Hindpool Retail Parks facts for kids
The Hindpool Retail Parks are a group of four connected shopping areas in Barrow-in-Furness, England. These parks offer many stores and fun places to visit. Together, they have a huge amount of shopping space, making them a big part of the town's retail scene. The four main parks are Cornerhouse Retail Park, Cornmill Crossing, Hindpool Retail Park, and Hollywood Park. There's also another large shopping area in Barrow called Walney Road Retail Park, which has stores like Asda and Matalan.
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From Factories to Shops: The History of Hindpool Retail Parks
All the Hindpool Retail Parks were built on land that used to be busy industrial sites. In the past, these areas were very important for Barrow's economy. For example, Hindpool Retail Park and the nearby Craven Park stadium were once home to the Barrow Jute Works, a factory that made jute products from 1870 to 1948.
Cornerhouse Park and Cornmill Crossing were built where an old cornmill and a big railway junction once stood. Hollywood Park was built on the edge of a former iron and steelworks. This steelworks, run by the Barrow Hematite Steel Company, was one of the biggest in the world between 1859 and 1963! It's amazing to think how much these places have changed over the years.
Cornerhouse Retail Park: A Changing Shopping Spot
Cornerhouse Retail Park has seen many changes. The Tesco store here has grown a lot, becoming a huge Tesco Extra with an extra floor. This means even more space for all your shopping needs!
Originally, there was a Homebase store, which also added an extra floor to compete with other big DIY shops. Now, that store is a B&M. You can also find other popular stores here, such as Iceland, Pets at Home, and Halfords.
Cornmill Crossing: The Newest Addition
Cornmill Crossing is the newest part of the Hindpool Retail Parks. Even though it only has two large stores, they are very popular. Plans for this shopping area were approved quickly in 2007. Before construction, archaeologists even dug up the site and found remains of an old steam cornmill from the 1870s!
The first store to open here in July 2008 was B&Q. It's a big "Mini Warehouse" store, replacing an older one in town. It has a large garden centre and a builders' yard. The other big store in Cornmill Crossing is a DW Sports Fitness centre. It opened in September 2008 and has a gym and even a swimming pool! Right next to Cornmill Crossing, you'll also find a large Morrisons supermarket.
Hindpool Retail Park: Growing Over Time
Hindpool Retail Park is the only one of the four parks that has added more shops since it first opened. In 2005, new stores like Next were built. Later, in 2015, a smaller building was added inside the park. This new building is home to popular places like Costa Coffee and Subway, perfect for a quick snack or drink while you're shopping.
You can also find stores like Poundland, Carpetright, Bensons for Beds, and The Range Home and Leisure here. There are even plans for a Burger King to open in the park soon!
Hollywood Park: Shops, Food, and Fun!
Hollywood Park is the most varied of the four retail parks. It's also the second largest. Plans for this mix of shops and entertainment were approved in 1998, and it was finished around the year 2000.
Hollywood Park is home to many different businesses. You'll find three places to eat: KFC, Pizza Hut, and McDonald's. It also has the biggest cinema in Cumbria, Vue Cinemas, where you can catch the latest movies. For shopping, there's Dunelm Mill, Currys, and T.K.Maxx. There's also a Nuffield Health Club if you want to stay active.
Recently, plans were approved for an Aldi supermarket to open here, combining two older units into one big store. Hollywood Park also has around 650 parking spaces, making it easy to visit all the different shops and attractions.
