Cottage Homes, School and Administration Building, Twiss Green Estate Culcheth

COTTAGE HOMES FOR SALFORD'S POOR CHILDREN - The memorial stone of the cottage homes which the Salford Union Guardians are building at Culcheth near Newton-le Willows, was placed in position on Thursday afternoon by Mr. Samuel Hill, chairman of the board. ......  The land which the Salford Guardians have acquired for the purposes of the homes at a cost of £4,500 is known as the Twiss Green estate, and it comprises 45 acres placed among pleasant country surroundings. The total estimated cost of the scheme including furnishings is £63,711. There are to be eleven semi-detached houses, each accommodating twelve children and the foster mother, and two detached homes for twelve children each, making a total accommodation for 288 children, and there is ample space for further extension in the future. The inmates will be provided with cricket and football grounds and trades will be taught there. It was originally intended to build a church, but after careful consideration, the Guardians decided that the children should attend the local parish church. In addition to the administration block, the buildings will include a school for 399 children. Mr Henry Lord is the architect, and the buildings are to be completed two years hence. [Manchester City News Saturday 21 September 1901 Page 7 Column 4]

CARING FOR THE CHILDREN - COTTAGE HOMES KENYON. To-day Colonel Sir Lees Knowles, MP, will open at Culcheth near Kenyon Junction, the new cottage homes that have been built by the Salford Guardians for the housing of children chargeable to the Union. The site of this new "garden city” for these little waifs and strays is a beautiful one twelve miles from Salford, eight from Warrington, and four from Leigh. The policy the Salford Board of Guardians is not new one for guardians to adopt, for twenty-three years ago the Birmingham Guardians established the first cottage houses in order to guard the children entrusted to their care from the influences of the workhouse and since that time many other boards of guardians have followed suit. The new village is a self-contained one. It consists of twenty-four homes, each designed to accommodate twelve children. The homes are arranged in eleven pairs of semi-detached cottages and two single cottages. Each cottage contains day-room, lavatory, and bathroom on the ground floor, and two dormitories, six bods in each, a room for the foster-mother, and spare room the first floor. Near the entrance gates are placed the schools, a mixed school for 180 children and infants' school for 100, connected by covered way. There is a spacious offices and workshops' block, containing superintendent’s offices, board-room; stores for groceries, hardware, milk, and meat; tailors, shoemakers, plumbers and carpenters' workshops; engine and dynamo room—where energy for lighting purposes will be generated, - boiler house,  laundry and swimming bath. The latter is 26 yards in length and from 10 yards to 12 yards wide. Water has been obtained on the site, and the water tower forms a prominent feature of the scheme. A clock tower has been placed over the stores, but as yet it is without clock." Near the offices is the superintendent's house, and not far away a small hospital of four wards, having four beds in each, with the necessary administrative buildings.  Simplicity and economy have been studied in the design of the buildings and the red-tiled roofs give a cosy and home-like appearance. The cottages have been varied in design in order give some little individuality to the homes. The area "taken up by the scheme is 50 acres. The site was once the grounds and orchard of old country house, and the finest the trees and have been left as they were found. The cost the homes is estimated at £60,000, which is £2,000 below the borrowing powers granted. Since its adoption in 1898 the scheme has been pushed forward as quickly as possible. …  Mr. Henry Lord, Manchester, is the architect, and the Guardians are much indebted him for many suggestions during the development the scheme. The work has carried out Mr. William Thorpe, builder, of Cornbrook, Manchester. The opening ceremony takes place just after midday to-day. [Manchester Courier Thursday 19 November 1903 page 9]

The children’s cottage homes (twenty-four) at Culcheth, built by the Salford Board of Guardians were opened last week. They occupy a site of 45 acres which has cost £4,500. Each cottage accommodated 12 children and contains a kitchen, day-room, lavatory and bathroom, two dormitories, a room for the foster mother and a spare room. A mixed school for 180 children and an infants’ school for 100 are near the entrance gates. An offices and workshop block contains the superintendent’s offices, board room, stores, shoemaker’s plumber’s and carpenter’s workshops, laundry and swimming bath. Mr Henry Lord of Manchester has aimed at simplicity and economy, but the cottages have been varied in design in order to give an individuality to the homes. The total cost, including land buildings and furnishings, is about £58,000 [British Architect 27 November 1903 Page 397-398]

Reference    Builder 3 December 1898. Page 513 Col 2
Reference    Manchester City News 26 November 1898 Page 5 Column 5
Reference    Salford Chronicle 26 November 1898 Page 7
Reference    Manchester City News 6 April 1901 Page 8 (tenders)
Reference    Manchester City News Saturday 21 September 1901 Page 7 Column 4
Reference    Manchester Courier Thursday 19 November 1903 page 9 -opening
Reference    Manchester Guardian 20 November 1903 page 10 – opening
Reference    British Architect 27 November 1903 Page 397-398

Archive        Plans for children’s home Culceth  are held in Cheshire County archives