Buckley Hall
Encyclopedia
Buckley Hall was a historic house
in the hamlet
of Buckley
, in the Wardleworth
township of the Parish of Rochdale
, Lancashire
- what is now a district of Rochdale
, in Greater Manchester
, England
.
From 1888 to 1947, Buckley Hall was an orphanage
for Catholic
boys.
Described in 1889 as a former mansion belonging to a family by the name of Buckley
(and later Entwistle), the hall has long been demolished. However it gives its name to the Buckley Hall Prison
which now occupies the site.
in its various spellings was first recorded in the 12 century and was supposed to have descended from a supporter of William the Conqueror. The original Hall was in existence prior to 1626 and was demolished and followed by a new building in 1860.
, enlisted the help of the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity
, an organisation already active in the welfare and education of children in Belgium
and France
, to initiate a similar service in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford. This they agreed to do and eventually selected the Hall as a potential orphanage which was purchased in 1887. Following a year spent in alterations and adaptations to render the building fit for its intended use the orphanage was officially opened in 1888 with an influx of 28 boys. Six months later the diocese required that number to be increased to 80 and this called for an extension of the original building. Subsequent increases required further building until, finally, the Brother Superior decided on extensions on a much larger scale to provide accommodation for a total of 300. This also involved the provision of premises for the industrial training of the boys. All this work was finally completed by 1905.
The trades taught included plumbing, printing, bookbinding, joinery and woodcarving and boot and shoe repairs. The latter department also developed a manufacturing section which produced boots and shoes both for the boys and for the members of the staff. Master craftsmen were employed in each of these disciplines in order to ensure that the boys received expert tuition.
Extramural activities included the formation of a band and choir, both of which performed outside the confines of the orphanage, and the organisation of football and cricket teams.
Thousands of Catholic boys from across what became Greater Manchester
lived there and many of them grew up, found jobs, got married and settled in Rochdale
. Some, however, took ill and did not survive. They were buried in adjoining plots in the cemetery, along with some of Buckley Hall's teachers and servants. The last boy to die there was buried in 1941.
Historic house
A historic house can be a stately home, the birthplace of a famous person, or a house with an interesting history or architecture.- Background :...
in the hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
of Buckley
Buckley, Greater Manchester
Buckley is a suburban area within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northern fringe of Rochdale, along the course of Buckley Brook, "upon an eminence of ground" by the South Pennines. It is south-southwest of the village of Wardle and ...
, in the Wardleworth
Wardleworth
Wardleworth was a township at the geographic centre of the Parish of Rochdale, in Salford hundred, Lancashire, England. The principal estate of this township was Buckley...
township of the Parish of Rochdale
Rochdale (ancient parish)
Rochdale was an ecclesiastical parish of early-medieval origin in northern England, administered from the Church of St Chad, Rochdale. At its zenith, it occupied of land amongst the South Pennines, and straddled the historic county boundary between Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
- what is now a district of Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
From 1888 to 1947, Buckley Hall was an orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
for Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
boys.
Described in 1889 as a former mansion belonging to a family by the name of Buckley
Buckley (surname)
Buckley is a surname originating from either England or Ireland. It is particularly common throughout parts of England and Ireland, as well as Canada and the United States....
(and later Entwistle), the hall has long been demolished. However it gives its name to the Buckley Hall Prison
Buckley Hall (HM Prison)
HM Prison Buckley Hall is a Category C men's prison, located in the Buckley district of Rochdale in Greater Manchester, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
which now occupies the site.
History
The name of BuckleyBuckley (surname)
Buckley is a surname originating from either England or Ireland. It is particularly common throughout parts of England and Ireland, as well as Canada and the United States....
in its various spellings was first recorded in the 12 century and was supposed to have descended from a supporter of William the Conqueror. The original Hall was in existence prior to 1626 and was demolished and followed by a new building in 1860.
Orphanage
After the death of the owner in 1882 the Hall remained unoccupied for five years. Then Herbert Vaughan, the then Bishop of SalfordBishop of Salford
The Bishop of Salford is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford in the Province of Liverpool, England.With the gradual abolition of the legal restrictions on the activities of Catholics in England and Wales in the early 19th century, Rome decided to proceed to bridge the gap of the...
, enlisted the help of the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity
Brothers of Charity
The Brothers of Charity are a Catholic institute of religious brothers and associate members at the service of the people most in need in the field of education and health care. The institute was founded in 1807 by Canon Peter Joseph Triest in Ghent, Belgium, who also founded three other religious...
, an organisation already active in the welfare and education of children in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, to initiate a similar service in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford. This they agreed to do and eventually selected the Hall as a potential orphanage which was purchased in 1887. Following a year spent in alterations and adaptations to render the building fit for its intended use the orphanage was officially opened in 1888 with an influx of 28 boys. Six months later the diocese required that number to be increased to 80 and this called for an extension of the original building. Subsequent increases required further building until, finally, the Brother Superior decided on extensions on a much larger scale to provide accommodation for a total of 300. This also involved the provision of premises for the industrial training of the boys. All this work was finally completed by 1905.
The trades taught included plumbing, printing, bookbinding, joinery and woodcarving and boot and shoe repairs. The latter department also developed a manufacturing section which produced boots and shoes both for the boys and for the members of the staff. Master craftsmen were employed in each of these disciplines in order to ensure that the boys received expert tuition.
Extramural activities included the formation of a band and choir, both of which performed outside the confines of the orphanage, and the organisation of football and cricket teams.
Thousands of Catholic boys from across what became Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
lived there and many of them grew up, found jobs, got married and settled in Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
. Some, however, took ill and did not survive. They were buried in adjoining plots in the cemetery, along with some of Buckley Hall's teachers and servants. The last boy to die there was buried in 1941.