Easthampstead, Berkshire

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

Up to 1834

A parish workhouse once operated at Binfield, off Rose Hill. Its location, as the "old workhouse", is shown on the 1881 map below.

Binfield former parish workhouse site, 1881.

What later became the Easthampstead Union workhouse incorporated a group of almshouses dating from 1826 at the south of St Mary Magdalen and St Michael's church in Easthampstead.

Easthampstead former almshouses, 2000.
© Peter Higginbotham.

The history of these buildings is told in a plaque on the front of the building:

Easthampstead, 2000.
© Peter Higginbotham.

These almshouses were Built in the name of William Watts Esq. of South Hill as also three hundred pounds were given by him to the parish of Easthampstead for ever in consideration of the land which he enclosed, with the consent of the Lord of the Manor, a Freeholder of the said parish in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty.

The above stone was in front of the old houses pulled down in 1826 while these were erected by the Marquis of Downshire in their stead.

A local story has it that the clock-tower on top of the houses was donated by a local dignitary. He had originally planned to make the donation to the church of St Mary Magdalene and St Michael which stands opposite. He apparently changed his mind after the local clergy refused to trim a overhanging tree in the churchyard which regularly knocked off his hat!

In the 1770s, Winkfield had a parish workhouse able to accommodate up to 40 inmates.

After 1834

Easthampstead Poor Law Union was formed on 27th July 1835. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 10 in number, representing its 5 constituent parishes as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):

Berkshire: Binfield (2), Easthampstead (2), Sandhurst (2), Warfield (2), Winkfield with Ascot (2).
Later Additions: Crowthorne (1894-1930).

The population falling within the union at the 1831 census had been 6,980 — ranging from Easthampstead (population 647, and unusual in being the smallest parish in a Union bearing its name) to Binfield (2,145). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1832-35 had been £2,700.

The location and layout of the site is shown on 1871 map below:

Easthampstead site, 1871.

The Poor Law Commissioners authorized an expenditure of £400 for adapting the buildings for use as a workhouse. The main addition appears to have been a three-storey block, now demolished, at the rear of the main row of houses. The building's layout at this stage appears to have resembled the cruciform layout popular for newly built workhouses in the 1830s.

Easthampstead site from the south-east, 2000.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Later additions to the site include an infirmary in 1869, and a board-room block in 1901. Both of these were located to the north-east of the workhouse.

Easthampstead infirmary block, 2000.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Easthampstead board-room block, 2000.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Easthampstead site, 1912.

Although part of the site continues to operate as Church Hill House Hospital, the old almshouses and adjacent buildings have recently (2000) been refurbished and redeveloped as private residential accommodation.

Staff

1881 Census

Inmates

1881 Census

Records

Berkshire Record Office, Berkshire Record Office, 9 Coley Avenue, Reading, Berks RG1 6AF. Holdings include Guardians' minute books (1870-75, 1880-1930); Births (1849-1914); Deaths (1848-1914); etc.

Bibliography

None.