Home > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Leicestershire > Market Harborough
Union workhouse, Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library
Union workhouse, Market Harborough, Leicestershire
The Market Harborough Union workhouse. The inscription on the pediment reads HARBOROUGH UNION WORKHOUSE 1836. At the doorway stands a man and a woman, presumably the master and matron, holding the arms of a small child. A uniformed member of staff stands alongside. The building was designed by Sampson Kempthorne and stood on Leicester Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire. It later became St Lukes Hospital
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 4464345
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10415955
1830s 1836 Commissioners Dickensian Door Way Harborough Health Hospitals Inscription Kempthorne L Aw Legal Legislation Leicester Leicestershire Luke Lukes Master Matron Member Paupers Poor Poverty Sampson Staff Status Uniformed Workhouse Workhouses Designed
FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS
> Architecture
> Doors
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> Leicestershire
> Leicester
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> Leicestershire
> Market Harborough
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the Union Workhouse in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, as it stood in the early 1900s. The imposing building, designed by Sampson Kempthorne and completed in 1836, once served as a place of last resort for the destitute and poverty-stricken. The inscription on the pediment proudly proclaims the name of the Union and the year of its establishment. At the doorway, a man and a woman, presumably the master and matron, stand with a small child, offering a glimpse into the daily life within the workhouse. A uniformed member of staff stands nearby, adding to the sense of order and discipline that characterized these institutions. The Market Harborough Union Workhouse was one of many such buildings erected under the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, which aimed to reduce the number of paupers by making the workhouse a less attractive alternative to outdoor relief. The legislation required parishes to form unions and pool their resources to provide for the poor. The building later became St Luke's Hospital, and its Dickensian appearance has made it a popular subject for historians, architects, and those interested in social history. The 1830s saw a wave of workhouse construction across England and Wales, and these buildings continue to be an important part of our shared history. This photograph offers a poignant reminder of the past, when the provision of care and support for the poor was a matter of law and social status rather than a fundamental human right.
MADE IN THE UK
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Basket.