Workhouse Collection

Highwood School, Brentwood, Essex
The administration block at Highwood (or High Wood) School, Brentwood, Essex. The school was opened by the Metropolitan Asylums Board in 1904 for the treatment of ophthalmia in children

Childrens nursery, Chorlton Union Cottage Homes, Styal
View inside a childrens nursery at the cottage homes in Styal, Cheshire, with a large group of girls and boys posing for their photograph

Charlie Chaplin as the little tramp
Film actor and director Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977), film star and director, seen here in his little tramp costume, probably in a still from his 1925 film, The Gold Rush

Shotley Bridge General Hospital, County Durham
Aerial view of Shotley Bridge Hospital, County Durham. It was originally opened by the Gateshead Union in 1912 as a TB sanatorium (far right of picture)

The Hollies Childrens Home, Sidcup, Kent
Aerial view of The Hollies, the Greenwich & Deptford Unions cottage homes at Lamorbey, near Sidcup, Kent, opened in 1902 to house pauper children away from the workhouse

Boys Swimming, Training Ship Mercury, River Hamble, Hants
Boys from the Training Ship Mercury swimming nude in the River Hamble. The Mercury, established in 1885 by the London philanthropist Charles Hoare

Warwick County Mental Hospital, Hatton, Warwickshire
An aerial view of the Warwick County Mental Hospital at Hatton, Warwickshire, originally opened in 1846 as the Warwick County Lunatic Asylum. The site later became known as the Central Hospital

Compass Drill, Training Ship Arethusa, Greenhithe, Kent
A group of boys aboard the Training Ship Arethusa receiving compass instruction. The ship received boys aged 13-16 from a variety of poor backgrounds, including the workhouse

Busy street scene at Spitalfields, East End of London
A busy street scene at Spitalfields in the East End of London. The location is the junction of Commercial Street and Brushfield Street. The building at the right is Spitalfields Market

Mount Pleasant Hotel, Kings Cross, London
The Mount Pleasant Hotel at the corner of Kings Cross Road and Calthorpe Street, Central London. The building was originally erected in 1894 as one of Londons six Rowton Houses - large

Union Workhouse, Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland
Female lunatic inmates sit in an airing yard at the Cootehill Union Workhouse, County Cavan, Ireland

Knotting Class, Training Ship Arethusa, Greenhithe, Kent
A group of boys aboard the Training Ship Arethusa receiving knotting and splicing instruction. The ship received boys aged 13-16 from a variety of poor backgrounds, including the workhouse

Manchester Warehousemen Orphan Schools, Cheadle Hulme
The Manchester Warehousemen Orphan Schools, on Claremont Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire. The school was founded in 1855 by a group of Manchester businessmen to care for and educate orphans

A Plan of the town of Sheffield in the county of York drawn by W. Fairbank 1797. Engraved by Thomas Harris
Original at Sheffield Local Studies Library:s 45 S

Guinness Lodging Houses, Lever Street, London. The building was erected in 1890 by the Guinness Trust to provide cheap housing for working men. Date: Date unknown

Training Ship Mercury and boys racing crew, River Hamble
The racing crew of the training ship Mercury with the ship itself in the background. The Mercury, established in 1885 by Charles Hoare, was originally based at Binstead, Isle of Wight

Street in Wapping, East End of London
A view of a narrow street in Wapping, East London. A group of children are at hand to observe the proceedings

North Wales Lunatic Asylum, Denbigh, North Wales
Administration block of the North Wales Lunatic Asylum at Denbigh, opened in 1848 and designed by Thomas Fulljames

Chase Farm Hospital, Enfield, Middlesex
Aerial view of Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield, Middlesex. The building was originally the Chase Farm Schools, opened in 1886 by the Edmonton Union to house pauper children away from the workhouse

View of Wandsworth Prison
Exterior view of Surrey Prison and House of Correction, Wandsworth Date: 1862

Jewish Children, East End of London
A crowd of Jewish children in the East End of London

Staffordshire County Asylum, Cheddleton, near Leek
The Staffordshire County Lunatic Asylum was established in 1898 on Cheadle Road, Cheddleton, near Leek. It was later known as Staffordshire Mental Hospital, then St Edwards Mental Hospital

Asylum Lodge, Devizes, Wiltshire
The entrance lodge to the County Lunatic Asylum at Devizes, Wiltshire opened in 1851. In 1924 it was renamed Wiltshire County Mental Hospital, then in 1948 renamed Roundway Hospital

Banstead Asylum, Surrey
Banstead Asylum, located on Sutton Lane, Banstead, Surrey, was established in 1877 as the Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum

West Middlesex Hospital, Isleworth, Middlesex
The West Middlesex Hospital, originally erected as an infirmary for the Brentford Union workhouse on Twickenham Road, Isleworth

Dorking General Hospital, Surrey
Aerial view of Dorking General Hospital on Horsham Road, Dorking, Surrey. Designed by William Shearburn, the building opened in 1841 as the Dorking Union workhouse

Stone Asylum, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Entrance to the Buckinghamshire County Lunatic Asylum at Stone, near Aylesbury. A porter stands at the right of the gateway

Market Hill and former workhouse, Maldon
A view of Market Hill, Maldon, Essex. The large building at the left is the Maldon Unions former workhouse. Date: circa 1900

Pateley Bridge
A aerial view of Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire, viewed from the west. Landmarks include the parish church (just left of centre)

Cardiff Workhouse, Cowbridge Road, Cardiff
The Cardiff Union workhouse (left) on Cowbridge Road, Cardiff. In the street are a tram, horses and carts, pedestrians and a cyclist. Date: circa 1911

