Nurses Home & Lees House Farm, Denton

Sick Nursing Associations
The origin of Sick Nursing Associations was in 1887 when Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses was founded with the object of providing skilled nursing for the sick poor in their own homes. Subsequently, many provincial sick nursing associations were established that were affiliated to the Jubilee Institute for Nurses. The number of nurses employed by each association was variable, depending upon the population of the district being served. To become a Queen's Nurse (aka District Nurse) the following qualifications were required:

In addition to the above training, a nurse working in a country district required a minimum of three month's training in midwifery. On gaining the first qualification, a student nurse was taken on trial for one month, after which she completed her 6-month training for the second qualification. She then had to enter into an agreement to serve as a district nurse for one or two years.

The salary during training was around £12 per annum and when qualified it was around £30 to £35 per annum with board, lodgings, laundry and uniform or an equivalent allowance for these if they were not provided. In some cases, there was a percentage deduction for maintenance of the Institute and in other cases a percentage deduction was paid into a pension fund.

Denton Nurses Home
The origin of this Nurses Home was a decade later at the time of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897 when, on the 11 Oct, a meeting of the Subscribers of the Denton Sick Nursing Association was held, with Thomas Woolfenden JP in the Chair. Among the subscribers present were: William Lees, William Tweedale, John Richards, Doctors Allkin, Griffin, Foreman, Stewart and MacGill; Revds Laurence Scott and David Rowe, Father H H Schurgers, Councillors Edwin Oldham, Linney and Cross; Richard Birkby, Frederick Bibby, Edgar Wilde, Mrs Hannah Louisa Lees, Mrs Broadbent and Mr Hathaway, President of the Co-operative Society. Mr Woolfenden announced that William Lees of Town Ln had promised £500 towards the cost of erecting a nurses home. It was resolved that Denton Urban District Council be asked for a suitable plot of land upon which to erect a nurses home.

On the 3 Aug 1898 a meeting was held with Thomas Woolfenden JP in the Chair. Others present were: Messrs Edwin Oldham, Richard Birkby, John Wade Taylor, Mr John Richards and Frederick Bibby. At this meeting the Board of Trustees for the home was founded, the Trustees being: William Lees, Thomas Woolfenden, Lees Broadbent, Edwin Oldham, John Wade Taylor, Frederick Bibby, Alfred Marlor, Richard Birkby, John Richards and a representative of a Trade Union to be named by William Lees.

William Lees was to erect, at his own cost, a nurses home on the site (location not then known) and vest the same in the Trustees.

As built, the ground-floor accommodation of the Nurses Home consisted of two rooms, a kitchen and a storeroom, while the first floor accommodation consisted of five rooms and a WC. There was also a full-height cellar and in 2009 this still contained the original copper boiler used for washing laundry. Outside there was a WC and a garage but the latter may not have been an original feature. A small garden was also provided.

The Lees Family and its connection with the Nurses Home
The illustration below show the Town Lane Brewery, Denton, and that the proprietors were James Lees and his son, William Lees, the business being styled as James and William Lees.

The principal benefactor of the Nurses Home was William Lees, a Master Brewer by occupation. He was born on Bolton Rd, Worsley, in 1850 to James Lees (b. at Denton on the 22 Oct 1814) and Alice Webster (b. at Worsley in 1809/10) who were married at St John’s Church, Manchester, on the 18 July 1844. William Lees defrayed the cost of the site on Market St, building the Nurses Home, providing furnishings and two emergency beds for around £1,000. It was opened in 1901 by his wife, Hannah Louisa, who had laid the foundation stone in 1900.

William Lees married Hannah Louisa Cartledge in 1887 at the Church of St Paul (aka St Paul with St Luke) on Brunswick St, Chorlton-on-Medlock. She was born on Higher Temple St, Chorlton-on-Medlock, in 1861 and her parents were Thomas Cartledge, a Coal Clerk, and Mary Birchall, a Shopkeeper, who were married at Manchester Cathedral in 1846. It seems that William and Hannah Louisa had no issue.

By 1861 the Lees family had moved to Town Ln, Denton, and James Lees had changed his occupation from Hat Manufacturer to Brewer. At this time they were living next door to James Lees' widowed mother, Mary, aged 83 years, who was a Farmer of 15 acres. Slater's Directory for 1903 lists a Lees House Farm and Mary Lees' farm as one and the same place.

In 1871 the family address was given as Town Ln and James Lees had the dual occupations of Master Brewer (employing 9 men and 2 boys) and Farmer (employing 3 men). At this time the 21-year-old William Lees was an unemployed Salesman in Wholesale Drapery.

In 1881 the family address was given as Town Ln and James Lees was described as a Brewer. His son, Thomas, was an Assistant Brewer but William Lees was absent at the time of the census.

In 1891 William Lees was living at Lees House Farm, Town Ln, with the occupation of Master Brewer, the house being situated on the north side of Town Ln near Vinery Hat Works and Melbourne St. The brewery was situated by the house.

In 1901 William Lees had retired and was living at Leesdene, Broad Ln, Bowdon, Hale, Cheshire.

