Walney Island
Encyclopedia
The Isle of Walney, also known as Walney Island, is an island
in the United Kingdom
which lies off the west coast of England
, at the northern tip of Morecambe Bay
. It forms part of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, and it is separated from the mainland at Barrow by Walney Channel
, a narrow channel which is spanned by the Jubilee Bridge
. Walney is the largest island of the Furness Islands group, both in population and size, as well as the largest English island in the Irish Sea
. Its population at the 2001 UK Census was 11,388, distributed evenly across the island's two Ward
s of Walney North
and Walney South
.
Walney Island formed during the last glacial period
, when the River Duddon
was a large glacial lake
, depositing till at its mouth, which became Walney. Some evidence of neolithic
inhabitants has been found in the island's sand dunes, though its name is likely of Norse
origin. The island remained rural until the growth of Barrow-in-Furness' industries in the nineteenth century. In particular, the development between 1867 and 1881 of docks at Barrow Island, in Walney Channel opposite Walney, encouraged the growth of Walney as a settlement. The planned worker town
of Vickerstown
was built on the island in 1898, resulting in a large population increase, and the construction of Jubilee Bridge connecting Walney to the mainland in 1908. Walney's contemporary population now forms about a seventh of the overall population of Barrow-in-Furness
. The island contains two nature reserves, at either end, and its sandy beaches make it a popular leisure site.
. Whilst the suffix 'ey' is a common feature of island names, the source of 'waln' is less clear. The island is listed in the Domesday Book
as Hougenai. Cumberland Doomesday Book The manor of 'Hougun' - possibly modern day Millom
- is listed in the book as owning the settlements of the whole of Furness
, so that 'Hougenai' appears to mean "island of Hougun". The Old Norse word haugr means mound or hill. Other Norse etymologies have also been suggested, however, for the source of the island's name.
settlements on the island, including a small amount of pottery. THE PREHISTORIC PERIOD John Hodgson and Mark Brennand North West Region Archaeological Research Framework Prehistoric Resource Assessment Draf. November 2004. Accessed 17-09-11 Low Furness was most extensively inhabited by Norse settlers, likely travelling from Ireland
or the Isle of Man
, which is reflected in many local place names, including Walney. Through the Middle Ages
, Walney and Furness were dominated by the monks of Furness Abbey
, who constructed Bigger Bank as flood defences on the west coast of Walney. The English coast: a history and a prospect. Peter Murphy. 2009. Continuum Publishing. 1847251439 During this time, Walney was largely pastoral
, and remained so into the early Industrial Revolution
: in his 1810-book Guide to the Lakes
, William Wordsworth
describes seeing "Walney's early fields of corn" from the summit of Black Combe
. Guide to the Lakes. William Wordsworth
However, Walney was soon caught up in the rapid expansion of industry at Barrow-in-Furness
. Barrow docks were built on Barrow Island
, in Walney Channel. The island acted as a natural shelter, which allowed the development of Barrow's large shipbuilding
yards. In the 1870s, Bigger Bank became a popular seaside recreation site on Walney, and this was reinforced when a regular ferry, operated by the Furness Railway
Company, was launched. In 1897, in response to the high levels of immigration to Barrow from across the UK, Vickers
proposed to build a new planned town on Walney Island. At the same time, other developers imagined developing Biggar into a larger seaside resort. The first tenants moved into Vickerstown in 1900, and this saw the beginning of the integration of Walney as part of the town of Barrow. Walney Bridge
, a Bascule bridge
was built in this decade, opening in 1908 and connecting the island to the mainland.
