Isle of Thanet, Kent

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

Up to 1834

A parliamentary report of 1777 recorded parish workhouses in operation at: Thanet Minster (for up to 30 inmates), Ramsgate (84), St Lawrence (40), and Westgate—Holy Cross (30).

The Isle of Thanet Poor Law Union officially came into existence on 20th April 1835. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 13 in number, representing its 9 constituent parishes as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):

County of Kent: Birchington including Gore's End, Minster (2), Monkton or Moncton, St Lawrence (2), St Nicholas at Wade (2), St Peter's (2), Sarr [Sarre], Stonar, Wood or Acol.
Later Additions: Garlinge (from 1894), Northdown (from 1894), Margate—St John the Baptist (from 1836), Ramsgate (from 1836), Westgate on Sea (from 1894).

The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 7,474 — with parishes ranging in size from from Stonar (population 52) to St Peter's (2,342). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1831-4 had been £7,688 or £1.0s.7d. per head of the population.

The Isle of Thanet Union workhouse was erected in 1836 at a site at Minster in Thanet. It was designed by Assistant Poor Law Commissioner Sir Francis Head using the "courtyard" plan the he had originated. This type of layout, in which an outer perimeter of buildings enclosed a large inner courtyard, was employed by a number of Kent Unions including Blean, Bridge, Eastry, East Ashford, Faversham and Maidstone. In 1835, the Poor Law Commissioners authorised an expenditure of £6,583 on construction of the building which was to accommodate 400 inmates. The workhouse location and layout are shown on the 1907 map below.

Thanet site, 1907.

Thanet workhouse from the south, early 1900s.
© Lynda King.

Between 1915 and 1920, the workhouse temporarily became Hill House Military Hospital. After 1930, following the abolition of the workhouse system, the workhouse became Hill House Public Assistance Institution. In 1948, it was taken over by the National Health Service under the name of Hill House Hospital. The hospital closed in 1986 and the buildings were demolished in 1989. A housing estate now stands on the site.

Manston Cottage Homes

In 1901, the Isle of Thanet Union opened a children's home at Manston.

TManston Cottage Homes site, 1936.

The homes comprised four pairs of houses and could accommodate a total of 120 children.

Manston Cottage Homes from the south-west, 2005.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Manston Cottage Homes from the south-east, 2005.
© Peter Higginbotham.

The homes have now been converted to residential use.

Staff

1881 Census

Inmates

1881 Census

Records

East Kent Archives Centre, Enterprise Zone, Honeywood Road, Whitfield, Dover CT16 3EH. Holdings include: Guardians' minutes (1835-1930); Ledger (1835-1930, with gaps); Births and baptisms (1848-66, 1905-29); Deaths (1866-1931); Creed register (1905-30); Admissions and discharges (1872-1930); Inmates' complaints (1895-1909); Punishment book (1895-1914); etc.
Canterbury Cathedral Archives, The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2EH. Baptisms (1906-9).

Bibliography

Gilham, Joyce (1991) The Isle of Thanet Union Workhouse (Thanet District Council)