South Stoneham (renamed Eastleigh in 1920), Hampshire

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

Up to 1834

A parish workhouse is believed to have operated in the early nineteenth century at West End, at the north side of what is now the Botley Road.

In 1836, the Millbrook parish poorhouse was being insured with the Hampshire, Sussex and Dorset Fire Office for the sum of £500.

Millbrook fire insurance policy, 1836.

South Stoneham Poor Law Union was formed on 25th March 1835. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 16 in number, representing its 9 constituent parishes as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):

Hampshire: Botley (2), Burlesdon, Chilworth, Hamble, Hound, Milbrook (3), North Stoneham, St Mary's Extra (2), South Stoneham (4).
Later Additions (all from 1894): Bitterne, Eastleigh, Hedge End, Itchen, Portswood, Shirley, Sholing, West End.

The population falling within the union at the 1831 census had been 9,447 with parishes ranging in size from Chilworth (population 150) to South Stoneham (2,768). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1832-35 had been £6,003 or 12s.8d. per head.

Initially, the new union took over the existing workhouse site at West End. Its layout is shown on a map from 1845.

South Stoneham workhouse site, 1845

However, the old buildings were presumably inadequate and in 1848 a new union workhouse was built at the West End site. Designed by William Henman, the new building was constructed in red-brick with a slate roof at a cost of £7,000.

South Stoneham workhouse from the south-east, 1904
©Peter Higginbotham

In layout, it consisted of four parallel ranges with a central connecting corridor.

South Stoneham workhouse site, 1908

A three-storey entrance block stood at the south of the site.

South Stoneham entrance block from the south-west, 2000
©Peter Higginbotham

The northernmost range housed the infirmary.

South Stoneham workhouse infirmary block from the south-west, 2000
©Peter Higginbotham

The entrance to the workhouse was flanked by receiving blocks for male and female casuals.

The South Stoneham Union was renamed Eastleigh in 1920. After 1930, the workhouse became a Public Assistance Institution known as the West End Institution. In 1948, it joined the newly formed National Health Service as Moorgreen Hospital. Some of the original workhouse buildings still survive on the Moorgreen Hospital site.

Staff

1881 Census

Inmates

1881 Census

Records

Southampton Archives Service, Civic Centre, Southampton SO14 7LP. Holdings include: Guardians' minute books (1839-1930 with gaps); lists of indoor paupers for 1832, 1838, 1855-7; West End inmates (1925-48); Moorgreen Hospital inmates (1948-60); Register of patients detained in the padded room at West End Institution (1909-1940). [Access restrictions may apply to some records - please check with Record Office.]
Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester SO23 8TH. Holdings are few and are mostly local administrative records such as Overseers receipts and payments.

Bibliography

Raffo, Eric H (2000) 'Half a Loaf' - The Care of the Sick and Poor of South Stoneham 1664-1948 (The Friends of Moorgreen Hospital)