Walney continued to grow through the twentieth century, with a number of suburban housing developments on the island. The majority of growth occurred between the building of the 'Links' estate in 1936, and the completion of suburban housing at North Scale in 1976. The recreational facilities at Biggar Bank were scaled back, but the island's beaches remain locally popular. Walney's population in the 2001 census was 11,388, representing 15% of the overall population of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness.
in the Irish Sea, separated from the Great Britain
mainland by the narrow Walney Channel
. It is aligned from north to south, being just a mile wide and elven miles long, http://www.walney-island.com/introduction_01.htm Introduction] Walney Island.com Accessed 14-10-11 with spit
s at either end. The northern portion of the channel opens into the Duddon Estuary
and is both narrower and shallower; at low tide, it is passable on foot, with stepping stones known locally as 'Widow's Crossing' assisting pedestrians. Bridge is walk highlight The Cumberland Times. 18-07-08. Accessed 14-10-11 The southern half of the channel is wider and is regularly dredged to allow shipping to access the Port of Barrow
. This half opens into Morecambe Bay
and includes a number of small islands
, of which Barrow Island
, Roa
and Piel
are inhabited.
Jubilee Bridge
, a bascule bridge
, has connected Walney to the mainland since 1908. The bridge forms part of the A590
, which runs between Walney's western coast and the M6 Motorway
. A second bridge over Walney Channel is sometimes mooted, in order to improve access and relieve traffic, though there has never been any significant attempts to provide one. The nearest railway station to Walney is Barrow-in-Furness
. No long distance bus services are provided, and all services from the island are provided by Stagecoach
and terminate in Barrow.
Walney Island has a small airport (Barrow/Walney Island Airport), privately owned by BAE Systems
. It opened in 1935 and was initially used for military purposes during World War II
, before Barrow council purchased the airfield. It was purchased by Vickers
in 1968 and has remained with the company's successors ever since. A few attempts at scheduled services have occurred - Air Ecosse
, Air Furness and Telair have all operated flights from the island - but none have lasted longer than two years. http://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/walney.htm A history of Walney Airfield] Cumbria Industries.
, is effectively a continuation of Barrow-in-Furness, lying on the Barrow-facing east coast at the island's centre, clustered around the Jubliee Bridge. The first parts of Vickerstown were constructed in the 1890s as a workers' community for Vickers Shipyard, but this area has since been expanded by suburban development. The only residential areas on the west-coast are at Earnsae Bay and Biggar Bank, both of which are suburban extensions to the central Vickerstown settlement. Beyond Vickerstown, the island retains two older villages. North Scale
, lies near to and to the north of Vickerstown on Walney's east coast, and is largely residential Biggar
is the more isolated of the two villages and is clearly outside of the urban limits of Barrow, though still part of the town's Borough, It lies further to the south of the island, on the east coast. It is possibly the oldest settlement on Walney, with Furness Abbey
records from 1292 mentioning a grange at Biggar, and today is still a farming village
to be the windiest lowland site in England. The island's northern and southern ends are both nature reserves, consisting of salt-marsh, shingle
, sand dunes and brackish ponds. South Walney, in particular, is home to a wide number of birds, many of which use the island as stop whilst migrating. To the north, the island provides a habitat for Natterjack Toad
s, as well as the 'Walney Geranium', found only on the island. The island's west coast is characterised by wide sandy beaches, whilst it's east coast is more built up, facing the narrow and muddy Walney Channel.
Since 2005, the coast off Walney has become a centre for the construction of offshore wind farm
s. In total, four wind-farms have been built or are under construction off the island's west coast:
s, Walney North
and Walney South
. Barrow-in-Furness also forms part of the lager county
of Cumbria
, for which Walney is again divided into two wards. In the 2009 elections to Cumbria County Council
, Walney North voted for a Labour Party
councillor, whilst Walney South voted for a Conservative Party
councillor. At the 2011 elections at the Borough level
, six Labour Party councillors were elected from the island, three from each ward. At a national level, Walney forms part of the Barrow and Furness
parliamentary constituency
. The Member of Parliament
is currently John Woodcock
of the Labour Party. Woodcock was first elected in the 2010 general election, though Labour have held the seat since 1992
.
As of the 2001 UK Census, Walney North had an unemployment rate of 7.7%, whilst it was 6.3% in Walney South Walney was historically agricultural, and a number of farms remain on the island, particularly at its southern half. Following the construction of Vickerstown
, the defence manufacturer Vickers
became the major employer on the island, reflecting wider trends in Barrow-in-Furness
. Vickers' successor, BAE Systems
, remains a major employer in Barrow and on Walney today: the island has particularly high levels of workers in skilled trades.
Walney has one secondary school
, Walney School
. It opened in 1952 and currently teaches 681 pupils. It has numerous primary schools but, students entering sixth form college
or further education
must go to schools on the mainland in Barrow.
club currently play in Division One of the North West Counties
. The club was formed in 1936, and have played on the island ever since. They reached the second round of The Challenge Cup in 1960, losing to Oldham and they competed in the National Conference League
between 1991 and 2007. In football, Walney Island Football Club were formed as Nautical FC in 1970, and competed locally in Barrow. They joined the West Lancashire Football League
Division Two in 2007 at level 13 of the English football league system
, where they currently play.
Walney has become an important location for kitesurfing
and wind-surfing. It annually hosts one of the rounds of the British Kitesurfing Championship. In particular the flat, wide beach at Earnsae Bay is popular for this sport. Windsurfing takes place around the island, particularly to its west coast and around the mouth of Walney Channel
.
In literature, Walney most notably appears, or rather disappears, in The Railway Series
books by Wilbert Awdry, which was converted into the television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. The books and television series are all set on the fictional Island of Sodor
, which is located in the position of Walney, though is significantly larger. Its east coast resembles Walney, and the main town to the east of the island is 'Vicarstown', located at the same place as Vickerstown
.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which lies off the west coast of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, at the northern tip of Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay is a large bay in northwest England, nearly due east of the Isle of Man and just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of 310 km².-Natural features:The rivers Leven,...
. It forms part of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, and it is separated from the mainland at Barrow by Walney Channel
Walney Channel
Walney Channel is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water in the Irish Sea which separates Walney Island from Barrow-in-Furness on the Great Britain mainland. The channel forms the head of the Furness peninsula and is approximately in length....
, a narrow channel which is spanned by the Jubilee Bridge
Walney Bridge
Walney Bridge is a bridge in Cumbria, England that connects Barrow-in-Furness on the British mainland to Walney Island.-History:...
. Walney is the largest island of the Furness Islands group, both in population and size, as well as the largest English island in the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
. Its population at the 2001 UK Census was 11,388, distributed evenly across the island's two Ward
Ward
Ward may refer to:* A Watchman as in Watch and Ward* Ward , someone placed under the protection of a legal guardian* USS Aaron Ward, a series of U.S...
s of Walney North
Walney North
Walney North is one of two wards on Walney Island in the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, North West England. The 2001 UK census showed 5,604 people were living in the area. There are two main settlement within the ward: North Scale and North Walney...
and Walney South
Walney South
Walney South is one of two wards on Walney Island in the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, North West England. The 2001 UK census showed 5,784 people were living in the area. There are two main settlements within the ward: Biggar and Vickerstown. Walney Bridge connects Walney South and, in fact, the...
.
Walney Island formed during the last glacial period
Glacial period
A glacial period is an interval of time within an ice age that is marked by colder temperatures and glacier advances. Interglacials, on the other hand, are periods of warmer climate within an ice age...
, when the River Duddon
River Duddon
The Duddon is a river of north-west England. It rises at a point above sea level near the Three Shire Stone at the highest point of Wrynose Pass . The river descends to the sea over a course of about before entering the Irish Sea at the Duddon Sands. For its entire length the Duddon forms the...
was a large glacial lake
Glacial lake
A glacial lake is a lake with origins in a melted glacier. Near the end of the last glacial period, roughly 10,000 years ago, glaciers began to retreat. A retreating glacier often left behind large deposits of ice in hollows between drumlins or hills. As the ice age ended, these melted to create...
