British Gypsum has a plant at Barrow, and the parish is adjacent to the Swithland Reservoir.

[6] White's History, Gazetteer and Directory of the Counties of Leicester and Rutland (1877) says: Barrow-upon-Soar is a parish and large village, which gives its name to a Poor Law Union district, and a county court district.

It has for ages been celebrated for its excellent limestone, and is pleasantly situated on the east side of the navigable River Soar, and on both sides of the Midland Railway on which it has a station 2 miles N. of Mount Sorrel, 3 miles S.E.

Barrow township comprises about 2510 acres of land and had 1099 inhabitants in 1801, 1638 in 1831, 1800 in 1861, and 1973 in 1871, the increase of the last ten years being 'attributed to the opening of the limeworks.'

[8] The specimen of Atychodracon megacephalus, found in a lime pit outside the village, was nicknamed the "Barrow Kipper".