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The Dock Museum

The Dock Museum

Open to the public

Museum or gallery in Cumbria

81 artworks

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The Dock Museum is built over an historic graving dock. There has been a museum in Barrow-in-Furness since the early twentieth century but in 1994 the museum moved to its current location. The Dock Museum is in an impressive coastal location with views of the sea, mountains and one of Europe’s largest indoor shipyards. The museum showcases the astoundingly quick growth of the village Barrow in the nineteenth century into a town with ambitions to rival Liverpool. The museum started in 1900 with the gift of a “young alligator” (presumably stuffed). The museum has a mixed collection of social and industrial history, archaeology, natural history, geology and fine art. The museum has a strong emphasis on shipbuilding, including a collection of maritime paintings and showcasing wonderful ship models, alongside archaeology and displays of Victorian life. The painting collection reflects the long history of the museum with early donations of Lakeland scenes, paintings of famous Barrow-built ships like Oriana, local scenes and people. Work is still being added. But the collection is dominated by fine (and nationally forgotten) works by local artist James Cranke (1707–1780), said to have taught George Romney, and the naïve style of May Stephenson, a local lady painting scenes of her childhood from her sickbed.

North Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria LA14 2PW England

dockmuseum@barrowbc.gov.uk

01229 876400

Before making a visit, check opening hours with the venue

http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk