Briars Hey was a mansion built in 1868 for chemical manufacturer John Crossley. It is now a Grade II Listed Building on the Historic England website.
In 1938 it was acquired by The Sisters of The Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and became a convalescent home for children with heart problems. It was later known as St. Joseph’s Heart Hospital and continued until 1969 when Lancashire County Council purchased the premises to provide a Girl’s Secure Community Home with provision for education. It is currently owned by Elysium Healthcare and has recently undergone a makeover and is now known as Crossley Manor School which until 2019 educated pupils from 5 to 19 with special needs. Its current fate is unknown.
During the summer, traditionally at August Bank Holiday, a Gala was held in Rainhill – originally at Rainhill Hall. From the 1950’s until after the Millennium it was held at Briars Hey and organised by the staff at St. Joseph’s Heart Hospital and later by the Friends of Briars Hay, assisted by Rainhill Rotary Club.
The late Ken Dodd was frequently invited to open the Gala. (Early in his stage career, ‘Doddy’ had performed at the Drill Hall near the Stoops and he retained a link with Rainhill).