NICK Moule, from the Friends of Earby and Slaidburn Youth Hostels, sets out the history of the two stopovers, which are the only two of their kind across the whole of Lancashire.

East Lancashire is home today to two of the earliest youth hostels established by the Youth Hostel Association.

To be found at Earby and Slaidburn, the buildings are steeped in history – Slaidburn was previously a coaching inn, while Earby was owned by perhaps its most famous local resident.

Then known as Glen Cottage, it was once the home of Katharine Bruce Glasier, who became an activist in the international Labour movement in the early 20th Century.

She was one of the founder members of the Independent Labour Party and close friend of early pioneers of the Labour movement — such as George Bernard Shaw, Keir Hardy, who considered her the ‘mother of the ILP’, William Morris and Edward Carpenter.

Katharine married the political campaigner and poet John Bruce Glasier and from then on they worked together ‘in the service of mankind’, as stated on her memorial plaque displayed at the hostel.

Apart from her ‘socialist evangelism’, many of the causes she promoted had a common theme of help for the weak and oppressed.

She played an important part in the beginnings of the nursery school movement, becoming vice president of the Nursery School Association and was active in Save the Children, promoting and protecting the rights of children.

She led the campaign to help working class housewives, by persuading the mine owners to install pit head baths so that grime and coal dust were left at the colliery and not brought to the home.

Following her death, in 1950, discussions began as to how Katharine’s life could be commemorated.

Two years later, a memorial fund was inaugurated and ideas discussed as to how her memory could be perpetuated; one suggestion was to buy her home and the two adjacent cottages and adjoining land, to be used for some social purpose.

Eventually it was decided that, because of her involvement in young peoples’ issues, the cottages would be converted into a youth hostel, which was handed over to the YHA as a perpetual memorial to Katharine and what she stood for. It was officially opened in 1958.

On the other side of East Lancashire is Slaidburn hostel — one of the oldest in the YHA network, having originally opened its doors to visitors in 1933, soon after the association was formed.

The Grade II-listed building was previously an inn, known as the Black Bull and references to it go back to the 18th Century, though parts are probably older than that. When the old inn was adapted for use as a hostel the name was changed to Kings House, commemorating a local family whose history in the area extends back to the 16th Century.

Nick said: “The YHA was originally established with a clear mission to inspire all, especially young people, to broaden their horizons, gaining knowledge and independence through experiencing adventure and discovery in the countryside.

“The Earby and Slaidburn hostels with their long historical connections are certainly doing their bit today to achieve the original aims by continuing to attract visitors and helping give them experiences of the countryside here.”

n The YHA website, www.yha.org.uk gives information about the organisation, its hostels across the country and also how to book a bed at Earby and Slaidburn.