Homes for Inebriates, Whalley (Female Block)

LANGHO, BLACKBURN.   A meeting of the Lancashire Inebriates' Acts Board has been held at Preston. Representatives from Manchester, Liverpool, Bolton, Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Nelson, and other Lancashire boroughs were present. Tenders were discussed for the erection of the female division of the Inebriates' Home which it is proposed to build at Langho, near Blackburn, including the administrative block, the homes, laundry, boiler house, engines, recreation hall, lodge, construction of roads, electric lighting, &c. It was explained by the chairman that thirteen tenders had been received. These varied from £89,725, the highest, to that of Messrs. S. and J. Whitehead, of Blackpool, £71,249, the lowest. The Blackpool firm, however, had withdrawn, and the chairman now asked the board to accept the recommendation of the works committee in favour of Messrs. Gerrard and Sons, of Swinton, for the sum of £73,418. The clerk pointed out that since the scheme was first mooted, three years ago, the cost of construction of buildings, owing to the increased price of material, had advanced considerably, Mr. Littler, county architect, said he had never given any estimate, although something was mentioned about the beds averaging from £300 to £400. Under the present tender, however, nearly £16,000 would be spent on buildings which would serve for the male as well as the female patients. After further discussion the tender was unanimously agreed to, and the county architect was further authorised to engage a clerk of works at a weekly salary of four guineas. It was further decided to authorise the works committee to invite tenders for the erection of a male reformatory to accommodate 50 patients.  [Building News 25 October 1901 Page 550]

Reference    Building News 25 October 1901 Page 550
Reference    Builder 16 November 1901 Page 449 - extensive notes