‘Dayle and Lucy along the Coast Road’ from the series The Binding Tide by Nicholas J R White
When Nicholas J R White was invited to photograph the coastal town of Barrow-in-Furness, he went in with an open mind, determined to be led by “curiosity”.
Once renowned for shipbuilding and now the hub of Britain’s nuclear arsenal, the biggest town in Cumbria comes with visual baggage.
White had been commissioned by Signal Film and Media to respond to the Sankey Photography Archive, a collection of photographs portraying the industrial and social heritage of Barrow and surrounding areas.
The result is The Binding Tide, a fresh look at the landscape, people, history and contemporary reality of the town that is just a short drive from the Lake District.
“I was aware of how Barrow has been portrayed in the past and was keen to steer the visual discourse towards that of quiet beauty,” says White, a former recipient of the TPS/RPS Environmental Bursary.
Here, he shares five images from the series – and the stories behind them.
1. ‘Dayle and Lucy along the Coast Road’ from the series The Binding Tide by Nicholas J R White [See main image above]
“The mudflats of Barrow define this region. They’re a hub of industry and leisure. At low tide this expansive landscape becomes a hive of activity – from wading birds to equestrians, oyster farmers to hovercraft enthusiasts.”
2. ‘Adrian from the Barrow Model Boating Club’ from the series The Binding Tide by Nicholas J R White
“For this work I was interested in talking about the Barrow that exists beyond narratives of submarine manufacturing and heavy industry. That said, Barrow’s maritime heritage is a large part of its identity. My challenge was to include this in the conversation without photographing the giant shipyards that dominate the town. This was achieved through making portraits of members from the Barrow Model Boating Club.”
3. ‘Wildfire on Biggar Bank’ from the series The Binding Tide by Nicholas J R White
“This work was made in response to a photographic archive produced during periods of heavy industry where black smoke filled the skies above Barrow. This wildfire on Biggar Bank allowed me to weave that visual element into my contemporary photographs of Barrow.”
4. 'View from the Black Huts’ from the series The Binding Tide by Nicholas J R White
“There are a number of nature reserves surrounding Barrow, a landscape often ignored in favour of the nearby fells of the Lake District. This work was about finding moments of quiet beauty in an area often dominated by industry. This photograph, made at dawn on Sandscale Haws Nature Reserve, looks across the water towards North Walney Nature Reserve.”
5. ‘Diver, Ramsden Dock’ from the series The Binding Tide by Nicholas J R White
“The Sankey Photographic Archive contains a wonderful group portrait of Victorian railworkers and a team of divers posing at the entrance to the docks in Barrow. Divers of this time wore particularly heavy dive suits, with metal helmets and breast plates. This portrait of a commercial diver was a direct nod to that particular archive photo.”
The Binding Tide outdoor exhibition is at Barrow Town Hall Courtyard, Barrow-in Furness, until 31 August 2025. See ‘My place’ in the October-December 2025 issue of the RPS Journal.
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