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Trowbridge and Melksham Union Workhouse, Wiltshire
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Trowbridge and Melksham Union Workhouse, Wiltshire
The entrance block of the former Trowbridge and Melksham Union workhouse at Semington, Wiltshire. The site later became St Georges Hospital. Date: 2000
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Media ID 7243439
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10576757
Block Trowbridge Wiltshire Workhouse Melksham
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EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: A New Beginning: The Transformation of Trowbridge and Melksham Union Workhouse, Wiltshire 2.. This evocative photograph captures the entrance block of the former Trowbridge and Melksham Union Workhouse, located in Semington, Wiltshire, in the year 2000. Established in 1836, this imposing structure once served as a place of last resort for the destitute, the infirm, and the vulnerable in the communities of Trowbridge and Melksham. The Union Workhouse system, a product of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, aimed to provide a more efficient and cost-effective means of caring for the poor, by forcing able-bodied individuals to work in exchange for their keep. The workhouse regime was notorious for its harsh living conditions, designed to deter potential applicants and encourage self-reliance. As the photograph reveals, the entrance block of the Trowbridge and Melksham Union Workhouse is a formidable edifice, with its grandiose architecture and imposing gates. The building's design was intended to instill a sense of awe and intimidation in those approaching its gates, reflecting the prevailing Victorian attitudes towards poverty and the workhouse system. By the turn of the millennium, however, the site had undergone a remarkable transformation. The former workhouse had been repurposed as St. George's Hospital, providing essential healthcare services to the local community. The building's dark past had been largely forgotten, replaced by a new chapter in its history, as it continued to serve the people of Wiltshire in a more compassionate and caring capacity. This photograph offers a poignant reminder of the complex and often contradictory nature of our social and architectural heritage. It invites us to reflect on the past, while acknowledging the importance of progress and the ongoing evolution of our communities.
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