Queen’s Jubilee Nurses’ Home, 51 Crescent Salford
NEW HOME FOR SALFORD NURSES - The new nurses' home which has been built in Salford at a cost of £10,000 will be opened this afternoon by Lady Mottram. The institution has been provided to commemorate the long reign of the Queen and it is to be known as the Salford Royal Nurses' Home. In a report addressed to the subscribers to the fund, Sir Richard Mottram, Chairman of the Committee says: after considering the important question of the best locality in which to erect a home, it was finally decided that the most central position was a site occupied by land and buildings at the junction of Acton Square and the Crescent. The property having been acquired, competitive designs for the home were obtained and those prepared by Mr Henry Lord, architect, were adopted and a contract for the work entered into with Mr John Ramsbottom of Pendleton. A contract with Messrs Waring & Gillow, for the furnishings was subsequently also entered into. The new building was completed and furnished in December 1899 and in occupation by the nurses at Christmas of that year. The home is a handsome building of red brick with terra cotta dressings, and is in character with the Royal Technical Institution on the opposite side of the road. It is fully provided with electric light and the most modern sanitary arrangements. At today's ceremony the building will be handed over to trustees on behalf of the Manchester & Salford Sick, Poor and Private Nursing Institution as a gift from the subscribers. [ Manchester City News 26 January 1901 Page 5 Col 7 ]
SALFORD ROYAL DISTRICT NURSES’ HOME - The Home is large and handsome. Separated from the road by a stretch of green, it is an ornament to the district, and is quite in harmony with the Technical Institute on the opposite side. The interior of the building at once suggests comfort and convenience, while artistic taste and wise expenditure are manifest on every hand. No pains have been spared to render the Home in every way suited to the needs of those who occupy it; and there is a sense of quiet and rest‑fulness in the rooms, which must be most welcome to the nurses, who are obliged to spend so many hours each day in contact with much that is mean and sordid, and who, from the nature of their work, look upon so much suffering, which their utmost efforts can only partially relieve. The strain would in many cases be too severe, were it not for other aspects of life which may be presented to them in leisure time.
On the ground floor are the large dining room and the common sitting room for the nurses; the latter, with its couch and many easy chairs, beautiful engravings, and piano, and walls decorated in art shades, looks the embodiment of comfort and refreshment for tired bodies and jaded nerves. In the dining room, in addition to the usual requirements, is a very cosy recess, with a window, where a nurse can entertain her friends with less publicity than in the common sitting room. On this floor also are the matron's private room, the kitchens, and the "District room"; the last‑named being a cloak room, fitted with hooks and cupboards, divided into compartments to hold district bags, aprons, etc. Other cupboards contain nursing accessories. The matron's office is near the principal entrance, and adjoining this is a store room. On the shelves of its cupboards stand numerous bottles and jars, each with its label, arrayed in perfect order. Here, too, are blankets, sheets, etc., to be lent to needy patients. On the walls hang what at first sight appear to be crutches but which turn out to be parts of a bronchitis tent, in a state of dissolution!
The most interesting feature in the basement is the clever contrivance for suspending the nurses' cloaks round a stove to dry on a wet day. The cloaks may be hung up in a soaking condition, but in a short time they are again ready for use. The first and second floors are devoted to bedrooms for the nurses and the servants. The furniture is simple, but all that is necessary, and leaves scope for the occupant to decorate according to individual taste; each nurse having a separate room. One room there is of which, happily, no use has yet been made - an isolated room, in case of infectious illness. All the beds are the gift of Messrs Chorlton and Co.
Not the least attractive feature is the staircase, the windows being of stained glass; arches lead to the various corridors, beautiful engravings hang on the walls, and on those of the principal rooms, the gift of Mr G. N. Agnew and Mr J. E. Lord. Among the matter‑of‑fact conveniences, the laundry is pre‑eminent; the machinery and various fittings being given by Mr. Thomas Bradford. This beautiful home furnishes accommodation for 15 nurse a, matron and servants. At present there are 12 nurses, two of whom are receiving their district training. The Home has been occupied since Christmas, but it is hoped that the formal opening by Lady Mottram will take place during the summer. The cost of building and furnishing is £10,000. The title of "Royal" was conferred on it by the Queen. [Manchester Faces and Places Volume XI No. 7. July 1900 Pages 110-113]
Jubilee House was occupied from December 1899 and was officially opened by Lady Mottram on 26th January, 1901, although originally scheduled for summer 1900.
The home was later used as offices for the Heath Visiting Services and a Home for Mentally Handicapped Adults. In 1978-79 Hattrell & Partners carried out fire precautions and upgrading works which reduced the resident population to 28 persons. Unfortunately these works involved the introduction of screens round the previously open main staircase and the provision of a further external escape stair. Subsequently the building became the Working Class Movement Library, started by Ruth and Eddie Frow.
