Alresford Workhouse and Poor Law Union

A parliamentary report in 1777 recorded a parish workhouse in operation at Hinton Ampner with accommodation for up to 6 inmates.

'Peppercorn Cottage' in Cheriton is said to have been at one time used as the parish poor-house.

After 1834

Alresford Poor Law Union was formed on 31st March 1835. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 19 in number, representing its 18 constituent parishes as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):

Hampshire: New Alresford (2), Old Alresford, Beauworth, Bighton, Bishop's Sutton, Bramdean, Brown Candover, Cheriton, Chilton Candover, Hinton Ampner, Itchen Stoke, Kilmiston, Northington, Ovington, Ropley, Swarraton, Tichborne, West Tisted.
Later Addition: Godsfield (from 1858).

The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 6,971 with parishes ranging in size from Swarraton (population 120) to New Alresford (1,437). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1831-34 had been £6,086 or 17s.6d. per head of the population.

A new Alresford Union workhouse was erected in 1835-6 at Tichborne Down to the south of New Alresford. Intended to accommodate 280 inmates, the Poor Law Commissioners authorized the sum of £5,350 on its construction. The building was designed by Edward Hunt who was also the architect of the Wiltshire workhouses of Alderbury and Wilton. His design for Alresford followed the model cruciform or "square" plan published by the Poor Law Commissioners in 1835. An entrance block at the south contained the Guardian's board-room, porter's room etc. To the rear, four accommodation ranges for various classes of inmate (infirm/able-bodied, male/female etc.) radiated from a central supervisory hub. The workhouse location and layout are shown on the 1909 map below.

In 1866, the workhouse was visited by Poor Law Inspector Mr. W.H.T. Hawley. His report noted that:

  Building.— The site is excellent, and the accommodation sufficient fur the several classes of inmates. There are separate wards, termed "fever wards," adjoining some of the outbuildings, but not communicating in any way with the house or yards. Infectious cases are never admitted into the body of the house. There are two rooms in the infectious wards, one for each sex, and a room for a nurse, and proper conveniences. There are no separate sick wards for children. The ventilation and drainage are in a satisfactory state. There is an abundant supply of water, and the house is generally very healthy.
  Furniture.— The beds are stuffed with chaff. There are troughs for washing in each ward, and hand-basins for the sick.
  Inmates.— The inmates are classified in accordance with the order. The clothing supplied to both men and women is sufficient, and they have the regular changes of linen prescribed by the order. The able men are set to pound stones; the aged men and boys work in the garden. The women and girls are employed in needlework, washing, and the usual household work. There is an open down in the front of the house, where the old men are allowed to walk when permitted ; and the children are taken out for a walk twice a week.
  Medical Attendance.— The drugs for the use of the patients in the infirmaries are supplied by the medical officer.
  Nursing.— There is a paid nurse, and the nursing, both night and day, is satisfactorily performed.
  Chaplain.— There is a chaplain, who gives a full service on Sundays, and one other day in the week besides. The inmates who dissent from the Established Church attend their own respective places of worship.
  School.— Both schools are under the charge of the schoolmistress, and the children are not allowed to mix with the adults.
  Generally.— No improvement is required in this workhouse beyond the construction of separate sick wards for the children.

After 1930, the former workhouse became known as Alresford Public Assistance Institution. The site later became Tichborne Down House Hospital.

Alresford, Hampshire

Up to 1834

After 1834

Staff

Inmates

Records

Bibliography

Links