Cranbrook, Kent

[Up to 1834] [After 1834] [Staff] [Inmates] [Records] [Bibliography] [Links]

Up to 1834

A workhouse operated at Cranbrook from around 1723, and at Goudhurst from 1725 (Hitchcock, 1985).

A parliamentary report of 1777 recorded parish workhouses in operation at: Benenden (for up to 40 inmates), Cranbrook (100), Frittenden (40), Goudhurst (55), and Hawkherst (100).

Hawkhurst's parish workhouse was located on The Moor at the south of the village.

Hawkhurst former parish workhouse, c.1908.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Hawkhurst former parish workhouse, 2005.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Sandhurst had a parish workhouse on Back Road.

Sandhurst former parish workhouse, 2005.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Frittenden former parish workhouse, c.1910.
© Peter Higginbotham.

After 1834

Cranbrook Poor Law Union was formed on 3rd November 1835. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians representing its 6 constituent parishes as listed below. Each parish elected two Guardians making a total of 12:

Kent: Benenden, Cranbrook, Frittenden, Goudhurst, Hawkhurst, Sandhurst.

The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 12,816 — ranging from Frittenden (population 816) to Cranbrook itself (3,844). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1833-35 had been £11,881 or £18s.6d. per head.

The new Cranbrook Board of Guardians held their inaugural meeting on 4th November. At their meeting on the 17th of November, a workhouse committee was formed to form plans for the building of a new Union workhouse. This was eventually constructed in 1838 at Hartley. The architect was John Whichcord, who was also responsible for the workhouses at Dartford, Malling and Tonbridge. He also adapted Sir Francis Head's model courtyard plan for use at East Ashford and Maidstone. The workhouse location and layout can be seen on the 1897 map below.

Cranbrook workhouse site, 1897.

Cranbrook entrance block from the south-east, c.1908.
© Peter Higginbotham.

The building had a two storey entrance block at the east which featured a central entrance archway.

Cranbrook entrance block from the south, 2001.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Cranbrook from the south-east, c.1912.
© Peter Higginbotham.

There were further blocks at each side and a central T-shaped block to the rear.

The surviving buildings have been converted to residential use.

Staff

1881 Census

Inmates

1881 Census

Records

Centre for Kentish Studies, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XQ. Holdings include: Guardians' minutes (1835-1930); Admissions and discharges (1913-30); Births (1836-70); Deaths (1836-70); Creed registers (1894-1932); Lunatics' discharges/deaths (1916-30); Register of mechanical restraint (1891-1935); etc.

Bibliography

Hitchcock, T.V. (1985) The English workhouse: a study in institutional poor relief in selected counties. l695-l750. (DPhil thesis. University of Oxford.)