The Retreat and its legacy of care and support to the book trade is largely a result of the benevolence of John Dickinson, the Victorian paper manufacturer, together with a group of like-minded philanthropists. In 1844 John Dickinson donated 3.5 acres of his estate in Abbots Langley to the then Booksellers Provident Institution. The aim was to build "comfortable residence, in addition to the annuity granted ....for those of the aged members and the aged widows of the members who may need asylum."
Although the language may have changed, the legacy of that original donation lives on. The original Almshouse, now known as Dickinson House, is still lived in today and comprises a terrace of seven houses, together with a Library for communal use, as originally built. It is now a grade two listed building with updated facilities, including central heating and double glazing.
The original building cost £2,600 and the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon laid the foundation stone in September 1845 with an appeal for funds; £600 was donated. A grand opening was arranged and further funds were raised. The first resident was a widower, Mr Charles Mutlow who had worked for Messrs Cadell and Davies of the Strand for nearly 50 years.
Continued fundraising and responsible financial management, together with a commitment to offer support and assistance to as many eligible people as possible1 resulted in the development of additional facilities; the grounds of The Retreat now also contain 24 modern bungalows. The first four pairs were opened in 1965, 8 more units in 1970 and a further 8 in 1978. The name plates attached to each of the bungalows reflect the perceived obligations and generosity which members of the book trade, both individuals and companies, feel towards those of their colleagues who need care and support in their later years. Some bungalows were built as the result of legacies or in memoriam gifts, others are from companies whose former employees have lived at The Retreat. All of them demonstrate that for over 150 years, the book trade has continued to look after its own.
The benevolence, care and generosity of the members of the Booksellers Provident Institution who founded The Retreat lives on. Its current Trustees and Directors are seeking to continue to provide housing for members of the book trade by refurbishing and upgrading the homes on the estate. A bold and exciting development plan has been started which will mean developing and extending the bungalows on the estate and adding a new Community Centre. At current estimates this development plan will cost over £2 million.
The Retreat is unique in that it is the only estate dedicated to providing homes for people who have worked in book publishing, distribution or sales, where they can live safe in the knowledge that they have a home for as long as they need it, within a community of like-minded people who share a common interest.
The Retreat is a secluded private estate near Kings Langley, in Hertfordshire, set in 5.4 acres of grounds, surrounded by mature trees and close to rail and road links. It currently offers accommodation for those aged 50 or over, who are retired or approaching retirement. All the residents at The Retreat live independently, as nursing and care are not provided; however, full time Society staff are on hand who can provide support and work with other care professionals and benefits agencies to provide any help and services, such as home helps and meals on wheels, that may be required. For more elderly residents, or at times of illness or risk, there is 24 hour on-call assistance.
The houses and bungalows are let unfurnished. Residents pay an affordable rent which includes gas, electricity and water, as well as maintenance, regular redecoration, and staff on emergency call 24 hours a day. Where residents are eligible for state benefits, including Housing Benefit, help can be offered by Society staff in ensuring that these are received.
Dickinson House, the original 1845 building, is divided into seven houses and includes the library for residents' use. On the estate there are now also twenty four bungalows, with kitchens, bathrooms and central heating.
The Retreat Manager organises regular events such as coffee mornings, as well as occasional outings to local places of interests, a summer barbecue and - for the last couple of years - Christmas dinner at a local restaurant. There is also good access to facilities in nearby Kings Langley and Abbots Langley.
The extensive grounds provide a restful environment, with fruit orchards, many mature trees, a good selection of wildlife, birds and butterflies; over 150 different wild plants have recently been identified growing on the estate.
The Society offers a guest bungalow at The Retreat for use by visitors who are visiting their relatives, or for potential residents to stay for a night or two to inspect the facilities and meet their future neighbours. The guest bungalow is also occasionally let to people who need a short holiday or convalescence in a restful environment as part of the Society's grants programme.
The Retreat represents the unique heritage and wide range of benevolent giving from the book trade that continues to this day. This means that the Directors and Trustees have a duty to maintain and manage the housing at the Retreat for the maximum advantage of the residents and BTBS.
