History of Barrowmore

Barrowmore Hospital was founded in 1920, when Barrowmore Hall was bought by the East Lancashire Joint Committee of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and the British Red Cross Society. Barrowmore Hall, which was designed by the architect John Douglas (1829-1911), was destroyed by a landmine on 29 November 1940. New hospital buildings had been erected in 1934, and additions were made following the Second World War and in the 1970’s.

The hospital originally specialised in tuberculosis cases and was associated with the nearby Barrowmore Industries. Patients recovering from tuberculosis then were housed in hostels and houses in the village settlement and employed by Barrowmore Industries in making items such as sheds. The number of tuberculosis patients eventually decreased, and Barrowmore Industries became an independent disablement settlement, providing sheltered employment for people with disabilities.

The hospital was taken over by the National Health Service in 1948 and in later years confined its work to ear, nose and throat surgery, gynaecology, and orthopaedics. In 1983, following the opening of a new General wing on the West Cheshire Hospital site, Barrowmore Hospital was closed.

Barrowmore Timeline

1879-1882Barrowmore Hall built by Hugh Lyle Smith who created the whole estate.
1911Hugh Lyle Smith died aged seventy-seven and was buried in Barrow.
1920Barrowmore Sanatorium established by The East Lancashire Joint County Committee of The Order of St John of Jerusalem in England and The British Red Cross Society with 70 beds.
1931Their Majesties, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, as Duke and Duchess of York visited Barrowmore Sanatorium on the 26th of March.
1940The Village Hall and Clubroom (Social Club) were built by the Barrowmore settlers and opened in April. Barrowmore Hall was destroyed, and twenty patients and staff were killed in the air raid of 29th November.
1942-1946New Sanatorium was built. First part of Sanatorium opened. Woodworking activities halted for the war period in Industries in favour of sub-assembly of aircraft parts.
1948Barrowmore Hospital acquired by the state under National Health Service Act.
1949Further extensions to the sanatorium were opened in June by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester.
1954Hulme Hall opened in October by Lord Woolton.
1956Timber fencing and sectional buildings became the main products of Industries.
1962Constitution changed from collaborating with ex-servicemen with TB to working with people with disabilities.
1976Health Authority proposed to close and dispose of Barrowmore Hospital.
1984Demolition of Water Tower
1992Conversion works for new Nursing Home started.
1993On the 1st of June, the first residents were received into Barrowmore Nursing Home. His Grace the Duke of Westminster visit September.
1994     HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York opened the Barrowmore Nursing Home and The King George and Queen Elizabeth wing on 12th January.
1998Duchess of Westminster officially launched the Activity Centre at Barrowmore Nursing Home.
2000Celebrated our 80-year existence as a charity for collaborating with vulnerable persons.
2001Barrowmore Nursing Home ceased October 2001 and re-opened as Barrowmore House on the 18th of February 2002. Reasoning behind the Nursing Home closure was down to the field being saturated with private care homes working as larger consortiums leaving smaller schemes like Barrowmore struggling financially.
2002Following 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. Hulme Hall Accommodation ceased in February.
2003Barrowmore Supporting People began in the April.
2004Barrowmore Industries ceased February. Investors with People award achieved for Barrowmore House and Barrowmore Supported employment during December.
2005Planting of Wildflower Meadow in October.
2006Barrowmore House opened the training kitchen for use in November.
2007Barrowmore Vocational training commenced in June under Olas.
2008Barrowmore Parklands recognised for their Hedgerow maintenance.
2008-2009Matrix standard achieved.
2008BSE gained Pathways to Work contract in partnership with TNG in April.
2008VIP visitors Gyeonggi Province Self-Sufficiency Centre from Korea in May.
2008Barrowmore Court 2008 opened as independent dispersible accommodation for vulnerable adults and Robinson Close was refurbished likewise for vulnerable adults to accept their own independent tenancy.  
2013Our Bluebell Café opened to the public in November
2014Supporting People ceased. Cheshire West and Chester Council also ceasing funding for supported employees within the borough with a dramatic cut to funding towards the operational practices at Barrowmore and brought in floating support for the residents at Barrowmore House under Homegroup.
2015Barrowmore took the initiative to make more appropriate use of space in Barrowmore House creating a further seven additional rooms and bringing in funds to operate.
201720th May Barrowmore held an Open Day for the local community to see how Barrowmore had successfully progressed to the initial stages of how Barrowmore is recognised today.
2018Homegroup who provided floating support was tendered out and For Futures won the bid leaving Barrowmore House with no support provision for the residents. In July, Barrowmore became a standalone well recognised establishment supporting vulnerable adults as a private landlord with minimal housing related support offering signposting for other needs to residents externally.
201923rd March – COVID impacted globally. Barrowmore took the initiative two weeks prior to lockdown and put in additional good practices and preparation for the national lockdown.
2021September – Barrowmore continues to thrive as a private landlord offering minimal housing related support recognised for the excellence offered within Cheshire West and Chester. Staff and resident are all fully vaccinated against the pandemic and no case of COVID has occurred, which we are enormously proud to say and thank all the staff, residents and others involved for following the additional good practices and national guidelines.
2023November – The Bluebell at Barrowmore celebrated 10 years of being open to the public.

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Barrowmore
Barnhouse Lane
Great Barrow
Chester, CH3 7JA

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