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Congleton Union Workhouse, Arclid, Cheshire
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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
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Media ID 4464543
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10416011
1950 Bowman Cheshire Commissioners Congleton Dickensian Fields Health Hospitals Infirmary L Aw Legal Legislation Paupers Poor Poverty Sandbach Status Workhouse Workhouses Designed
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EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: A Historical Snapshot of Arclid Union Workhouse, Congleton, Cheshire (1950s) This evocative aerial photograph captures the imposing figure of Arclid Union Workhouse, located in the quaint village of Arclid near Sandbach, Cheshire. Built between 1844 and 1845, the workhouse was designed by renowned architect Henry Bowman under the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834. The legislation aimed to reform the haphazard and often cruel system of poor relief, replacing it with a more regimented and economically efficient one. The image offers a Dickensian glimpse into the past, with the workhouse's sprawling buildings and surrounding fields standing in stark contrast to the modern medical facilities and housing developments that have since emerged. At the time, the workhouse served as a last resort for the destitute, housing both the able-bodied poor and the infirm. The workhouse's commissioners aimed to instill a sense of discipline and self-reliance in its inmates, who were required to work in exchange for shelter and food. The building's design reflects this ethos, with its imposing entrance, barred windows, and expansive farmlands intended to provide for the workhouse's inhabitants. By the 1950s, the workhouse had been transformed into Arclid Hospital, a medical institution dedicated to providing care for the local community. The image captures the hospital in its post-war era, with its red-tiled roofs and well-tended gardens giving testament to the advances in medicine and healthcare that had taken place over the preceding century. This photograph offers a poignant reminder of the historical significance of Arclid Union Workhouse and the social and legislative changes that shaped the lives of the poor in Cheshire and beyond. The image invites us to reflect on the past and consider the evolution of our social welfare systems and the role that architecture and design play in shaping our communities.
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