Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Up to 1834
A parliamentary report of 1777 listed Cheltenham as having a workhouse in operation for up to 36 inmates. In 1809, a new purpose-built workhouse opened in the town on what is now Knapp Lane.
In 1826, a new workhouse opened on Winchcomb Lane, Prestbury. The following year, Charlton Kings opened a workhouse which was used to house pauper children. A parish workhouse also operated at Coberley.
Coberley former parish workhouse, 2003.
© Peter Higginbotham.
After 1834
Cheltenham Poor Law Union was formed on 16th November 1835. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 27 in number, representing its 13 constituent parishes as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):
County of Gloucester: Badgworth, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Cubberley [Coberley], Cowley, Great Whitcombe, Leckhampton, Prestbury, Shurdington, Staverton, Swindon, Uckington, Up Hatherley
The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 29,882 — ranging from Up Hatherley (population 21) to Cheltenham itself (2,478). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1833-35 had been £5,770 or 3s.10d. per head of the population.
Initially, the new union continued to use the existing town workhouse on Knapp Lane which cold hold around 150 inmates. The old Knapp Lane workhouse continued in operation until around 1850, after which the property was sold and in 1856 the Parish Church National and Infant Schools were built on the site.
A new union workhouse was ertected in 1838-41 on Swindon Road at the north-west of Cheltenham. It was designed by a Mr Cope and had an unusual K-shaped layout, a variation on the Poor Law Commissioners' model Y-plan. Its location and layout are shown on the 1932 map below.
Cheltenham workhouse site, 1932.
In 1882, the Board of Guardians acquired 'The Elms', a property bordering the eastern side of the workhouse, as a home for pauper children. Popes Close now stands there.
A chapel was erected at the south of the workhouse in about 1886. At around the same time, a casuals' ward block was located at the north of the site. A new infirmary complex was built at the east of the workhouse in around 1890.
Cheltenham chapel from the south-west, 2001.
© Peter Higginbotham.
The workhouse later became St Paul's Hospital but this was demolished in the late 1990s and the site is now occupied partly by housing and partly by various health care services. Apart from the chapel, the only surviving structure (in 2001) is an outbuilding at the western perimeter of the site.
Cheltenham outbuildings from the east, 2001.
© Peter Higginbotham.
Staff
Inmates
Records
- Gloucestershire Archives, Clarence Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester GL1 3DW. Holdings include Guardians' minute books (1835-1930); Admissions and discharges (1835-1941, with gaps); Births (1836-56, 1908-14); Deaths (1836-51); Register of inmates (1900-35); Children's home admissions and discharges (1915-38); etc.
Bibliography
- None.
Links
- None.
This page () is copyright Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.
