The times Winston Churchill visited Barrow's shipyard

According to the diaries of Barrow housewife Nella Last, when the former prime minister arrived on Saturday, May 11, 1940, the men in the shipyard were very impressed by 'something' he had.

One man went as far as to say that 'to stand by him was to feel as if he had more pulses than ordinary men'.

His direct manner, apparently, appealed to all.

READ MORE: Photograph shows how low Hindenburg flew over Barrow on 'spy mission'

In the last quarter of the nineteenth century, Barrow experienced one of the fastest, most extraordinary transformations in history.

It changed from a small farm to one of the largest and most successful shipbuilding centres in the world in just a handful of years.

In the early 20th century, Barrow became even more important for building of vessels during World War l and in World War II was a target for the German air force looking to disable the town's shipbuilding capabilities.

The Sankeys were a local family who captured life in and around Barrow in the early 20th century. 

Throughout the Sankey online archive, there are several pictures which capture the war time leader in the town after he had been appointed First Lord of the Admiralty.

After he was given the title of civilian head of the British Royal Navy in 1911, he is pictured stepping on to Barrow soil from HMS Enchantress on September 25, 1912.

He is wearing his trademark bowler hat with cane and cigar stepping off the gangplank. A second man behind follows closely behind with two ladies can be seen still on board in the background.

Barrow ship workers look on with their hand in their pockets.

He is then pictured inspecting the shipyard walking along Bridge Road with a group of officials on the same day.

They are protected by a tall police sergeant who walks ahead.

A few years later, the legendary leader is then captured striding out from the entrance to Vickers main offices, again on Bridge Road.

The man behind is James McKechnie, a Vickers director. Women and children can be seen looking on in awe.

Churchill paid many visits to Barrow and his legacy here still remains.

After his death in 1965, his daughter, Mary Soames, visited the town to launch a nuclear-powered submarine in his honour.

HMS Churchill entered Barrow Docks December 20 in 1968 with one of its key roles being anti-submarine warfare.

In the 1990s, he made his presence known in the form of a large, cast aluminium-bronze relief plaque.

It found at BAE Systems in the shop stewards' facility during renovations.

The plaque has become somewhat of a mystery but is believed to have been moulded and cast at the non-ferrous foundry of Vickers Engineering.

It includes the Battle of Britain quote 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few'.