, depositing till at its mouth, which became Walney. Some evidence of neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
inhabitants has been found in the island's sand dunes, though its name is likely of Norse
Norse
Norse may refer to:In history:* Norsemen, the Scandinavian people before the Christianization of Scandinavia** Norse mythology** Norse paganism** Norse art** Norse activity in the British IslesIn language:...
origin. The island remained rural until the growth of Barrow-in-Furness' industries in the nineteenth century. In particular, the development between 1867 and 1881 of docks at Barrow Island, in Walney Channel opposite Walney, encouraged the growth of Walney as a settlement. The planned worker town
Planned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
of Vickerstown
Vickerstown
Vickerstown is an area located on the Isle of Walney, near to the mainland town of Barrow-in-Furness, England. Albeit not part of mainland Cumbria, Vickerstown is still regarded as part of the town of Barrow-in-Furness. It is an example of a planned estate built for workers by a company needing to...
was built on the island in 1898, resulting in a large population increase, and the construction of Jubilee Bridge connecting Walney to the mainland in 1908. Walney's contemporary population now forms about a seventh of the overall population of Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
. The island contains two nature reserves, at either end, and its sandy beaches make it a popular leisure site.
Etymology
The name Walney is though to come from Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
. Whilst the suffix 'ey' is a common feature of island names, the source of 'waln' is less clear. The island is listed in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Hougenai. Cumberland Doomesday Book The manor of 'Hougun' - possibly modern day Millom
Millom
Millom is a town and civil parish on the estuary of the River Duddon in the southwest of Cumbria, England. The name is Cumbrian dialect for "At the mills". The town is accessible both by rail and an A class road...
- is listed in the book as owning the settlements of the whole of Furness
Furness
Furness is a peninsula in south Cumbria, England. At its widest extent, it is considered to cover the whole of North Lonsdale, that part of the Lonsdale hundred that is an exclave of the historic county of Lancashire, lying to the north of Morecambe Bay....
, so that 'Hougenai' appears to mean "island of Hougun". The Old Norse word haugr means mound or hill. Other Norse etymologies have also been suggested, however, for the source of the island's name.
History
Excavations of sand dunes on Walney have revealed evidence of Late Neolithic/early Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
settlements on the island, including a small amount of pottery. THE PREHISTORIC PERIOD John Hodgson and Mark Brennand North West Region Archaeological Research Framework Prehistoric Resource Assessment Draf. November 2004. Accessed 17-09-11 Low Furness was most extensively inhabited by Norse settlers, likely travelling from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
or the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
, which is reflected in many local place names, including Walney. Through the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, Walney and Furness were dominated by the monks of Furness Abbey
Furness Abbey
Furness Abbey, or St. Mary of Furness is a former monastery situated on the outskirts of the English town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. The abbey dates back to 1123 and was once the second wealthiest and most powerful Cistercian monastery in the country, behind only Fountains Abbey in North...
, who constructed Bigger Bank as flood defences on the west coast of Walney. The English coast: a history and a prospect. Peter Murphy. 2009. Continuum Publishing. 1847251439 During this time, Walney was largely pastoral
Pastoral
The adjective pastoral refers to the lifestyle of pastoralists, such as shepherds herding livestock around open areas of land according to seasons and the changing availability of water and pasturage. It also refers to a genre in literature, art or music that depicts such shepherd life in an...
, and remained so into the early Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
: in his 1810-book Guide to the Lakes
Guide to the Lakes
Guide to the Lakes, William Wordsworth's travellers' guidebook to England's Lake District, has been studied by scholars both for its relationship to his Romantic poetry and as an early influence on 19th-century geography. Originally written because Wordsworth needed money, the first version was...
, William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads....
describes seeing "Walney's early fields of corn" from the summit of Black Combe
Black Combe
Black Combe is a fell in the south-west corner of the Lake District National Park, just four miles from the Irish Sea. It lies near the west coast of Cumbria in the borough of Copeland and more specifically, an area known as South Copeland...
. Guide to the Lakes. William Wordsworth
However, Walney was soon caught up in the rapid expansion of industry at Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
. Barrow docks were built on Barrow Island
Barrow Island
Barrow Island is the name of at least three islands:*Barrow Island *Barrow Island, Cumbria, England*Barrow Island...
