Fern Bank began as a fairly humble home built by Thomas Hargreaves and was extended substantially by his daughter Mary Ann and Alfred Lancaster. With many members of Alfred’s family living locally and running the family’s mills, it would have no doubt been a place where family members congregated to socialise and discuss business.

During WWI, Burnley suffered disproportionate casualties compared to many other towns and cities, resulting in a dip in population. Whilst the Lancaster Family didn’t lose anyone, at the time, large country houses all over Britain were being demolished by their owners. After WWII, social, political and, most importantly, financial reasons brought an end to the era of aristocrats with big houses providing employment for servants. Although not the grandest of country houses, properties like Fern Bank reduced in value. After Mary Ann died in 1931 aged 74 years (the same year her daughter Ethel died). Mary Ann’s youngest daughter Alice who was unmarried, may have remained in the house but Britain’s great depression, taxation, maintenance and death duties would have made Fern Bank an unattractive inheritance proposition for any remaining relatives in the 1930s and 1940s. Fern Bank was claimed through adverse possession by the County Council and must have stood empty for at least 10 years, between 1931 and 1951.

In 1951 Fern Bank Childrens Home became the first to be established under the Children’s Act of 1948 (to help orphans after WWII). It was opened by the Mayor of Burnley, Mayor Alderman Tom Maxfield.

Time and more social change meant that Fern Bank was eventually used as offices for Children’s Services. Fern Bank remained the property of Lancashire County Council until 2015 when it was bought by the Bowen Family in an almost derelict condition after being neglected and standing empty for over a year. Sadly, all ten fireplaces, the original doors and much of the original character of the building had already been removed. The building had serious damp issues and a very cold, utilitarian feel. The Bowens saved some of the building’s beautiful covings, restored some of its original grandeur and opened it up as Fernbank Business Centre in 2016.