The facilities are now being updated, in order to continue to offer the best possible facilities for the present and future residents and to maintain the vision of charitable assistance to the book trade. The requirement for greater accessibility for those with impaired mobility is recognised much more these days; necessary improvements to the bungalows include the need for lower steps, wider doorways and appropriate fixtures and fittings, while pathways and steps on the estate have been improved, with ramps incorporated in many areas.
The original bungalows provide moderately comfortable accommodation at an affordable rent; these were well designed with appropriate facilities when built in 1965/78. However, expectations change as society changes, and it became apparent that the facilities needed to be upgraded if BTBS was to continue to attract new residents to The Retreat. The Society felt it needed to offer one and two bedroomed bungalows, with updated and bigger, more accessible kitchens and bathrooms. This meant extending and converting all of the bungalows in line with the changes in social work practice and encouraging independence, and privacy, for as long as possible. BTBS would also like to provide one or two bungalows that are purpose built for wheelchair users. Within the Society's future plans, it is hoped that facilities may also be added for people who need extra care, so they do not have to move on to a residential home.
BTBS believes that these development plans are part of the continuing vision for The Retreat which will provide appropriate and flexible accommodation with the best possible facilities for the residents of today and of the future. Costings for the development plans were produced which took account of finely detailed construction requirements and the potential income stream from rentals, ensuring the viability of the estate well into the next century.
The first phase of the planned development was completed in summer 2000, with the rebuilding of eight of the twenty-four bungalows. As the eight developed bungalows filled so quickly, the Board felt this justified the continuation of the development project, although the overall timetable for the scheme depends on sufficient funds being raised. The Board originally approved plans to redevelop all twenty-four bungalows, including one, or possibly two, fully wheelchair accessible units, together with a community centre block which will provide much more of a focus for residents of the estate.
The Retreat's library/reading room was previously the centre of the estate's social life; without kitchen or sanitary facilities it was difficult to offer a range of social activities. BTBS felt that to offer more community facilities, both for the residents and also for elderly residents who live locally in Kings and Abbots Langley, a new community centre block was necessary, to provide greater focus for social activities at The Retreat.
This would allow the Society to offer a lunch club and a drop-in centre for light refreshments, advice and information, or just companionship; expanding the social life of the estate, enabling residents to have more contact and take a greater part in activities. The centre would assist in keeping alive the community spirit which is a fundamental reason why many people move to The Retreat. In practical terms it would incorporate a kitchen and toilet facilities (including disabled access) and more accessible office accommodation.
The generous donation from the Foyle Foundation of £400,000 has allowed us to
build the planned community centre. In addition a further 4 bungalows have been
developed. The second phase was completed early in 2002 and all
accommodation was rapidly filled.
Flats. BTBS realised that within the trade there was a need for affordable accommodation for younger people who cannot afford London rents. Accordingly, four one-bedroomed flats were built over the Community Centre. These attracted some 40 enquiries from which all 4 flats were rapidly filled; these will be relatively short-term lets. The take-up rate certainly justified the Board's innovative thinking and the advent of of younger people from the book trade onto the estate has enlivened the community atmosphere still further.
Opening. The official opening was performed by Colin Dexter on 26th February 2002, attended by over 100 guests - Residents, Major Donors, Patrons, Trustees, Directors and Friends of the Retreat.
The new community centre block also provides more room and better facilities for the successful book sales, which provide much needed income for the Society and also have the advantage of keeping residents in touch with the book trade from which they have made their living in the past.
The third phase will develop further pairs of bungalows together with conversion of bungalows for use by a disabled or wheelchair using resident. Extended care facilities for residents could be developed at this stage if the need for such provision is identified and cost-justified. However, further phases of the development are dependent on raising sufficient funds.
The Directors and Trustees are convinced that this development plan is a visionary approach which addresses the needs of the current and future residents of The Retreat and will take the BTBS through the new millennium as a thriving and vibrant organisation, which is able to respond to the changing needs of the book trade which it continues to serve.
Photographs by courtesy of KEN FRASER / CAROLE BLAKE / TREVOR COE
revised 20 Aug 2002