Model Lodging House At Church
 

I wasn't sure whether to add this on to the "Historic Waterfront At Church" thread but it might gain more attention as a "stand alone" item. During my limited visits to Church and this great Website particularly re an interest in Hargreaves Mill, I've somehow failed to notice that the building on the other side of Simpsons Bridge is a former Model Lodging House. It's already a bit of a coincidence that had the Haslingden Canal [Bury Basin to the Canal at Church] been built it would have passed just near my home in Ramsbottom. What I didn't say is that my house is a former Model Lodging House built circa 1880-and sometimes carrying on the tradition:rolleyes: I bought it as a former Scrap Yard and was considered mad for doing so. It's nothing like as big as yours though.

I've got some Church material to research but I'm wondering what info/stories/rumours etc Church locals may have. I was able to gather a reasonable amount of detail re my place from accounts in the Heritage Society Magazine etc. I see the MLH is one of the "core" buildings identified in the Gateway Plan of 2006 which sank in 2008 and was being given CPR again in January this year. Any folk memories of Church's MLH would be welcome or anything at all. Was it known as th'Model [as in Rammy] for instance? My place was still housing lodgers in the late 30's for example and was the centre of a Wild West period after Harvest every year when everyone came into town at the weekend. The story is that you could sleep cheaply standing up, leaning on both a rope and the next man along.
All contributions very welcome.
Dave W

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

I have not come across this before. I think that the censuses will provide the answer as to the occupants and use of the building .I think Church was in the Blackburn Poor Law Union from c1837 so from that time, vagrants and the poor would use the workhouse at Queen's Park. The building could have been a commercially-owned lodging house. There is a website - Google 'workhouses' but I don't think that Church will be mentioned. 'Model' meant that it was operated on the government-approved model for
such establishments. It might also appear in early directories. I have heard of sleeping on ropes as being cheaper than in a bed.

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

Dave, do you live in Paradise Street ?

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

For my sins-yes Wadey. ! Are you very familiar with Rammy? Do I know you?

Bob your expert input would be appreciated as always. I found a website today "Did My Ancestors Live In A Model Lodging House?" that sort of confirms my speculation that there was a Daily Mail type panic about working class conditions. The Deeds for my place show it was built for an Aristocratic Woman in Yorkshire [heresy I know] to raise 18 Guineas a year in income a tidy sum then. Perhaps it was a government supported "cash cow" like wind farms today?

Dave

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

I remember the saying when I used to lodge in Islington when the digs were full and I had to look elsewhere. "Go and have two penneth of rope" meaning find the shed where the tramps slept leaning on a rope.
I never used those facilities because I always had backup digs.
I knew a man who lived in Paradise street Accrington, he was a radio ham but I cannot remember anymore about him

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

The rope story is viewed with some scepticism in Rammy although the Scrap Yard guy told me that two elderly ladies turned up one day and related the same tale plus other details re the building. It took me a while to clarify that it was the Ramsbottom MLH as it had been confused with a [demolished] place on the other side of town that had been a Theatrical Lodging House. When people refer to the "Common" Lodging House I act all offended;)

Your Islington Story is very helpfull. There was a Paradise Street in Bury with a Folk Music pub but it's been obscured by town improvements now, the same ones that have turned Bury into a New York Multiplex! I tell people that I live in Paradise at the Centre of the Universe!

I think that there must be a whole rake of MLH stories related to Church. Early days yet!

Dave

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

i notice it was tuppence on the rope Gremlin not a penny. Always costly in "that London". Just another slight coincidence [Nicolas Roeg the Film Director seemed keen on synchronicity in the BBC4 Doc last night] I've always been very interested in vintage Radio/TV etc as per the chap in P Street Accrington.
I passed the Radio Amateur Exam at Bolton College in 83 but never actually transmitted-it all got a bit CB and offensive for a while.
Dave

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

I am on the case, Dave., checking censuses

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

Float with women, men with horse GARDEN PARTY. Edwardian In Paradise St. Rams with New Model Lodging House, Crow Lane, Ashton Chimney to south, maybe float for Ramsbottom Queen?

Ramsbottom Heritage Society - Image search results - "lodging"

May be of interest !

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

Struggling to find stuff to confirm the Church lodging house However, in 1897, Absalom Eddleston kept a lodging house at 41 Blackburn Rd, which was between the Commercial & Henry St
This block no longer there.
Tis a pity that David Hogg's bo0oks on the history of Church and Ossie are not indexed/

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

1901 census shows 55 Blackburn Rd as Mr Eddleston's lodging house - with 25 male boarders. This type of lodging house would be what was called an Artisans' lodging house. I am sceptical about the canalside building being a lodging house

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

Bob I only picked this up really through the photo of the MLH and Warehouse showing it with a banner for a Wedding Planning business or some such. The Gateway Document from 2006 isn't very specific as far as I can see. There were also other lodging houses in Rammy along with my place.

Thanks for that Wadey-i will check it out!

Dave

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

Was certainly a place in Manchester, cant remember where now, but the local saying was " Penny Rope int Doss House"

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

I was back in Church recently [nice pies at the shop on Henry Street]. On Friday 7th of August, my brother and I had a walk around in the sunshine with a view to looking at Hargreaves Mill and the Lodging House. I thought somebody might be working at the Mill or are they just using it as a Builder's Yard? The red brick Model Lodging House next door must have had going on 50 rooms. I counted three rows of eight rooms at the back! My brother pointed out that the section furthest away from the canal looks like designated accomodation for perhaps the official/administrative section or the Warden and his family? My place in Rammy had Warden accommodation but as it's part demolished, I'm not sure how that was arranged. We were hoping to find some sort of ID on the building but nothing? The header over what seems too be the front entrance is in sandstone and very worn away, contrasting with the Accy Brick construction. There seems to have been some wording on there once but very faint, we couldn't make it out at all. Any ideas? Phil rang me yesterday to say the MLH is now on sale at £240k. That seems opptomistic to say the least.

