18th
February 1971
Lumps In Throat as Northgate Lodge Closes
‘There's
no place like home’, the saying goes; and the last days of an old
people’s home may be a sad occasion. Such as been the case at
Northgate Lodge, Pontefract.
"We’ve
had a few lumps in our throats," said Mrs Lucy Taylor, an
attendant, and Mrs Lilian Fieldhouse, another attendant, agreed with
her, adding: "It’s dead queer now it’s so quiet. I liked the
life and the bustle. We enjoyed being called upon by the old people, for
we knew all their little ways. We’ve had some jolly times here."
Northgate
Lodge is so quiet because, although the home does not close officially
until March 31st, plans to transfer the residents to other
West Riding homes in the area, such as Hazel Garth, Knottingley, have
been effected much more quickly than was expected. All the women
residents have been transferred, but only five men remain in this huge
19th century building, which before 1948 formed part of the
Workhouse.
The
Superintendent and Matron, Mr. and Mrs G.H. French, will take similar
posts at Monument House, Chequerfield, when it opens in the summer after
long delays in building. Mrs Miriam French told the ‘Express’:
"Visitors
and relatives who look around Northgate Lodge say ‘Fancy closing a
lovely building like this’. It’s been ideal for some of the people
we’ve had. There’s plenty of room, so they never get on top of each
other, and they could walk about rather than sit in chairs all day. On
the other hand it’s intimate and personal in a smaller home. Monument
House, with its carpeting and so on will be gorgeous - the same as Hazel
Garth in fact. I’ve worked here for over 11 years - ever since I
answered an advertisement in the ‘Express’ and I find it terrible
walking through those empty rooms. I’ve enjoyed every minute here. The
staff, some of whom were here in the workhouse days, made all the
difference. I got all the co-operation I wanted."
"As
for the old people some of them seem troublesome at first, but later you
find they’ve got a sense of humour and you learn how to bring it out.
Some of them were sad to leave, but I am certain they’ll be well
looked after."
The
53 members of staff will go their different ways. Some were ‘Joint-used’
and will continue to work at Headlands Hospital; some are retiring; some
will go to other old people's homes; and some may be redundant, with no
job opportunities, as the West Riding County Health Department doesn’t
employ male attendants in its smaller homes.
The
female block at Northgate Lodge will be used as offices by the new West
Riding Social Services Department - there are no definite plans as yet
for the use of the male block.
[
1971 Index ]
