Workhouses Collection

Crossley and Porter Orphanage, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifaxs Crossley Orphanage was founded in 1864 by Joseph, John and Francis Crossley. The building was designed by John Hogg

Compass Drill, Training Ship Arethusa, Greenhithe, Kent
A group of boys aboard the Training Ship Arethusa receiving compass instruction. The ship received boys aged 13-16 from a variety of poor backgrounds, including the workhouse

Manchester Warehousemen Orphan Schools, Cheadle Hulme
The Manchester Warehousemen Orphan Schools, on Claremont Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire

The Hollies Childrens Home, Sidcup, Kent
Aerial view of The Hollies, the Greenwich & Deptford Unions cottage homes at Lamorbey, near Sidcup, Kent, opened in 1902 to house pauper children away from the workhouse

Boys Swimming, Training Ship Mercury, River Hamble, Hants
Boys from the Training Ship Mercury swimming nude in the River Hamble

Busy street scene at Spitalfields, East End of London
A busy street scene at Spitalfields in the East End of London. The location is the junction of Commercial Street and Brushfield Street. The building at the right is Spitalfields Market

Knotting Class, Training Ship Arethusa, Greenhithe, Kent
A group of boys aboard the Training Ship Arethusa receiving knotting and splicing instruction. The ship received boys aged 13-16 from a variety of poor backgrounds, including the workhouse

Union Workhouse, Morpeth, Northumberland
People walk over stepping stones across the River Wansbeck at Morpeth, Northumberland, with the Morpeth Union workhouse towering above them (centre of picture)

Mount Pleasant Hotel, Kings Cross, London
The Mount Pleasant Hotel at the corner of Kings Cross Road and Calthorpe Street, Central London

North Wales Lunatic Asylum, Denbigh, North Wales
Administration block of the North Wales Lunatic Asylum at Denbigh, opened in 1848 and designed by Thomas Fulljames

Guinness Lodging Houses, Lever Street, London. The building was erected in 1890 by the Guinness Trust to provide cheap housing for working men. Date: Date unknown

Street in Wapping, East End of London
A view of a narrow street in Wapping, East London. A group of children are at hand to observe the proceedings

Union Workhouse, Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland
Female lunatic inmates sit in an airing yard at the Cootehill Union Workhouse, County Cavan, Ireland

Orphan Asylum, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
A view of the Wolverhampton Orphan Asylum in the West Midlands. Designed by Joseph Manning, the orphanage opened in 1854 on Penn Road at Goldthorn Hill. The building is now known as the Royal School

Asylum Lodge, Devizes, Wiltshire
The entrance lodge to the County Lunatic Asylum at Devizes, Wiltshire opened in 1851. In 1924 it was renamed Wiltshire County Mental Hospital, then in 1948 renamed Roundway Hospital

West Middlesex Hospital, Isleworth, Middlesex
The West Middlesex Hospital, originally erected as an infirmary for the Brentford Union workhouse on Twickenham Road, Isleworth

Dorking General Hospital, Surrey
Aerial view of Dorking General Hospital on Horsham Road, Dorking, Surrey. Designed by William Shearburn, the building opened in 1841 as the Dorking Union workhouse

Stone Asylum, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Entrance to the Buckinghamshire County Lunatic Asylum at Stone, near Aylesbury. A porter stands at the right of the gateway

Middlesex Hospital, Mortimer Street, London
Entrance to the Middlesex Hospital, Mortimer Street, London. A group of onlookers, mostly children, stand at the gates. A hansom cab stands alongside. Date: 1908

Park Hospital, Davyhulme, Manchester
Aerial view of the Park Hospital at Davyhulme, Manchester, originally opened in 1929 as the workhouse hospital for the Barton Upon Irwell Poor Law Union

Jewish Children, East End of London
A crowd of Jewish children in the East End of London

Brockhall Hospital, Langho, near Blackburn, Lancashire
Aerial view of Brockhall Hospital at Langho, near Blackburn, Lancashire, established in 1904 by the Lancashire Inebriates Acts Board as an inebriate reformatory for women

Withington Hospital, Manchester
Entrance to Withington Hospital, Nell Lane, Manchester, opened in 1855 as Chorlton Union workhouse. A horse and carriage stands outside the gates