, in Walney Channel. The island acted as a natural shelter, which allowed the development of Barrow's large shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
yards. In the 1870s, Bigger Bank became a popular seaside recreation site on Walney, and this was reinforced when a regular ferry, operated by the Furness Railway
Furness Railway
The Furness Railway was a railway company operating in the Furness area of Lancashire in North West England.-History:The company was established on May 23, 1844 when the Furness Railway Act was passed by Parliament...
Company, was launched. In 1897, in response to the high levels of immigration to Barrow from across the UK, Vickers
Vickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
proposed to build a new planned town on Walney Island. At the same time, other developers imagined developing Biggar into a larger seaside resort. The first tenants moved into Vickerstown in 1900, and this saw the beginning of the integration of Walney as part of the town of Barrow. Walney Bridge
Walney Bridge
Walney Bridge is a bridge in Cumbria, England that connects Barrow-in-Furness on the British mainland to Walney Island.-History:...
, a Bascule bridge
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
was built in this decade, opening in 1908 and connecting the island to the mainland.
Walney continued to grow through the twentieth century, with a number of suburban housing developments on the island. The majority of growth occurred between the building of the 'Links' estate in 1936, and the completion of suburban housing at North Scale in 1976. The recreational facilities at Biggar Bank were scaled back, but the island's beaches remain locally popular. Walney's population in the 2001 census was 11,388, representing 15% of the overall population of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness.
Location and transport
Walney lies off the south-west coast of CumbriaCumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
in the Irish Sea, separated from the Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
mainland by the narrow Walney Channel
Walney Channel
Walney Channel is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water in the Irish Sea which separates Walney Island from Barrow-in-Furness on the Great Britain mainland. The channel forms the head of the Furness peninsula and is approximately in length....
. It is aligned from north to south, being just a mile wide and elven miles long, http://www.walney-island.com/introduction_01.htm Introduction] Walney Island.com Accessed 14-10-11 with spit
Spit
Spit may refer to:* Spit, another word for rain* Spit, another word for rapping* Spit, another word for saliva** Spitting, the act of forcibly expelling from the mouth* Spit an archaeological term for a unit of archaeological excavation...
s at either end. The northern portion of the channel opens into the Duddon Estuary
Duddon Estuary
The Duddon Estuary is the sandy, gritty estuary of the River Duddon that lies between Morecambe Bay and the west Cumbrian coast.It opens into the Irish Sea to the north of the Furness peninsula; Walney Island forming part of its southern edge...
and is both narrower and shallower; at low tide, it is passable on foot, with stepping stones known locally as 'Widow's Crossing' assisting pedestrians. Bridge is walk highlight The Cumberland Times. 18-07-08. Accessed 14-10-11 The southern half of the channel is wider and is regularly dredged to allow shipping to access the Port of Barrow
Port of Barrow
The Port of Barrow refers to the enclosed dock system within the town of Barrow-in-Furness, England. Morecambe Bay is to the east of the port and the Irish Sea surrounds it to the south and west...
. This half opens into Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay is a large bay in northwest England, nearly due east of the Isle of Man and just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of 310 km².-Natural features:The rivers Leven,...
and includes a number of small islands
Islands of Furness
The Islands of Furness are situated to the south-west and east of the Furness Peninsula. Within England, they are the third biggest collection of islands. They are generally quite small, though at 12.99 km2 Walney Island is the 8th biggest in England. Of these, only Walney Island, Barrow...
, of which Barrow Island
Barrow Island
Barrow Island is the name of at least three islands:*Barrow Island *Barrow Island, Cumbria, England*Barrow Island...
, Roa
Roa Island
Roa Island lies just over half a mile south of the village of Rampside at the southernmost point of the Furness Peninsula in Cumbria, though formerly in the area of Lancashire north of the sands. It is located at . It is one of the Islands of Furness in northern England. It has an area of about...
and Piel
Piel Island
Piel Island lies half a mile off the southern tip of the Furness Peninsula in the administrative county of Cumbria, though historically within Lancashire north of the sands. It is located at . It is one of the Islands of Furness in Northern England...
are inhabited.
Jubilee Bridge
Walney Bridge
Walney Bridge is a bridge in Cumbria, England that connects Barrow-in-Furness on the British mainland to Walney Island.-History:...
