Darlington Union Workhouse |
Hob Uid: 1410968 | |
Location : Darlington Non Civil Parish
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Grid Ref : NZ3010014200 |
Summary : Darlington Union Workhouse was built in 1867 and could accommodate 250 inmates and 50 vagrants. The architect was Charles J Adams of Stockton on Tees and the builder was Joseph McCormick. There had previously been a workhouse in Darlington dating to 1730, which stood in Leadyard.The new workhouse building was T-shaped in plan with a tall central entrance archway and behind this a tower supporting a squat spire. The east end of the building was for men and the west for women both with day and night rooms. No specific mention was made of accommodation for children. Other buildings consisted of the porter's lodge, board room, receiving ward, workshops, coroner's room and hearse house. The infirmary to the south of the main building was U-shaped and a fever ward also to the south included a separate wash-house, laundry and drying room.Between 1910 and 1913, four infirmary or hospital buildings were added to the site. The fever ward was enlarged and new rooms may have been used as a laundry, sanitary facilities and boiler house. During the First World War, the Institution was renamed Feetham's Infirmary and later became known as the Municipal Hospital. By late 1930, the workhouse had become the Darlington Municipal Institution. In 1948, the hospital area was taken over by the Memorial Hospital and afterwards renamed East Haven Hospital. Almost all the buildings have now (2007) been demolished. |
More information : A competition was held for a new Darlington Workhouse in 1867 and the plans of Charles J Adams of Stockton on Tees were chosen and estimated to a cost of £10,000. The contract was awarded to Joseph McCormick for £11,799. The new workhouse was to accommodate 250 inmates and 50 vagrants. Additions were added to the workhouse at extra cost throughout the first part of the Twentieth Century. During the First World War the Institution was renamed Feetham¿s Infirmary and after became known as the Municipal Hospital. By late 1930 the workhouse had become the Darlington Municipal Institution. In 1948 the hospital area was taken over by the Memorial Hospital and afterwards renamed East Haven Hospital. Purchase of a site to the rear of three properties facing Bright Street, begun before the First World War, are the only buildings still standing. The main building was T-shaped in plan with a tall central entrance archway and behind this a tower supporting a squat spire. The east end of the building was for men and the west for women both with day and night rooms. No specific mention was made of accommodation for children. Other buildings consisted the porter¿s lodge, board room receiving ward, workshops, coroners room and hearse house and lastly the board room. The infirmary to the south of the main building was U-shaped and a fever ward also to the south included a separate wash-house, laundry and drying room. Additions of four groups of buildings were added to the workhouse in 1910-13 consisting a new infirmary or hospital. The fever ward was enlarged and new rooms were possibly used as a laundry, sanitary facilities and boiler house. New additions in 1914-39 were minor in comparison. As an associated note the previous workhouse of 1730 stood in Leadyard which had been the Bishop¿s palace built around 1164.
A workhouse with infirmary built 1867-70 to designs by Charles J Adams with additions of 1910-13 by Pallister and Son and then later again 1914-39. Largely demolished.
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