Fairfield Orphan Homes, Pannal Ash Road, Harrogate

ORPHAN HOMES. PANNAL ASH - A pair of orphan homes (the first of twelve) erected at Pannal Ash for the Primitive Methodist Connexion have been opened. Each home provides accommodation for twelve children, or a total of twenty-four. The contractors for the various tracks were as follows: Excavating, drainage, brickwork, and masonry, Messrs. C. Dawson & Son, Harrogate; carpenters' and joiners' work, Messrs. Watson & Hayhurst. Harrogate; roof tiling. Mr. Jos. Shepherd, Harrogate; plumbing and glazing, Mr. Chas. Foster, Harrogate; plastering and concreting, painting, Mr. G. H. Marshall, Harrogate. Messrs. Roger Oldham and Thos. J. Hill, of Manchester, are the architects.* The pair of homes just opened have cost £1,750. [Builder 19 September 1908 page 308]

 * It appears that Roger Oldham and Thomas J Hill worked together on this commission as a one-off association. No evidence has been found of any formal partnership and it is unclear who was responsible for the future phases of the work.

Work began on the children's home at 132 Pannal Ash Road Harrogate about 1907. It was a gift to the Primitive Methodist Church by Sir W P and Lady Hartley and built on the "'cottage homes" principle, with groups of children (six boys and six girls) living in family groups in domestic-scale houses under the charge of a house-mother. Four pairs of houses were eventually erected, together with a chapel, assembly hall, and residences tor the principal and the warden. The home closed in 1984 and the buildings demolished shortly thereafter. Housing now covers the site.

Reference         Builder 19 September 1908 page 308 – opening
Reference         http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/HarrogateFairfieldNCH/