William Lees died in the Altrincham District in 1909, aged 61 years, but it is more likely that he was actually aged 59 years. His grandmother, Mary, died at Denton in 1864, aged 86 years. His father, James, died at Denton in 1883, aged 68 years, and his mother, Alice, died at Denton in 1886, aged 76 years.

Past Events at the Nurses Home
The home was occupied by a succession of nurses belonging to the Denton Sick Nursing Association, which was founded in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. A fund was set up at Denton to relieve the families of local soldiers killed in action during the Second Boer War (1899-1902). This raised nearly £1,000 and after distribution a balance of over £175 was applied to the Endowment Fund of the Denton Sick Nursing Association.

Slater's Trade Directory for 1903 lists the building as the Denton Nurses Home with Nurse Hurley as the Matron. Trade directories for 1909 and 1911 list it as the Denton District Nursing Association with Mrs Amelia Ann Hall as the Matron.

Lees House Farm
Following the departure of the Lees family it reverted to being solely a dairy farm again. The 1911 census shows that the tenant farmer was William Broome (45) from Hucklow, Derbyshire, and he was resident with his wife Mary Elizabeth Edge (42) and other family members. The couple were married at Stockport in 1889. He was assisted on the farm by his brother, Nesfield Broome (25), and son, Reginald William Broome (16). By 1939 the tenant farmer was his nephew, Isaac Nesfield Broome (b. at Hyde, 22 Sep 1908). He married Marie Bertenshaw (b. at Denton, 20 Oct 1913) at St Mary’s Church, Haughton Green, Denton, in 1938.

Excursion to Hale, Cheshire

The members of the Denton Sick Nursing Association received an invitation to spend last Saturday afternoon at a garden party and 'at home' at the house of Mr William Lees, the generous giver of the Nurses Home in Denton. So about 40 had a most pleasant drive through Reddish, Heaton Chapel, Cheadle, Timperley, etc, to Hale, where they were received by their host and hostess. After a little tea and other refreshments on the lawn, the visitors rambled over the extensive grounds, and duly admired the most beautiful and varied flowers, and the more useful fruit and vegetable productions, which the fertile soil and the skill of man had combined to produce in such abundance. Afterwards a number of the quests indulged in croquet, or in the more invigorating game bowls, for both of which games there was ample space. The al fresco supper was partaken of, the tables being placed at different places on the lawn, or in the arbours. The shades of evening were then approaching, and the party commenced to hunt up their 'things' (Very convenient word, this) for the drive homewards, but before taking their departure, all got together on the lawn, when the acting president of the association, Mr R Birkby, proposed a cordial vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs Lees for their hospitality, and said he hoped that they would both live long and in health to enjoy the beautiful and good things of this life. (Hear, hear). Mr Birkby alluded to the long and trying illness of Mr T Woolfenden, the president of the association from its commencement, and said how sorry all were that he could not be amongst them that day. Councillor Linney seconded the resolution, and also spoke in sympathising terms of Mr Woolfenden, and also of the great use of the association, and the generosity of Mr Lees in making Denton the most handsome and useful present of a nurses home. (Applause). In reply, Mr Lees said how glad he was to see his Denton friends as his guests, and spoke of the activity and energy of the ladies and gentlemen who assisted, at considerable self-sacrifice, to make the association and home of practical use. He said he made provision in his will some years ago for some such institution for Denton as the home, but afterwards came to the decision, with the aid of his wife, to build the institution as soon as he could, and he hoped that it would long be of use to the public. (Applause). He was very sorry his old friend and their president was so ill, and not able to be with them. Mrs. Lees also alluded to the enforced absence of Mr Woolfenden, who had done so much for the association, and helped to make it a living reality. (Hear, hear). She trusted that the institution they were all interested in could long flourish, as it should do if the support was continued in the way it had been since the association was formed. It existed principally, but not entirely, for the use of the poorer classes, and was in every way deserving of support. (Applause). Dr. Duigenan said a few words in appreciation of the services of the nurses in so many cases where people had not the skill, the foresight, the time, or the materials to do many things for their sick at home which a trained nurse could do, and also instruct others; he spoke as a practical man. (Applause). The National Anthem was then sung, and after cordial leavetakings, the party drove to Denton, where they arrived about 11 o'clock. It will be seen in another column that the day following the excursion Mr Woolfenden passed away from this life. His end, though foreshadowed for a long time, was not expected so soon, and some of his nearest relations, active workers for the Sick Nursing Association, were amongst those who were the guests of Mr and Mrs Lees on this occasion.

Acknowledgement
M Smethurst & J Marlor for an increased understanding of the Nurses Home.


Nurses Home, Jul 2005.	Nurses Home, Mar 2009.

The back of the Nurses Home, Jul 2009.	Stone tablet over the entrance, Jul 2005.

Foundation stone, Mar 2009, removed May 2010 and subsequently replaced. THIS STONE WAS LAID BY M^RS WILLIAM LEES JUNE 30 1900.	Nurses Home, early 20th century.