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Up to 1834

In 1764, an advertisement appeared in the Newcastle Courant for a master for the Morpeth parish workhouse. Applicants were invited to submit their details, in writing, to the Morpeth churchwardens or to Mr Edward Chaloner, butcher, who was to be found every Sarurday at the Newcastle flesh-market. A parliamentary report of 1777 recorded the Morpeth workhouse as having accommodation for up to 24 inmates.

After 1834

Morpeth Poor Law Union was formed on 27th September 1836. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 77 in number, representing its 72 constituent parishes and townships as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):

County of Northumberland: High Angerton, Low Angerton, Ashington and Sheepwash, Benridge, Biggs [Bigge's] Quarter, Bockenfield, Bothal Demesne, Buller's Green, Bullock's Hall, Cambo, Causey Park, East Chevington, West Chevington, Cockle Park, Corridge, Cresswell, Deanham, Earsdon, Earsdon Forest, East and West Thirston, Edington, Ellington, Eshot [Eshott], Fenrother, Freeholder's Quarter, Hadstone [Hadston], Hartburn, Hartburn Grange, Hebron, Hepscott, Highlaws, High and Low Highlaws, Hirst, Longhurst [Longhirst], Longshaw's Quarter, Long Witton [Longwitton], Linmouth [Lynmouth], Meldon, North Middleton, South Middleton, Mitford, Molesdon, Morpeth (4), Morpeth Castle, Netherwitton, Newbiggen-on-the-Sea [Newbiggin], Newminster Abbey, Newton Park, Newton-under-wood [Underwood], Nundriding, Old Moor, Pegswood, Pigdon, Riddell's Quarter, Rivergreen, North Seaton, Shothaugh, Spittle [Spital] Hill, Stanton, East Thornton, West Thornton, Thropple [Throphill], Todridge, Tranwell and High Church, Tritlington, Ulgham, Wallington Demesne, Whitridge, Widdrington, Witton Shields, Woodhorn, Woodhorn Demesne.
County of Durham: Bedlington (3).
Later Additions: Horlsley, Long Horsley Common, Newminster.

The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 14,340 with parishes ranging in size from Todridge (population 4) to Morpeth itself (3,890). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1834-6 had been £5,329 or 7s.5d. per head of the population.

Morpeth workhouse was erected in 1865-7 on Newgate Street. The architect was Frederick R Wilson. The site location and layout are shown on the 1920 map below:.

Morpeth workhouse site 1920.

In 1913, the Guardians agreed to buy seven acres of land on the Grange House Estate on which to build a workhouse infirmary.

The workhouse buildings were used as county council offices during the Second World War. The buildings were demolished in 1951 and replaced by a telephone exchange.

Morpeth workhouse.

Morpeth Cottage Homes

In 1905-6, the union erected a children's cottage homes development at Pottery Bank to the north of Morpeth.

Morpeth cottage homes site, 1920.

The opening of the homes in April 1906 was the subject of a report in the Building News:

MORPETH. - Two cottage homes for girls erected at the High Stanners for the board of guardians were formally opened on Friday. The two homes, each of which is an exact duplicate of the other, form one block, and occupy an elevated site at the north end of the town, adjoining the Pottery Bank farmhouse. The main front faces west. On either side of the entrance lobby are day and living-rooms for the children, having sculleries and pantries attached. A covered way leads across the yard to the washhouse, and for the supply of water to it large storage tanks are provided to hold the whole of the rain-water from the main roof. A passage at right angles to the entrance lobby gives access to the lavatory—which is filled with ranges of basins—to the bathroom. &c., and also to the linen store and boot-rooms. The floors of all these are tiled. A pitch-pine staircase leads to the first floor, on which are the dormitories facing west, the isolation-room, and the room for the foster-mother. A communication door between the two houses is provided. Electric bells are fitted throughout. The floors of the day and living-rooms are of polished pitch-pine blocks, and those of the ground-floor passages and lobbies are of red and buff tiles. A dado of Keene's cement surrounds the day and living-rooms, and all angles and jambs are of the same material, while the sills are of glazed brick, bull-nosed. The rooms are warmed by hot air, lighted with incandescent gas-burners, and well ventilated. Externally the walls are of Cottingwood pressed brick, stone from Woodhorn Quarry, and fibrous cement tiles. The contractors were Messrs. R. Carse and Son, Morpeth and Amble. The work has been carried out to the designs and under the supervision of the board's architect Mr L. A. Loades, Morpeth.

Staff

Inmates

Records

  • Northumberland Collections Service, Woodhorn, Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland NE63 9YF. Virtually no local records survive — holdings comprise Guardians' minutes (1902-5); Ledger (1923-30).

Bibliography

  • None.

Links

  • None.

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