Park Hospital, Davyhulme, Manchester
Aerial view of the Park Hospital at Davyhulme, Manchester, originally opened in 1929 as the workhouse hospital for the Barton Upon Irwell Poor Law Union

Childrens Playroom, St Pelagias Home, Highgate
The childrens playroom at St Pelagias Home for penitent girls at 34 Highgate West Hill, London N6. The home provided accommodation for unmarried mothers and their children. Date: circa 1932

Mint Street Workhouse, Southwark, south London
View of the entrance (right of centre) to the St Saviours Union workhouse on Mint Street, Southwark, south London. Passers-by include a man carrying a small child

Driffield Union workhouse, East Yorkshire
The entrance to the union workhouse (or Poor Law Institution) on Bridlington Road, Driffield, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Two inmates can be seen on the left, sitting on a bench

Aerial view of Forest Gate Hospital, East London
An aerial view of the Forest Gate Hospital, London E7. The hospital was originally opened in 1854 by the Whitechapel Union as an industrial school for 800 children

Brockhall Hospital, Langho, near Blackburn, Lancashire
Aerial view of Brockhall Hospital at Langho, near Blackburn, Lancashire, established in 1904 by the Lancashire Inebriates Acts Board as an inebriate reformatory for women

Houseless and Hungry by Luke Fildes
A study entitled Houseless and Hungry by Luke Fildes depicting homeless paupers queuing outside the casual ward of a London workhouse. A policeman stands at the left of the scene

Guiltcross Union Workhouse, Kenninghall, Norfolk
The Guiltcross Union Workhouse, designed by William Thorold, was erected in 1836-7 at Kenninghall, Norfolk. After its closure in 1902 the site was acquired by the Rev Harold Burden

Union Workhouse, Sleaford, Lincolnshire
An aerial view of the Sleaford Union workhouse. Designed by William J Donthorn, the building was erected in 1837-8 on East Gate in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. The site later became known as Slea View

Rochdale Union Workhouse, Dearnley, Lancashire
The approach to the Rochdale Union workhouse, opened in 1877 at Dearnley, near Rochdale, Lancashire. The site later became Birch Hill Hospital

Withington Hospital, Manchester
Entrance to Withington Hospital, Nell Lane, Manchester, opened in 1855 as Chorlton Union workhouse. A horse and carriage stands outside the gates

Walton Hospital, Liverpool
Walton Hospital, Rice Lane, Walton on the Hill, Liverpool. The central clock tower concealed a large water storage tank. The building was designed by William Culshaw

Union Workhouse and Infirmary, Crumpsall, Manchester
Aerial view of the Manchester Union workhouse and infirmary at Crumpsall. At the bottom of the picture can be seen the original workhouse (later Springfield Hospital) with an entrance on the right

Congleton Union Workhouse, Arclid, Cheshire
Aerial view of Congleton Union workhouse at Arclid, Sandbach, Cheshire. The building, erected in 1844-5, was designed by Henry Bowman. It later became Arclid Hospital

Union Workhouse, Wokingham, Berkshire
The Wokingham Union workhouse, Berkshire. The workhouse, opened in 1850 on Barkham Road, Wokingham, later became Wokingham Hospital

Union Workhouse, Wantage, Oxfordshire
The Wantage Union workhouse, Oxfordshire. The workhouse, designed by Sampson Kempthorne, was erected in 1836 on Hungerford Road, Wantage, and later became the Downs Hospital

Poplar Workhouse, East London
A side view of one of the blocks of the Poplar Union workhouse, located on Poplar High Street, East London

Christmas Day in the Workhouse
Illustration and opening verses of In the Workhouse: Christmas Day - better known as Christmas Day in the Workhouse, written by George R Sims in 1877

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"Exploring the Historical Workhouses: A Glimpse into Lives of Struggle and Resilience" Shotley Bridge General Hospital, County Durham: Once a workhouse, this hospital now stands as a testament to the transformation of care for the vulnerable in our society. A Plan of the town of Sheffield in the county of York drawn by W. Fairbank 1797. Engraved by Thomas Harris: This map reveals how workhouses were strategically placed within communities, serving as both a refuge and reminder of societal inequalities. Warwick County Mental Hospital, Hatton, Warwickshire: Formerly known as an asylum, this institution sheds light on evolving perspectives towards mental health treatment and compassion for those in need. Compass Drill, Training Ship Arethusa, Greenhithe, Kent: Young boys once found themselves at this training ship's doorstep - their lives forever changed as they learned discipline and skills that would shape their futures amidst challenging circumstances. Busy street scene at Spitalfields, East End of London: In the heart of bustling London lies a poignant reminder of poverty-stricken neighborhoods where workhouses provided shelter but also perpetuated cycles of hardship. Manchester Warehousemen Orphan Schools, Cheadle Hulme: These schools offered hope to orphaned children who had lost everything – providing education and support to empower them with brighter prospects for tomorrow. Mount Pleasant Hotel Kings Cross London: Today a hotel; yesterday it housed weary souls seeking refuge from destitution – reminding us that even grand buildings have hidden histories waiting to be discovered. Knotting Class Training Ship Arethusa Greenhithe Kent: Onboard this training ship lay stories untold - young girls learning valuable skills while navigating through adversity on their journey towards independence. The Hollies Children's Home Sidcup Kent : Within these walls resided children longing for stability and love; their resilience and strength shaping the future they deserved.