On 14 November 1940 the Luftwaffe launched its most devastating bombing raid of the Second World War so far and hit the aircraft industry plants in Coventry. Particularly hard hit was the Rover Company. However, contrary to the widely held poor opinion of bureaucracy, the Board of Trade and later the Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP) had been busy. They foresaw this circumstance and before the outbreak of war had been busy identifying suitable industrial premises in areas beyond the range of the Luftwaffe at that time which could be requisitioned and used as alternative accommodation for vital war industries needing to relocate because of air attack. The North of England fitted the bill as regards distance and the pre-war decline of the textile industry meant there were many empty mills. Barnoldswick, a remote town in the foothills of the Pennines qualified and in addition had empty housing due to the outward migration of workers during the Inter-War depression. The outcome was that the Rover Company moved, almost entirely, to mills in Earby, Clitheroe and Barnoldswick. I've told this story before so won't repeat all the details but the consequence was that an entirely new modern industry moved into the area, skilled workers from the Midlands were brought in so housing was needed and the redundant mill workers, used to factory discipline and skilled work, were easily converted to work in the new factories.
This was the biggest transformation in terms of available work since the advent of the canal in 1800 and the rise of the modern steam driven textile industry. Not only was this a new industry but it was more highly paid and this plus the demand for housing that couldn't be met by new building because of the war led to another transformation, house ownership, even space for lodgers, was at a premium and money flowed into it. Even the spare capacity already there in Barlick wasn't sufficient and what we now know as the Rolls Royce leisure complex at Coates was a new build as hostel accommodation for incoming workers. Rolls themselves came to Barlick in 1942 when they took over the new jet engine research at Bankfield from the Rover Company.
At the end of the war Rover moved out but Rolls stayed at Bankfield, Wellhouse and Gill Brow. The now vacant but completely modernised premises used as the Shadow Factories reverted to the previous owners and this gave the added benefit that in a country devastated by war and in need of modern premises for the new industries that sprang up, Barlick and the surrounding area had suitable premises and a disciplined workforce which could be easily retrained. These new industries attracted workers from outside and 1945 saw a high demand for new housing in the area.
This was the trigger for the first major addition to the area's housing stock since the turn of the 19th century and resulted in the advent of new Council built housing estates.
High quality modern houses like these, council built, solved the shortage.
