...just wait for some of the great photos dating back decades, coming soon.

Barrowmore's History

Barrowmore is a registered charity established in 1920 by the Joint Committee of the British Red Cross and the Order of St. John as a sanatorium to treat soldiers returning from the First World War with Tuberculosis. The colony of Barrowmore Village Settlement was established in the Barrowmore Hall, purchased from the Lyle Smith family in 1920 and later bombed and destroyed in 1940. See the Official Air Raid report here. Rebuilt as a hospital, it was taken over by the NHS from 1948 and continued to operate until it's closure in 1982. A workshop providing sheltered employment was added in the 1930s together with a residential estate for employees of the settlement and a hostel for single men was built in 1954. Following closure of the NHS hospital, the building was converted into a Nursing Home, which opened in 1993. On the site is a social club providing opportunities for meeting socially with local residents. This has given Barrowmore a unique range of facilities for meeting the needs of people with disabilities.

The Charity has responded to changes in the need for care in it's area and has widened it's scope to cover all forms of disability from all sectors of the community although ex-servicemen have primarily been given priority.

Due to unsustainable losses the Nursing Home was closed in October 2001, it's residents and patients re-homed and the building was converted into supported accommodation for people with disabilities in line with the government's initiative of Supporting People. It's first new core intake were the residents of Hulme Hall and now has a capacity for 32 people with a disability.

Barrowmore is managed by a Chief Executive reporting to a committee of Trustees, including members of the original organisations, which founded the charity.

Chronology of major events at Barrowmore

1879-82  Barrowmore Hall built by Hugh Lyle Smith who also built the whole estate.

1911  Hugh Lyle Smith died, aged 77 and was buried in Barrow.

1920  Barrowmore Sanatorium and Industries established by East Lancashire Joint County Commitee of The Order of St John of Jerusalem in England and the British Red Cross Society.

1931  Their Majesties, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, as Duke and Duchess of York visited Barrowmore Sanatorium on 26th March.

1940  Barrowmore Hall was destroyed and 20 patients killed in the air raid of November 29th,
- The Village Hall and Clubroom (Social Club) was built by the Barrowmore settlers and opened in April.
See the Official Air Raid report here.

1942-6  New Sanatorium was built.

1942  First part of new Sanatorium opened.
- Woodworking activities halted for the war period in Industries in favour of sub-assembly of aircraft parts.

1948  Barrowmore hospital acquired by the state under National Service Act.

1949  Further extensions to the Sanatorium were opened in June by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester.

1954  Hulme Hall opened in October.

1956  Timber fencing and sectional buildings became the main products of Industries.

1976  Health Authority proposed to close and dispose of Barrowmore Hospital.

1994  HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York opened the Barrowmore Nursing Home and the King George and Queen Elizabeth wing on Jan 12th.

2001  Barrowmore nursing closed and reopened as Barrowmore House - supported accommodation for people with disabilities.

2002  Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, His Grace the Duke of Westminster kindly consented to become the patron of the charity.