Burnley Express
26 Feb 1971
Homes That Anyone Would Be Proud To Live In
"I would like these houses in 50 years' time to be able to hold up their heads among the houses of that day and not be ashamed," said the late Colonel A. Jobling when he opened the Colonel Slater Homes in 1927.
His wish os likely to come true, for the Slater Homes, in Briercliffe Road, blend admirably with what is left of the landscape, and with the architecture of modern houses.
Ten women and one man are presently housed in the homes, and in the 44 years since they were built, only one other man has lived there.
Mrs Sarah Yates went to the homes 25 years ago, and has lived in two of the stone-built sturdy dwellings.
She is now 80 and lives at 326 with Mrs Julia Edmondson, who is 81. She has been a resident for 16 years.
Delicious
"We are a happy little community here," said Mrs Yates. "Everyone is
friendly, and the phone in my hall is for the use of all residents. We each have our own interests and remain on good terms with our neighbours without imposing upon each other."
Mrs Yates and Mrs Edmondson have a rota for cooking and cleaning, and on the day I visited their house - clean as a new pin - from the kitchen came delicious whiffs of homemade meat pies, apple pie and custard.
The two women find that living together requires a lot of give and take, and that each one having specific tasks makes the sharing easier.
There are six houses, four with two bedrooms, two with three, but as Mrs Yates pointed out: "Three women together in one house has been tried out, but it doed not work." She has been there longer than any of the others and seen a lot of changes.
Eminent
Some of the women have come to live there with friends, others have set up house with a complete stranger, and in most cases the system has worked out all right.
In the early 1900's, Col. Hubert Slater was known locally as an eminent philanthropist, and had a plan in mind for looking after the elderly, which in concept was ahead of his t*** (time?).
When he died in 1911 his will instructed trustees to build and endow houses for a certain number of fellow townsmen and townswomen to be used as homes, "to which they might retire and spend in rest and comfort the eventide of their lives."
Oldest
His proposals were not carried out until 1927, when three pairs of semi-detached houses, the Colonel Slater Homes, were built in spacious grounds with impressive views towards Worsthorne and Burnley.
The old idea that women cannot live together has not proved the rule, for althgough the Homes were meant for both men and women, women have dominated as residents for more than 40 years.
The oldest woman living there is Mrs Gertie Watts, who is 88, but works about her home, and looks at least 20 years younger.
She lives alone at present but shared her house until her last house partner died at the age of 92.
She said: "There are rules and regulations but few of them are enforced now. I love it here. I have been very happy since I came. The others are nice people, and we are all friendly and we visit each other."
Her husband died 34 years ago, and she lived with her eldest son before coming to the Homes seven years ago. She is a former weaver and started work in a Burnley mill at the age of 12.
The youngest residents are Mr and Mrs James Peart who have lived there for one year. Mrs Louise Peart took me around her home, to show me how solidly the place was built, with polished wooden floors throughout, thick, stone walls and built-in cupboards.
Spacious
The houses look out across rose beds and pleasant lawns and trees.
Stone-built, they have mellowed with the years to a beauty enhanced by oak Tudor doors.
The living rooms are spacious. Planning would be the envy of many a young couple trying to find a well-designed new abode. The ceilings are oak-beamed, stair bannisters heavy, strong and elegant. All bedrooms, kitchens, and living rooms have cupboards big enough to make wardrobes, kitchen units or drawers, surplus.
Bathrooms are upstairs, lavatories indoors. Coal houses are inside and windows are wide bays. They are fine, beautifully built and designed little homes anyone would be proud to live in.
Mr Peart was a confectioner for 30 years. He is 68 and his wife is 66. She said: "It's lovely. It couldn't be nicer. To live here, people must be of good character, and everyone here is decent and friendly."
Encouraged
All the women who live in the Slater Homes expressed similar sentiments. All are happy there.
The Homes are maintained from the Trust by the governers. Rates, electricity, gas and fuel bills are paid; residents are encouraged to entertain their friends.
When they were first built, some people thought they were too elaborate and expensive, but this venture was meant to last.
The ideals and principles laid down by Col. Slater and carried out by his trustees could still be used as a model today for those who care for the aged.
The houses are what the Colonel meant them to be, homes in the real sense of the word. Through the years, dozens of women - and two men - have spent the twilight of their lives in contentment due to the kindness of one man.
Two images associated with this article can be found at
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Photo%20Archive/Briercliffe%20Women/Slaters%20Homes1.htm and
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Photo%20Archive/Couples/Slaters%20Homes2.htm
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