, a bascule bridge
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
, has connected Walney to the mainland since 1908. The bridge forms part of the A590
A590 road
The A590 is a trunk road in southern Cumbria, in the north-west of England. It runs north-east to south-west from M6 junction 36, through the towns of Ulverston and Barrow-in-Furness to terminate at Vickerstown on Walney Island. The road is a mixture of dual carriageway and single carriageway,...
, which runs between Walney's western coast and the M6 Motorway
M6 motorway
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction . Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74 which continues to...
. A second bridge over Walney Channel is sometimes mooted, in order to improve access and relieve traffic, though there has never been any significant attempts to provide one. The nearest railway station to Walney is Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness railway station
Barrow-in-Furness railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, England. It is located on the Furness Line to Lancaster and the Cumbrian Coast Line to Workington and Carlisle...
. No long distance bus services are provided, and all services from the island are provided by Stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
and terminate in Barrow.
Walney Island has a small airport (Barrow/Walney Island Airport), privately owned by BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
. It opened in 1935 and was initially used for military purposes during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, before Barrow council purchased the airfield. It was purchased by Vickers
Vickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
in 1968 and has remained with the company's successors ever since. A few attempts at scheduled services have occurred - Air Ecosse
Air Ecosse
Air Ecosse was a Scottish commuter airline based in Aberdeen operating in the late 1970s to mid 1980s. They flew between Aberdeen and cities in northern England, such as Liverpool and Carlisle as well as to Edinburgh and Glasgow. They also carried out mail flights for the Royal Mail...
, Air Furness and Telair have all operated flights from the island - but none have lasted longer than two years. http://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/walney.htm A history of Walney Airfield] Cumbria Industries.
Settlements
The main settlement on Walney, VickerstownVickerstown
Vickerstown is an area located on the Isle of Walney, near to the mainland town of Barrow-in-Furness, England. Albeit not part of mainland Cumbria, Vickerstown is still regarded as part of the town of Barrow-in-Furness. It is an example of a planned estate built for workers by a company needing to...
, is effectively a continuation of Barrow-in-Furness, lying on the Barrow-facing east coast at the island's centre, clustered around the Jubliee Bridge. The first parts of Vickerstown were constructed in the 1890s as a workers' community for Vickers Shipyard, but this area has since been expanded by suburban development. The only residential areas on the west-coast are at Earnsae Bay and Biggar Bank, both of which are suburban extensions to the central Vickerstown settlement. Beyond Vickerstown, the island retains two older villages. North Scale
North Scale
North Scale is a village and one of only four settlements on the Isle of Walney. It is a mile north of Vickerstown. As a royalist stronghold in the English Civil War it was briefly sieged by Parliamentarians....
, lies near to and to the north of Vickerstown on Walney's east coast, and is largely residential Biggar
Biggar, Cumbria
Biggar is a village towards the south of Walney Island in Cumbria, England. Along with the village of North Scale, it is the oldest settlement on the island. It now forms part of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness....
is the more isolated of the two villages and is clearly outside of the urban limits of Barrow, though still part of the town's Borough, It lies further to the south of the island, on the east coast. It is possibly the oldest settlement on Walney, with Furness Abbey
Furness Abbey
Furness Abbey, or St. Mary of Furness is a former monastery situated on the outskirts of the English town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. The abbey dates back to 1123 and was once the second wealthiest and most powerful Cistercian monastery in the country, behind only Fountains Abbey in North...
records from 1292 mentioning a grange at Biggar, and today is still a farming village
Environment
Walney is low-lying, narrow and windswept - it is said by the North-West Evening MailNorth-West Evening Mail
The North-West Evening Mail, known locally as the Evening Mail, is a daily, local newspaper in the United Kingdom, printed every evening. It is based in Barrow-in-Furness....
to be the windiest lowland site in England. The island's northern and southern ends are both nature reserves, consisting of salt-marsh, shingle
Shingle
Shingle can refer to:*A flat covering element for a roof, including**Shake , a wooden shingle that is made from split logs**Roof shingle, a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements...
