Harrison Drury advises on care home buyout

By Harrison Drury

19 Aug 2014

A registered nurse from the Ribble Valley has realised her dream of running her own care home after purchasing a Lancashire care business.

Ashlands Nursing Home, Rossendale, which provides care for 19 residents and has 25 staff, has been acquired by Melissa O’ Rourke and her husband Jason, following the imminent retirement of former owners Anna Mai and Arthur Marriott.

Melissa, 35, has worked in the care sector since leaving school, and recently spent two years as nurse manager at The Manor House nursing home, Chatburn. Jason, 43, a former joiner and surveyor, will look after the financial and administration side of the home.

The pair, who live in Sawley, have been learning the ropes at Ashlands since January and Anna Mai and Arthur will continue working with them to ensure a smooth transition now that the ownership baton has officially been handed over.

Melissa, a mother of three, said: “Owning and running my own care home is something I’ve wanted to do from an early age. I was lucky enough to meet Anna Mai and Arthur on a nursing course and after getting to know them they raised the idea of me taking over at Ashlands when they retired. I feel privileged to be taking over from two wonderful people and will strive to maintain the excellent standards for which they have made Ashlands renowned.”

Melissa got her first taste of caring for older people growing up when she used to visit a local care home to talk to residents. After leaving school she trained to be a nurse and worked for many years at Clitheroe Health Centre, also caring for her own parents, the late Anne and Albert Marsden, when they became ill with cancer.

“I have always had a natural inclination to care for people,” added Melissa who attended Bowland High School, Grindleton. “I cared for my own mum and dad when they were ill, so I know and understand what that feels like for family members. It’s made me want to treat everyone how I wanted my own mum and dad to be cared for when they were ill.

“The care sector often makes headlines for the wrong reasons, but many people never hear about the excellent job done by the vast majority of care professionals.”

Melissa and Jason were advised on the purchase of the business by Simon England from the property team at Harrison Drury solicitors in Preston.

Simon England, associate solicitor at Harrison Drury, said: “I’ve known Melissa and Jason for many years and I’m delighted for them. Melissa has dedicated her career to nursing and knows the care sector inside out. They are meticulous in what they do and I have no doubt that they will ensure Ashlands continues to be successful for many years to come.”

The detached, stone-built, Grade II listed property, situated off Turnpike, Rossendale, was built in the 19th century as a residence for local woollen manufacturer Samuel Ashworth Lord.

Over the years it has been owned by a number of other local captains of industry and businessmen, before being converted into a residential home for the elderly in the 1980s. The historic property was purchased by Anna Mai and Arthur Marriott in 1993 who re-registered the home to provide full nursing care following sensitive internal structural changes and refurbishment.

Latest news

1

Napthens advises Calico Homes on land acquisition for £23m Dovestone Gardens extra care facility in Burnley Paul Hardy

Napthens advises Calico Homes on land acquisition for £23m Dovestone Gardens extra care facility in Burnley

21 May 2025

2

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway Alan McBride Muse Will Town Defence Infrastructure Organisation Jennifer Chard Defence Business Services Cllr Lynn Williams Blackpool Council Garry Bowker Vinci

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway

20 May 2025

3

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities Skiddle cheque presentation to Alder Hey Hospital

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities

20 May 2025

4

Former Victorian Hotel approved for residential conversion The site

Former Victorian Hotel approved for residential conversion

19 May 2025

5

REVOLUTION PARK: Work starts on Darwen’s new home of advanced manufacturing Oliver Webber, Tracy Clavell-Bate and Tim Webber from Barnfield Group with Cllr Phil Riley, second from right, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council

REVOLUTION PARK: Work starts on Darwen’s new home of advanced manufacturing

19 May 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200pxtrident 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May
Freelancer Meet-Up May.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May

society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29
Artboard 15.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
29 May 2025 - 29 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin