Pickering, North Riding of Yorkshire
Up to 1834
A poorhouse accommodating thirty inmates existed by 1776 in a street known as "Under the Cliff" in Pickering. Thornton Dale had a poorhouse from as early as 1734.
After 1834
Pickering Poor Law Union formally came into being on 10th January 1837. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 29 in number, representing its 28 constituent parishes as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):
North Riding of Yorkshire: Aislaby, Allerston, Appleton-le-Moors, Barughs Ambo, Cawthorne, Croptoft, Ebberston, Farmanby, Hartoft, Kingthorpe, Kirkby Misperton, Lastingham, Levisham, Lockton, Marishes, Marton, Middleton, Newton, Normanby, Pickering (2), Rosedale Eastside, Rosedale Westside, Sinnington, Spaunton, Thornton Dale, Thornton Riseborough, Turnhill, Wheeldale Moor, Wilton, Wrelton.
The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 9,473 with parishes ranging in size from Cawthorn (population 18) to Pickering itself (2,555). In 1848, the parishes of Appleton le Moors, Normanby and Riseborough joined the newly formed Kirkby Moorside Poor Law Union.
Initially, the Pickering Guardians considered retaining the existing parish poorhouses with males housed at Pickering, and women and children at Thornton Dale. However, it was soon decided to build a new workhouse at Pickering. The new workhouse was built in 1837-8 on the Whitby Road at Rysea. In 1838, the Poor Law Commissioners authorized the expenditure of £1,550 on a building to accommodate 100 inmates. Its location and layout are shown on the 1920s map below.
Pickering site, 1920s.
Male inmates of the workhouse were employed in breaking whinstone, whilst the women were employed in domestic duties or picked oakum. In 1843, a "black hole" was erected as a punishment cell for refractory paupers. In 1847, part of the stables was converted into fever wards. In 1874, an infirmary wing was added at the east of the workhouse, followed in 1878 by a vagrants' ward.
After 1930, the former workhouse became a children's hospital. An old people's home now occupies the site.
Pickering former workhouse site from the south-east, 2006.
© Peter Higginbotham.
Staff
Inmates
Records
- North Yorkshire County Record Office, Malpas Road, Northallerton DL7 8TB. Holdings include: Guardians' minutes (1837-1930); Admissions and discharges (1837-1949, with gaps); Births (1843-1931); Deaths (1837-1931); Creed registers (1900-17).
Bibliography
- Pickering Workhouse by Dr P Hastings (Ripon Museum Trust Leaflet, 1996).
Links
- None.
This page () is copyright Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.
