Fulham, Middlesex

[Up to 1834]] [After 1834] [Staff] [Inmates] [Records] [Bibliography] [Links]

Up to 1834

Fulham's parish records indicate the establishment of workhouse in 1732. It was was managed by a master under the supervision of the churchwarden, overseers, and a board of trustees. From 1743, an annually appointed workhouse committee had overall responsibility for the institution. A new building was erected between 1774 and 1776 and a parliamentary report of 1776-7 recorded the Fulham workhouse as housing up to 90 inmates. . In 1819, the committee was replaced by a 'select vestry' which continued in operation until 1837.

After 1834

On 11th February, 1837, the parish of Fulham became part of the new Kensington Poor Law Union. Following this, paupers from Fulham were housed in a number of establishments: males in a workhouse at Kensington, women at Chelsea, boys at Hammersmith, and girls in the former Fulham parish workhouse.

In 1845, The Kensington Poor Law Union was dissolved and Fulham united with Hammersmith parish to form the Fulham Poor Law Union. This arrangement continued until 26th March, 1899, when the Fulham and Hammersmith were constituted as separate Poor Law parishes.

In 1848-9, a new Fulham workhouse, for up to 450 inmates, was erected at east side of Fulham Palace Road. It was designed by Alfred Gilbert and adopted a corridor-plan layout with entrance block, T-shaped main block and infirmary running in parallel.

Fulham workhouse from the north-west, 1849.
© Peter Higginbotham.

A newspaper report of the official ceremony to lay the building's foundation stone appeared in August 1848:

WORKHOUSE FOR THE UNITED PARISHES OF FULHAM AND HAMMERSMITH.

THE first stone of this new workhouse for the Fulham Union was laid by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of London, on, Monday, in the presence of the members of the present Board of Guardians of the Union, and those of the past year, and the leading and other inhabitants of both, parishes, to the number of about 800 persons, a large portion of whom were ladies. The site is a plot of ground, five acres in extent, on the side of the high road leading from Hammersmith Church to Fulham, and close to where stood Brandenburgh House, once the residence of Caroline, Queen Consort of George IV.
    The Workhouse, the infirmary and receiving-houses of which are already erected, is to contain 450 inmates. The style of the building is Italian, of red brick, with stone door and window dressings. The plan includes spacious yards for each class of inmates, and play-grounds for boys and girls ; besides a chapel. The main building, which is 150 feet from the road, is approached through an archway, over which is the Board Room ; and on either side is accommodation for relieving officers, porters, &c. Mr. Alfred Gilbert, architect, has furnished the design ; and Mr. John Glenn, of Islington, is the builder.
    At the foundation ceremony, on Monday, the Bishop of London, on his arrival, was received by the chairman, architect, &c., and a procession composed of the children of the union,' the parish authorities, clergy, &c. being formed, his Lordship at once proceeded to lay the stone. During the ceremony, the children sang a hymn composed for the occasion; and, at the close, the National Anthem was sung, and heartily joined in by the Bishop and the numerous company assembled.
    At five o'clock, the guardians, past and present, with the principal inhabitants of both parishes, to the number of nearly 70, dined together at the Albion Hall, Hammersmith, to celebrate the event; John Gunter, Esq., of Fulham, in the chair. The convivialities of the evening were kept up to a late hour.

In 1884, a pavilion-plan infirmary was erected at the north of the workhouse site facing onto St Dunstan's road. A nurses' home known as Brandeburgh House stood opposite the infirmary at the west side of the Fulham Palace Road. A casual ward for vagrants was located at the east of the site on Margravine Road.

The workhouse location and layout are shown on the 1916 map below.

Fulham workhouse site, 1916.

Fulham workhouse and infirmary (left) from the south, c.1905.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Fulham workhouse infirmary children's ward, c.1905.
© Peter Higginbotham.

The site later became Fulham Hospital and is now the Charing Cross Hospital. All the former workhouse buildings have been demolished.

Fulham former workhouse site from the north-west, 2001.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Belmont Workhouse, Sutton

In 1908, Fulham took over the former South Metropolitan District School at Sutton, which became known as the Belmont workhouse.

Belmont workhouse site, 1913.

In 1916-19, the buildings served as a military hospital.

During the 1920s, the establishment began to introduce a programme training for inmates to improve their employability. This was further developed by the London County Council who took over the establishment in 1930 and renamed it the Sutton Training Centre. The subjects of instruction grew to include bricklaying, plastering, painting, carpentry, tailoring, boot-repairing, motor repair work and driving, ticket and poster writing, wireless assembling and testing, and hairdressing. About thirty acres of land were cultivated or used for livestock, with around forty trainees occupied in pig-keeping, poultry farming, and fruit, flower, and vegetable growing.

Belmont inmates doing farm work, 1930s.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Belmont inmates doing motor repair work, 1930s.
© Peter Higginbotham.

The site later became Belmont Hospital, renamed the Henderson Hospital in 1958. The buildings have now been completely demolished and a housing estate occupies the site.

Parsons Green Receiving Home

The Fulham Union operated a receiving home at 9 Parson's Green.

Staff

Inmates

Records

London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London EC1R OHB. (Many viewable online via Ancestry)
  • General records — Guardians' minutes (1845-1930); Committee minutes (1851-1890); Financial records (1845-1930); Staff records (1867-1930).
  • Fulham Palace Road Workhouse — Admissions and discharges (1873-7, 1890-1); Births (1866-1915); Creed registers (1879-1914); etc.

Bibliography

  • None.

Links

  • None.

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