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Excellently preserved after nearly 40 years, Arnold Houses as they are today (1970).
The trusteeship of Arnold Homes, the four houses in Glen View Road, Burnley, for poor and aged people who are or have been local residents, was officially handed over on Thursday to Miss. M. Davenport, Mrs. E. S. Nowell and Mrs. W. M. Dearing, all members of the Soroptimist Club of Burnley. After giving a brief history of the homes, Mr. Jim Nowell conducted the handing over ceremony and related the following story of the homes.
The late Mr. William Arnold, who was formerly chief cashier at Parkinson's Chemists, Burnley, was given a loan by his parents many years ago and instructed to increase the endowment for the benefit of homes for old people. He carried out their wishes, and multiplied the loan by eight or nine times. He lived frugally in Hollingreave Road, his sole pleasure being occasional trips to Fulledge Methodist recreation room for a game of snooker. When he died, the residue of his estate was left to Mr. T. B. Nowell and his son Jim, with instructions that they should endow in perpetuity homes for poor or old people. Mr. J. Nowell then set about finding a suitable site. He said that he approached local authorities, but they did not lift a finger to help him, but he did find his site, and in 1937, four Arnold Homes were built in Glen View Road, where they still stand. The third trustee was Mr. P. Smith and when he went to Rhodesia, Mr. Richard Hart (a former general manager of the Burnley Express) was appointed in his place. Mr. T. B. Nowell died in 1954, years passed and Mr. J. Nowell said that by this time investment income had accumulated.
Until the end of the war, residents of Arnold Homes had free gas, electricity and coal, but as time passed, these amenities had to be withdrawn. Rates increased and repairs cost a lot. When the homes were built, they cost £750 each. Mr. Nowell said that he had been offered £3,000 for one only recently. But Mr. Hart and Mr Nowell both wanted to preserve the homes in private trust, and after Mr. Nowell discussed the issue with his wife, who is president of the Soroptimist Club of Burnley, a decision was reached. Mr. Hart resigned, and three local Soroptimists took over the trust, with Mr. Nowell retaining an interest.
Mr. Nowell said at the Soroptimist meeting on Thursday, when he handed over the trust, that it was a happy ending for him, as he and Mr. Hart felt that the homes were in safe hands. Each house is normally occupied by a married couple, but if one person dies, the other is not asked to leave. Mrs. Nowell thanked her husband for his talk about Arnold Homes and Mr. Nowell thanked Soroptimists, on behalf of himself and Mr. Hart. It was later announced that a recent auction held by Soroptimists had realised nearly £100.