Walton Hospital, Liverpool
Walton Hospital, Rice Lane, Walton on the Hill, Liverpool. The central clock tower concealed a large water storage tank

Congleton Union Workhouse, Arclid, Cheshire
Aerial view of Congleton Union workhouse at Arclid, Sandbach, Cheshire. The building, erected in 1844-5, was designed by Henry Bowman. It later became Arclid Hospital

Union Workhouse, Wokingham, Berkshire
The Wokingham Union workhouse, Berkshire. The workhouse, opened in 1850 on Barkham Road, Wokingham, later became Wokingham Hospital

Union Workhouse, Wantage, Oxfordshire
The Wantage Union workhouse, Oxfordshire. The workhouse, designed by Sampson Kempthorne, was erected in 1836 on Hungerford Road, Wantage, and later became the Downs Hospital

Poplar Workhouse, East London
A side view of one of the blocks of the Poplar Union workhouse, located on Poplar High Street, East London

Christmas Day in the Workhouse
Illustration and opening verses of In the Workhouse: Christmas Day - better known as Christmas Day in the Workhouse, written by George R Sims in 1877

Stobhill Hospital, Springburn, Glasgow, Scotland
Stobhill Hospital was erected in 1903-4 at Springburn, Glasgow, by the citys poor law authority. It provided around 2000 beds for the infirm and chronically sick poor, and for children

Union Workhouse, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
The Todmorden Union workhouse at Lee Bottom near Mankinholes, West Yorkshire, erected in 1877. The site later became Stansfield View Hospital

Staffordshire County Asylum, Cheddleton, near Leek
The Staffordshire County Lunatic Asylum was established in 1898 on Cheadle Road, Cheddleton, near Leek

Training Ship Mercury, River Hamble, Hampshire
The Training Ship Mercury was established in 1885 by the London philanthropist Charles Hoare

Union workhouse, Pontardawe, Glamorgan, Wales
The Pontardawe Union workhouse was erected in 1870 on Brecon Road, Pontardawe, Glamorgan, Wales. It later became the Danybryn Hostel

Liberal Election Campaign Card, 1909
A Liberal Party campaign card for the 1909 General Election. A grim image of an elderly couple heading for the workhouse is contrasted with the partys vision of sunlit fields of waving corn

Exminster Asylum, Devon
The administrative building of the Exminster Asylum, opened in 1845 as the Devon County Lunatic Asylum. It was later known as the Devon County Mental Hospital, then as Exminster Hospital

Highwood School, Brentwood, Essex
The administration block at Highwood (or High Wood) School, Brentwood, Essex. The school was opened by the Metropolitan Asylums Board in 1904 for the treatment of ophthalmia in children

Highwood Hospital, Brentwood, Essex
Aerial view of Highwood (or High Wood) Hospital, Brentwood, Essex, used for the care of children with tuberculosis

Highwood Hospital, Brentwood, Essex
Children with tuberculosis at Highwood (or High Wood) Hospital, Brentwood, Essex. Beds were placed on the balconies to provide sun and fresh air

Barming Asylum, Maidstone, Kent
The main building of Barming Asylum located on Hermitage Lane, Barming Heath, Maidstone, Kent, opened in around 1833. Also known as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum, then renamed Oakwood Hospital

Union Workhouse, Halifax, West Yorkshire
The Halifax Union workhouse on Gibbet Street, Halifax, West Yorkshire. After 1930, it became St Johns Public Assistance Institution

Henstead Union Workhouse, Swainsthorpe, Norfolk
The driveway up to Henstead Union workhouse at Swainsthorpe, Norfolk. The building, erected in 1836, was designed by John Brown

Ladywell Lodge, Lewisham, south east London
Aerial view of Ladywell Lodge, a residential institution for the elderly, near Lewisham, in south east London

Union Workhouse Infirmary, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
The Dewsbury Union workhouse infirmary on Healds Road at Staincliffe, West Yorkshire. The workhouse opened in around 1856, with a large infirmary erected in 1895

Banstead Asylum, Surrey
Banstead Asylum, located on Sutton Lane, Banstead, Surrey, was established in 1877 as the Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum

St Giles Hospital, Camberwell, London
The administrative offices of Camberwell St Giles Hospital, formerly part of the Camberwell workhouse on Havil Street, now St Giles Road, south east London

