Brampton, Cumberland
Up to 1834
A parliamentary report of 1777 recorded local workhouses in operation at Brampton (for up to 25 inmates), Castle Carwicke (9), Cumwhitton (7), Nether Denton (21), Farlam (30), Hayton (7), and Leonard Coast—Askerton Quarter (20).
Brampton had a parish workhouse at the south of the town on Gelt Road.
Brampton former parish workhouse from the north-east, 2005.
© Peter Higginbotham.
Hayton's parish workhouse was situated at Acres, half a mile from the village, where it was built in 1826 on ground given by TH Graham.
A small poorhouse operated in the village of Milton in West Farlam.
After 1834
Brampton Poor Law Union formally came into being on 17th June 1837. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 20 in number, representing its 14 constituent parishes as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):
Cumberland:
Askerton; Brampton (4); Burtholm, and part of Banks; Castlecarrock [Castle Carrock]; Cumrew; Cumwhitton, Northsceugh, and Moorthwaite; Nether Denton; Upper Denton; East and West Farlam (2); Hayton, Fenton, Faugh, Little Corby, and Talkin (2); Irthington, Newby, Laversdale, and Newtown (2); Kingwater; High and Low Walton; Waterhead.
Later Additions (all from 1861): Carlatton, Geltsdale, Midgeholme.
The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 10,080 — with its parishes ranging in size from Upper Denton (population 106) to Brampton itself (3,345). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1834-36 had been £2,384 or 4s.9d. per head of the population.
The first Brampton Union workhouse was the existing parish workhouse on Gelt Road. It comprised two parallel blocks — a larger one nearer to the road with a smaller one to its rear. Its location and layout can be seen on the 1860s map below.
Brampton workhouse site, 1860s
Brampton's first union workhouse from the south-east, 2005.
© Peter Higginbotham.
In 1875, a new and much larger workhouse was erected on a two-acre site at the north of the town, at the north side of what became Union Lane. Its design was the subject of a competition and the winning entry was by the team of Charles S and Alline J Nelson of Leeds and Derby, who were also the architects of workhouses for the Bramley and Wharfedale Unions. The location and layout of the new Brampton workhouse can be seen on the 1899 OS map.
Brampton workhouse site, 1899
At the south of the site fronting onto the road was an entrance block with a central entrance archway. To the rear was a T-shaped corridor-plan main building. At the north of the site was an infirmary and isolation block. The building cost a total of £15,000 and could accommodate 200 inmates.
The 1875 workhouse has now been completely demolished. The old parish workhouse has now been converted to residential use.
Staff
- 1881 Census — Brampton Workhouse
- 1914 — Master: John N Duerdin; Matron: Emma Duerdin.
Inmates
Records
Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.
- Carlisle Archive Centre, Lady Gillford's House, Petteril Bank Road, Carlisle CA1 3AJ. Holdings include: Guardians' minutes (1837-1930); Accounts (1837-1939); Relief order books (1848-94); Vaccination lists (1871-1928); etc.
Bibliography
- Higginbotham, Peter The Workhouse Encyclopedia (2014, The History Press)
Links
- None.
For US readers 
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