Launceston, Cornwall

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

Up to 1834

A parliamentary report of 1777 recorded a parish workhouse in operation at Launceston with accommodation for up to 40 inmates.

A building on Dockacre Road in Launceston, originally built as a prison, later served as a workhouse and almshouses.

Launceston former workhouse, 2005.
© Peter Higginbotham.

In June 1804, Quaker and prison reformer James Neild visited Launceston workhouse where:

a scene of filfth, rags, and wretchedness, presented itself... The large room below stairs has a mud-floor; and whole families, men, women, and children, pig together. The upper room had several bedsteads in it, with the most ragged and dirty bedding I ever saw; the windows very small and close, the want of ventilation and decent cleanliness produced a stench almost insupportable. I was in the room but a few minutes before I was seized with sickness, which obliged me to withdraw.

After 1834

Launceston Poor Law Union was formed on 2nd February 1837. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 39 in number, representing its 21 constituent parishes as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):

Cornwall: St Mary Magdalen (4), St Stephen's with the Borough of Newport (2), St Thomas the Apostle, St Thomas Street, Alternon [Altarnun] (3), Boynton, Egloskerry (2), Lawhitton, Lewannick (2), Lezant (2), Laneast, North Hill (3), Stoke Climsland (4), South Petherwin (2), Tregmeer, Tremaine, Trenegloss, Trewen, Warbstow.
Devon: North Petherwin (2), Warrington (2).

The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 14,841 — with its parishes ranging in size from Tremaine (population 118) to St Mary Magdalen (2,231). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1834-36 had been £6,297 or 8s.6d. per head of the population.

The Launceston Union workhouse was built in 1838 on a three acre site on Hurdon Road at Page's Cross, near Launceston. It was designed by Charles Lang who was also the architect of the St Germans Union workhouse. The Poor Law Commissioners authorised the sum of £4,350 on construction of the building which was intended to accommodate 150 inmates. The workhouse location and layout are shown on the OS map of 1932 by which time the workhouse was shown as Launceston Poor Law Institution:

Launceston site, 1932.

The entrance range at the south contained the board-room, probationary wards and a chapel. The three-storey main block was located at the centre of the site, with an infirmary block to the north.

Launceston workhouse staff, c.1909.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Aftre 1930, the workhouse became a Public Assistance Institution. It then became known as Page's Cross Hospital, later renamed St Mary's Hospital.

All the former workhouse buildings have been demolished and the site is now occupied by a supermarket.

Launceston former workhouse site from the west, 2001.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Records

  • Cornwall Record Office, Old County Hall, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3AY. Few records survive — holdings include Guardians' minute books (1890-94, 1908-30); Ledgers (1890-1927); Relief order book (1930).

Staff

Inmates

Bibliography

  • None.

Links

  • None.

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