Chase Farm Hospital, Enfield, Middlesex
Aerial view of Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield, Middlesex. The building was originally the Chase Farm Schools, opened in 1886 by the Edmonton Union to house pauper children away from the workhouse

Halifax Workhouse 1901
A birdseye view of the workhouse infirmary at Halifax, Yorkshire

Market Hill and former workhouse, Maldon
A view of Market Hill, Maldon, Essex. The large building at the left is the Maldon Unions former workhouse. Date: circa 1900

Houseless and Hungry by Luke Fildes
A study entitled Houseless and Hungry by Luke Fildes depicting homeless paupers queuing outside the casual ward of a London workhouse. A policeman stands at the left of the scene

Guiltcross Union Workhouse, Kenninghall, Norfolk
The Guiltcross Union Workhouse, designed by William Thorold, was erected in 1836-7 at Kenninghall, Norfolk

Incorporation Workhouse, Birmingham, West Midlands
Aerial view of the Birmingham Incorporation (later Union) Workhouse, opened in 1852 on Western Road, Birmingham. The workhouse, designed by J.J

Smallpox and Vaccination Hospital, Highgate, London
The Highgate Smallpox and Vaccination Hospital, designed by Samuel Daukes, opened in 1850

Whittingham Asylum, near Preston, Lancashire
Female quarters at Whittingham Asylum, Cumeragh Lane, Goosnargh, near Preston, Lancashire

Union Workhouse, Sleaford, Lincolnshire
An aerial view of the Sleaford Union workhouse. Designed by William J Donthorn, the building was erected in 1837-8 on East Gate in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. The site later became known as Slea View

Rochdale Union Workhouse, Dearnley, Lancashire
The approach to the Rochdale Union workhouse, opened in 1877 at Dearnley, near Rochdale, Lancashire. The site later became Birch Hill Hospital

The Brigantine " Steadfast" - a companion vessel to the Metropolitan Asylums Board Training Ship " Exmouth"

Union Workhouse and Infirmary, Crumpsall, Manchester
Aerial view of the Manchester Union workhouse and infirmary at Crumpsall. At the bottom of the picture can be seen the original workhouse (later Springfield Hospital) with an entrance on the right

ASC Barracks, Grove Park, Lewisham
Entrance to the ASC (Army Service Corps) Barracks on Marvels Lane, Grove Park, Lewisham, south east London. Two officers and a large dog stand at the entrance

Union Workhouse, Pontypool, Monmouthshire
Pontypool Union workhouse was built in 1837 on Coedygric Road, Griffithstown, Monmouthshire (now Gwent). It later became Panteg County Hospital

Wharfedale Union Workhouse, Otley, West Yorkshire
The main building of he Wharfedale Union workhouse on Newall Carr Road, Otley, West Yorkshire. It was designed by C.S. and A.J. Nelson of Leeds and opened in 1873

South Eastern Fever Hospital, New Cross, London
The South Eastern Fever Hospital was opened in 1877 on Avonley Road at New Cross, near Deptford in south east London

Prestwich Asylum, Lancashire
View of the Superintendents House at the Lancashire County Lunatic Asylum, at Bury New Road, Prestwich, near Manchester, designed by Isaac Holden and opened in 1851

MAB First Ambulance Interior
Interior of one of the first ambulances to be operated by Londons Metropolitan Asylums Board in the 1880s for transporting fever and smallpox patients to and from the Boards hospitals

Ewell Epileptic Colony, Epsom, Surrey
Lime Villa at the Ewell Epileptic Colony, Hook Road, Epsom, Surrey. The colony, opened in 1903 by the London County Council, was later known as Ewell Mental Hospital and then as St Ebbas Hospital

Boys Band, Hull Sailors Orphanage
Boys naval band at the Hull Sailors Orphanage, also known as Newland Homes

Grove Park Hospital, Lewisham, south east London
Aerial view of the Grove Park Hospital, Marvels Lane, Lewisham, south east London. The buildings, designed by T & J Norman Dinwiddy, were erected in 1899-1902 as a workhouse for the Greenwich Union

Berrywood Asylum, Northamptonshire
The Northampton County Lunatic Asylum was designed by Robert Griffiths and opened in 1876 at a site on Berrywood Road, Duston, Northampton. It later became St Crispin Hospital

Duston War Hospital, Northamptonshire
The west wing of the Northampton County Lunatic Asylum in its First World War guise at Duston War Hospital