, sand dunes and brackish ponds. South Walney, in particular, is home to a wide number of birds, many of which use the island as stop whilst migrating. To the north, the island provides a habitat for Natterjack Toad
Natterjack Toad
The Natterjack Toad is a toad native to sandy and heathland areas of Europe. Adults are 60–70 mm in length and are distinguished from Common Toads by a yellow line down the middle of the back...
s, as well as the 'Walney Geranium', found only on the island. The island's west coast is characterised by wide sandy beaches, whilst it's east coast is more built up, facing the narrow and muddy Walney Channel.
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
s. In total, four wind-farms have been built or are under construction off the island's west coast:
| Name | Number of Turbines | Capacity (MW) | Construction Began | Operation Began |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrow Offshore Wind Farm | 30 | 90 | 2004 | 2006 |
| Ormonde Wind Farm Ormonde Wind Farm The Ormonde Wind Farm is a wind farm west of Barrow-in-Furness in the Irish Sea. The wind farm covers an area of . It has a total capacity of 150 MW and is expected to produce around 500 GWh of electricity per year.... |
30 | 150 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Walney Wind Farm Walney Wind Farm Walney Wind Farm is an offshore wind farm currently under construction 14km west of Walney Island off the coast of Cumbria, in the Irish Sea, England. It is being developed by Walney Offshore Windfarms Limited, a partnership between Dong Energy and Scottish and Southern Energy. The farm is... 1 |
51 | 184 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Walney Wind Farm Walney Wind Farm Walney Wind Farm is an offshore wind farm currently under construction 14km west of Walney Island off the coast of Cumbria, in the Irish Sea, England. It is being developed by Walney Offshore Windfarms Limited, a partnership between Dong Energy and Scottish and Southern Energy. The farm is... 2 |
51 | 183.6 | 2011 | 2011 |
| West Duddon Wind Farm West Duddon wind farm West Duddon Wind Farm also known as West of Duddon Sands wind farm is a proposed offshore wind farm to be located 14km south west of Walney Island off the coast of Cumbria, in the Irish Sea, England. It is being developed by Morecombe Wind Ltd, a partnership between Scottish Power, Dong Energy and... |
108 | n/a | 2012 (expected) | 2014 (expected) |
Government, economy and education
Walney has two tiers of local government. At the most local level, the island is governed as part of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, being divided between two wardWards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
s, Walney North
Walney North
Walney North is one of two wards on Walney Island in the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, North West England. The 2001 UK census showed 5,604 people were living in the area. There are two main settlement within the ward: North Scale and North Walney...
and Walney South
Walney South
Walney South is one of two wards on Walney Island in the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, North West England. The 2001 UK census showed 5,784 people were living in the area. There are two main settlements within the ward: Biggar and Vickerstown. Walney Bridge connects Walney South and, in fact, the...
. Barrow-in-Furness also forms part of the lager county
Counties of the United Kingdom
The counties of the United Kingdom are subnational divisions of the United Kingdom, used for the purposes of administrative, geographical and political demarcation. By the Middle Ages counties had become established as a unit of local government, at least in England. By the early 17th century all...
of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, for which Walney is again divided into two wards. In the 2009 elections to Cumbria County Council
Cumbria Council election, 2009
Elections to Cumbria County Council took place on 4 June 2009. They coincided with an election for the European Parliament. All 84 seats in the Council were up for election, and a total of 301 candidates stood...
, Walney North voted for a Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
councillor, whilst Walney South voted for a Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
councillor. At the 2011 elections at the Borough level
Barrow-in-Furness Council election, 2011
The 2011 Barrow-in-Furness Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council in Cumbria, England. The whole council was up for election and the Labour party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.-Campaign:Before the election no...
, six Labour Party councillors were elected from the island, three from each ward. At a national level, Walney forms part of the Barrow and Furness
Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency)
Barrow and Furness is a parliamentary constituency in Cumbria, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
parliamentary constituency
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
. The Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
is currently John Woodcock
John Woodcock (UK politician)
John Zak Woodcock is a British Labour Co-operative politician. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness in 2010.-Early and personal life:...
of the Labour Party. Woodcock was first elected in the 2010 general election, though Labour have held the seat since 1992
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
.
