John Whinnerah Institute, building in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, United Kingdom
The John Whinnerah Institute is an Art Deco style building from the 1930s located at the corner of Abbey Road and Hindpool Road in Barrow-in-Furness. It features distinctive gate piers at its front and was originally fitted with classrooms, craft rooms, a library, and shower facilities for its users.
The building was constructed between 1937 and 1938 on the site of former jute works and opened to the public on October 27, 1938. Its creation was driven by the 1934 Unemployment Act, which led to the establishment of training centers for girls who faced difficulties finding employment after leaving school.
The building once served as a learning space for women and young girls seeking education and job training outside traditional roles. Its presence in the town still reflects this commitment to community education from that earlier period.
The building sits at a prominent street corner in a busy retail area, making it easy to spot and navigate to. Visitors should know that only the front facades facing Abbey Road and Hindpool Road retain their original appearance, while the interior and rear have been converted to modern shopping spaces.
The building was once so well regarded that the head of the National Union of Teachers called it 'the finest Women's Institute in this country.' Few visitors realize today that beneath the modern retail spaces and shops lies the structure of an ambitious education project from nearly a century ago.
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