In spired by the Rammy/Church coincidence I made a rough list of others in Lancs at one point but it's misplaced at the moment. Shortage of time is usually the problem plus too many things going on.

I've known Accrington for years but never really had a close look at the Centre [apart from the great library building that served Jeanette Winterson so well]. We were really impressed as outsiders but I know those who've lived with a decline may not agree. It's still a very interesting place in our view. I tried to get a street map in Smiths but settled for a more general one instead. They cheerfully agreed that they get asked for these regularly but it's Head Office at fault apparently. Just like the old joke-we don't stock it-your the fifth person to ask this week. I'll be back on site in a few weeks.
Dave

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

Russell My brother Bob Griggs lived on paradise Street and he was a Radio Ham

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

I am not convinced that there was a canalside lodging house at Church

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

I know what you mean Bob-there is a lack of direct evidence from the building itself or anyone with any memories/stories. On the other hand it was hard to get any info re my place in Rammy for a long time. Maybe "decent folk" don't want to recall any association with hard times.

The Hyndburn Council report [Adopted in June 2008] "Church Canal Side Conservation Area Application and Management Plan" does indeed focus on Church but it's tone doesn't convince and the understanding/committment is questionable... plus it manages to coincides with the total financial collapse in that year, just when they were finally trying to do something-apparently.

To my mind, although somewhat patronising and written in archi/conservation speak it does seem historically valid and detailed. In Appendix 3, photograph 19 definetely shows the building at 55-57 Blackburn Road I'm talking about [currently with Right Move at £249k] and on the other side of Simpsons Bridge from Hargreaves Mill. It is described as the Model Lodging House-late nineteenth century. It's identified as a key building in the report! The Right Move description points out that the space on three floors is often subdivided into small areas [rooms] with walls that are not load bearing so they could be removed. This is how it would have been built as a lodging house in that period I suspect with partitions probaly built directly onto the floor boards, I've seen this before! Circumstantial but convincing evidence. Perhaps I can get in for a look?
Dave W

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

This is helpful towards proving it was a lodging house but I stlll have doubts. I think it would be worthwhile- but time consuming- to further explore for evidence. No time now to do it or reply in further detail. Good on you for finding this

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

Ok Bob thanks for that! I'll report any progress. I'm in the same position down in Sussex but I shall seek assistance.
Dave

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

Ask Accrington library to see if there was an obituary of the lodging house keeper if you know when he died, or if they have anything on him - a cutting maybe. [email protected]

Search the Blackburn newspapers on-line using keyword 'lodging house' or 'model.'or the keeper's name. Also ask Blackburn library if they have any cuttings on the chap.They may have a file on obits.from the papers

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

Thanks Bob-time and location as ever but I'll will try to keep on it. There was a radical Vicar on Blackburn Road. He seemed to have difficulty because he was more interested in helping people than arguing about the structure of the Church. I'm sure he must have been involved with the MLH at some point.
Dave

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

David Hogg's books on Church & Ossie may refer to it.

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

Will check that but I took the book to Rammy and I'm in Sussex just now!
Dave

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

Still on sale but that's no surprise. I'm back in Rammy soon so I will take another look perhaps. For some reason Church District has really caught my attention. Not just because of a possible family link or the Lodging House connection but maybe that I remember when Rammy was considered a bit of a lost cause.
Dave W

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

Hi Dave,
I note this is an old thread and I've no knowledge of the Church MLH. However my Great Grandfather is recorded on the 1901 census as lodging - with many others at 8 Paradise Street, Ramsbottom. A widower at 22,he moved there from Oldham sometime between 1891 and 1901

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

I have several photos of the Ramsbottom lodging house if yoy need any

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rossen...-aKxEiP-aGTeg8

In 1911 it was "Model Lodgings", run by a Mr Kipling and accommodating 37 males and 26 females. The word "institution" is added to the description.

Re: Model Lodging House At Church
 

I've not posted on the Accy Web since October 2016 [it seems] but managed a quick visit in September. Got some more great pies at the shop in Henry Street and walked along the Canal, with my brother, to Hargreaves Mill. We were pleased to see that the Model Lodging House next door has been renovated. A couple of what seemed to be employees turned up but we were on the wrong side of the road at that point. Who's purchased it and for what purpose? Has anyone any up to date info to share?

The front of the building has been cleaned which doesn't seem to have damaged the very faded inscription over the door any further but it's still impossible to read. I asked about that once before but nobody seemed to know anything. Are there any overall up-dates about Church District in general I wonder? Is THE Church [Kirk] still boarded up and on sale? All responses welcome. I'm away from home at present so not able to check things out myself.

Sorry I'd failed to notice the two previous posts from Bolton and Wadey [ you wait for one post and two come along at once!]. I've identified the G Grandfather of a woman who lives near me in Rammy as a Resident at my home in 1891 as well and the photos sound interesting. I will get in touch with both helpful respondents directly as I doubt they will be watching the thread. I'm still focussed on the Church Lodging House of course.

Dave W