Hall St, aged 76
• RAWCLIFFE, JAMES, lived 6 Hall St, died in Hall Street Shelter, aged 14
• SWARBRICK, MARY ANN, at 6 Hall St, aged 71

A photograph from 1955, by Aerofilms, showing the Hall Street area post-war. The Cavendish Arms pub and a few houses still survive (lower left corner).

The present view – showing the car park situated on Hall St and parts of Crellin and Cavendish St.