Ancestry UK

What Are They Now?

Most surviving parish poorhouses workhouses are now used as private houses although a few have other purposes. For example the former Widecombe-in-the-Moor poorhouse in Devon is now occupied by a village hall and National Trust shop.

Widecombe former parish workhouse, 2005.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Many former union workhouses became Public Assistance Institutions then, with the inauguration of the National Health Service in 1948, were converted to hospitals or elderly care homes. Many of these buildings are either still part of hospital sites, or have now been converted to residential use.

The more recent fates of some other surviving workhouses are listed below:

Museums etc.
Christchurch, Donaghmore, Dunfanaghy, Guildford, Mitford & Launditch (Gressenhall), Leeds, Letterkenny, Londonderry, Pateley Bridge, Ripon, Southwell, Sturminster, Walthamstow
 
Hotels, Guest Houses etc.
Crickhowell, Dunshaughlin, Rhayader, Rothbury
 
Shops, Cafés, Galleries etc.
Ballinasloe, Bala, Bellingham, Anglesey, Corwen, Dolgelley, Neath, Reeth

The appropriately named Union Fish Bar at Neath.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Libraries, Tourist Offices etc.
Bellingham, Dulverton, Glendale, Londonderry, Oundle
 
Industrial/Commercial etc.
Ardee, Abergavenny, Bedminster (Long Ashton), Celbridge, Clones, Kingsbridge, Great Ouseburn, Lisnaskea, Newcastle-in-Emlyn, Penzance, Rathkeale
 
Schools, Colleges etc.
Borrisokane, Bristol, York, Brecknock, Carlisle, Forden, Horncastle, Lancaster, Midhurst, Monmouth, Mountbellew, North Bierley, Oakham, Penistone, Preston, Shrewsbury, Skye, Southampton, Thame, Uppingham

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Ancestry UK

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