The former Reading Room on the Burton Road, now a private residence, was provided by the London and North Western Railway for use by the Railway Men’s Institute and a copy of the Lancashire Evening Post could be read there. The building was constructed around the same time as Helmside Cottages were built (1885).
“Membership was open to all aged over 14 for 1/- and billiards and dominoes were provided. Originally there was a Bible class, but things religious were taken over by the Mission Hall in 1912. There was a children’s class, Mothers’ Union with baking, crochet etc. The pensioners’ club lasted until c 1985. It was also a polling station.”
John Bateson
At one point monies were raised in Natland and Oxenholme to convert the Reading Room to a Village Hall for both villages but the stables at St Mark’s Vicarage in Natland were chosen instead for the newVillage Hall.
The Reading Room finally closed in the mid 1980s and became a residential property.
The former Reading Room, Burton Road 2011 Image courtesy of Google Street View 2011
Oxenholme Filling Station, Burton Road 2011 Image courtesy of Google Street View 2011
Mission Hall
The Railway Children’s Choir helped raise the £850 necessary to build the Mission Hall in 1906 on the Burton Road immediately opposite Helmside Cottages. Services were held there on Sunday afternoons and evenings.
The Mission Hall closed in 1951 and is now home to T.J.S. Northern Ltd civil engineers and construction equipment hire.
The former Mission Hall.Image courtesy of Google Street View 2011.
Reading Room
The former Reading Room on the Burton Road, now a private residence, was provided by the Railway Company for use by the Railway Men’s Institute and a copy of the Lancashire Evening Post could be read there. The building was constructed around the same time as Helmside Cottages were built (1885).
John Bateson advises “Membership was open to all aged over 14 for 1/- and billiards and dominoes were provided. Originally there was a Bible class, but things religious were taken over by the Mission Hall in 1912. There was a children’s class, Mothers’ Union with baking, crochet etc. The pensioners’ club lasted until c 1985. It was also a polling station.”
At one point monies were raised in Natland and Oxenholme to convert the Reading Room to a Village Hall for both villages but the stables at St Mark’s Vicarage in Natland were chosen instead for the new Village Hall.
The Reading Room finally closed in the mid 1980s and became a residential property.
The former Reading Room, Burton Road 2011 Image courtesy of Google Street View 2011
Properties on western side of Burton Road
Heading northwards towards the road bridge over the railway line, on the left-hand side:
