A
Little History
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"LEST
WE FORGET"
THE
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE CONVALESCENT
HOME FOR MEN FOUNDED 1917
THE
NATIONAL MEMORIAL TO THE MEN
OF THE
UNITARIAN AND FREE CHRISTIAN
CHURCHES WHO FELL IN THE WAR
19-14 - 1918
THESE
PREMISES WERE ERECTED IN 1930
- 31
AND OPENED ON 16TH MAY 1931
BY
HARRY HIRSCH Esq. OF LEEDS
T.M
FALCONER. CHAIRMAN HOMES COMMITTEE
J. DAVIES. VICE CHAIRMEN
T.FLETCHER ROBINSON W.P CRANKSHAW
TREASURERS
CHARLES PEACH. SECRETARY
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The
Nightingale Centre and its Unitarian
links go back to the early 1930’s
when a convalescent home for ex-servicemen
was built on the site in Great Hucklow.
It replaced a more primitive building
at Windmill village a mile along the
road. Also in existence was a similar
establishment for women, a large property
called Barleycrofts. This has now been
converted into three residences and
is situated opposite the village chapel.
It is these buildings along with an
area of ancient woodland that makes
up the present-day Nightingale complex.
In
the early 20th century ‘deprived’
children from the inner city areas of
Sheffield and Manchester were brought
to the centre on open-topped lorries.
Typically they stayed for a week, often
introduced to country life for the first
time. They were accommodated in a Children’s
home complex which has long since been
demolished. By today’s standard
it was all rather primitive but some
1500 children each year benefited from
the fresh air and outdoor experience
the beautiful Derbyshire countryside
had to offer.
The
commitment to social responsibility
and the needs of children has continued
and is an intrinsic part of the Nightingale
Centre’s year, with weeks set
aside every summer to provide children
in need with a week’s holiday
at the Centre arranged by the ‘Send
a Child to Hucklow’ organisation.
Over
the years the Nightingale Centre has
been much developed and extensively
modernised, but throughout it has provided
a place where groups of people of all
ages can meet in a caring, warm and
friendly environment allowing everyone
who crosses the threshold to benefit
from its unique ambience.