As of the 2001 UK Census, Walney North had an unemployment rate of 7.7%, whilst it was 6.3% in Walney South Walney was historically agricultural, and a number of farms remain on the island, particularly at its southern half. Following the construction of Vickerstown
Vickerstown
Vickerstown is an area located on the Isle of Walney, near to the mainland town of Barrow-in-Furness, England. Albeit not part of mainland Cumbria, Vickerstown is still regarded as part of the town of Barrow-in-Furness. It is an example of a planned estate built for workers by a company needing to...
, the defence manufacturer Vickers
Vickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
became the major employer on the island, reflecting wider trends in Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
. Vickers' successor, BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, remains a major employer in Barrow and on Walney today: the island has particularly high levels of workers in skilled trades.
Walney has one secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
, Walney School
Walney School
Walney School is a secondary school on Walney Island in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.As a result of the Education Act 1944, Walney Island needed to have its own secondary school...
. It opened in 1952 and currently teaches 681 pupils. It has numerous primary schools but, students entering sixth form college
Sixth form college
A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Belize, Hong Kong or Malta where students aged 16 to 18 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels, or school-level qualifications such as GCSEs. In Singapore and India, this is...
or further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
must go to schools on the mainland in Barrow.
Sport and culture
Football and rugby league are the most popular amateur sports in the Furness area. Walney Central amateur rugby leagueRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
club currently play in Division One of the North West Counties
North West Counties
The North West Counties A.R.L. are a series of rugby league regional leagues covering the following age groups in the North West of England:-* Age 8 to 12* Age 13 to 15* Age 16 to 18* Open Age...
. The club was formed in 1936, and have played on the island ever since. They reached the second round of The Challenge Cup in 1960, losing to Oldham and they competed in the National Conference League
National Conference League
The National Conference League is the top league in the pyramid of amateur rugby leagues run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association...
between 1991 and 2007. In football, Walney Island Football Club were formed as Nautical FC in 1970, and competed locally in Barrow. They joined the West Lancashire Football League
West Lancashire Football League
The West Lancashire Football League is a football competition based in northern England, consisting of five divisions - three for first teams , and two for reserve teams...
Division Two in 2007 at level 13 of the English football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
, where they currently play.
Walney has become an important location for kitesurfing
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding is an adventure surface water sport that has been described as combining wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into one extreme sport. Kitesurfing harnesses the power of the wind to propel a rider across the water on a small surfboard or a...
and wind-surfing. It annually hosts one of the rounds of the British Kitesurfing Championship. In particular the flat, wide beach at Earnsae Bay is popular for this sport. Windsurfing takes place around the island, particularly to its west coast and around the mouth of Walney Channel
Walney Channel
Walney Channel is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water in the Irish Sea which separates Walney Island from Barrow-in-Furness on the Great Britain mainland. The channel forms the head of the Furness peninsula and is approximately in length....
.
In literature, Walney most notably appears, or rather disappears, in The Railway Series
The Railway Series
The Railway Series is a set of story books about a railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first being published in 1945. Twenty-six were written by the Rev. W. Awdry, up to 1972. A further 16 were written by his son, Christopher Awdry; 14...
books by Wilbert Awdry, which was converted into the television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. The books and television series are all set on the fictional Island of Sodor
Sodor (fictional island)
Sodor is a fictional island in the Irish Sea used as the setting for The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and later used in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends television series.-Inspiration and creation:...
, which is located in the position of Walney, though is significantly larger. Its east coast resembles Walney, and the main town to the east of the island is 'Vicarstown', located at the same place as Vickerstown
Vickerstown
Vickerstown is an area located on the Isle of Walney, near to the mainland town of Barrow-in-Furness, England. Albeit not part of mainland Cumbria, Vickerstown is still regarded as part of the town of Barrow-in-Furness. It is an example of a planned estate built for workers by a company needing to...
.