Southwark Military Hospital, Dulwich, South London
Ward blocks at Southwark Military Hospital which, during the First World War, was established in the St Saviours workhouse infirmary

Essex County Asylum, Brentwood, Essex
The Essex County Lunatic Asylum was established in 1853 at Warley Hill, Brentwood, Essex. It later became Brentwood Mental Hospital and then Warley Hospital

Percy House Military Hospital, Isleworth, Middlesex
A view of Percy House School which served as a Military Hospital during the First World War

Union Workhouse, Bagthorpe, Nottingham
Front entrance of the Nottingham Union Workhouse at Bagthorpe, Nottingham, with staff seated outside

Union Workhouse, Brighton, Sussex
Brighton Union workhouse on Race Hill, at Elm Grove in Brighton, Sussex, which opened in 1867. From 1915 to 1920 it was the Kitchener Indian Hospital and later became Brighton General Hospital

Warren Farm School, Brighton, Sussex
The Centre Avenue of Warren Farm School, opened by the Brighton Union in 1862 at Rottingdean, Sussex. The school housed pauper children away from the workhouse

Union Workhouse, Downham Market, Norfolk
The Downham Union workhouse at Downham Market, Norfolk. The building, designed by William J Donthorn, was erected in 1836. It later became the Howdale County Home

Union Workhouse, Dursley, Gloucestershire
A distant view of the Dursley Union workhouse (left) from the road at Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire. The workhouse, designed by a Mr Fulljames, was erected in 1838-9

Training Ship Exmouth, full crew
Full group photo of the crew of the Training Ship Exmouth

Union Workhouse, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire
The Newport Pagnell Union workhouse was erected in 1836 at the junction of London Road and North Crawley Road. It later became Renny Lodge Hospital

St Michaels Hospital, Aylsham, Norfolk. The building, designed by William J Donthorn, was erected in 1848-9 as the Aylsham Union Workhouse

Advertisement for hammocks for workhouse vagrant wards
A 1900 advertisement from the Grantham company of Carlton * Co. for the supply of hammocks to workhouses for use in their casual wards which provided overnight accommodation for tramps and vagrants

Petticoat Lane Market, East End of London
Part of Petticoat Lane Market, located on Middlesex Street and Wentworth Street in the East End of London

Kensington Infirmary, West London
The entrance to Kensington Infirmary on Wrights Lane (now Marloes Road) in West London

Training Ship Exmouth, dumb bell drill
Uniformed boys on the deck of the Training Ship Exmouth perform dumb bell drill

All products are expertly crafted, using premium materials, tailored to your specifications and promptly shipped

"Exploring the Forgotten Lives: Workhouses and their Impact on Society" Compass Drill, Training Ship Arethusa, Greenhithe, Kent: Witnessing discipline and resilience in action as young boys learn essential skills aboard the Training Ship Arethusa. Busy street scene at Spitalfields, East End of London: A glimpse into the bustling streets of Spitalfields where workhouses stood as a stark reminder of poverty's grip on society. Mount Pleasant Hotel, Kings Cross, London: Unveiling the hidden history behind this grand hotel turned workhouse that once provided shelter for those in desperate need. Knotting Class, Training Ship Arethusa, Greenhithe, Kent: Discovering how intricate knotting techniques taught onboard the Training Ship Arethusa empowered young minds with practical skills for life. Manchester Warehousemen Orphan Schools, Cheadle Hulme: Delving into the heartwarming stories of orphans finding solace and education within these walls – a beacon of hope amidst adversity. The Hollies Childrens Home, Sidcup, Kent: Reflecting on the nurturing environment created at The Hollies Childrens Home to provide care and support for vulnerable children in Kent. North Wales Lunatic Asylum, Denbigh, North Wales: Peering into the haunting past of an asylum that aimed to heal but often left scars – shedding light on mental health treatment throughout history. Asylum Lodge Devizes Wiltshire: Uncovering tales from within Asylum Lodge – a sanctuary meant to offer refuge but sometimes became a prison for those deemed "mad. " Banstead Asylum Surrey & Stone Asylum Aylesbury Buckinghamshire: Comparing two contrasting institutions designed to house individuals struggling with mental health issues - exploring their approaches towards healing and rehabilitation. Guinness Lodging Houses Lever Street London.