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Poor Law And Workhouse RecordsA look at how Croydon's poor were treated in the past, and the records of poor relief (including the Workhouse).
Croydon Workhouse, Queens Road, shortly after completion, 1865 IntroductionBefore the creation of the modern Welfare State, individuals or families who were unable to support themselves had to turn to their local parish officers, or later their Board of Guardians, for help. This would typically come in the form of a small weekly cash allowance, or 'in kind' in the form of clothing, food, fuel, accommodation or medical care. Later, especially after the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, many people seeking poor relief were forced to spend time in their local Workhouse; many others got well, gave birth or died in the Workhouse Infirmary. The Local Studies Library have records dating back to the 18th century which give fascinating details of the lives of thousands of local people. They are an excellent source for those interested in social history, or if you are tracing your family tree. Croydon ParishFrom the 16th century to the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, poor relief was in most areas the responsibility of individual parishes. Overseers of the Poor were appointed annually by the Vestry to collect poor rates and to use the money to maintain those with a legal right to 'settlement' in the parish. Settlement was acquired in various ways, for example through birth or marriage, or by serving out an apprenticeship in a particular parish. The vestry minutes deal with all matters of local government, including treatment of the poor, whilst the select vestry was dedicated to poor relief alone. The select vestry order books list each individual applicant for poor relief, often with details about their past life. The apprentices were children from poor families, sometimes with one or both parents dead. The parish paid for their apprenticeship.
Croydon Poor Law UnionUnder the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, parishes were brought together into Poor Law Unions, each with its own elected Board of Guardians and a Workhouse. Croydon Union was established in 1836. It incorporated the parishes of Croydon, Addington, Beddington, Coulsdon, Merton, Mitcham, Morden, Sanderstead and Woodmansterne; the hamlet of Penge; and, from 1866, the new parish of Wallington (created from part of Beddington). Croydon also had a Workhouse Infirmary and a school for the children of the poor at Anerley. GuardiansThe Board of Guardians, elected by the ratepayers, was responsible for looking after the poor of Croydon Union. It was abolished in 1930, and its work was taken over by the County Borough of Croydon. The minute books list many individual cases, and the later volumes are indexed by name. The non-resident and non-settled poor ledgers list people from other Unions who received poor relief from Croydon. These volumes have been indexed by name.
The WorkhouseCroydon's first workhouse, at Duppas Hill, was built in the 1720s. It was replaced by the new Croydon Union Workhouse in Queen's Road in 1866. The creed registers list the religious faith of each person admitted to the infirmary, and can be used where gaps exist in the main series of admission and discharge books.
Croydon Workhouse Infirmary at Duppas Hill, c1860s The Workhouse InfirmaryUntil well into the 20th century, the only hospitals which made no charge for treatment were the infirmaries attached to workhouses. However, admission to a workhouse infirmary meant being classed as a pauper. Such was the social stigma attached to this, that the birth certificates of many children born there give only the postal address of the infirmary, and do mention it by name. Croydon's first Union Infirmary was in the old workhouse at Duppas Hill, where it remained after the Workhouse opened in 1866. A new Infirmary opened in Mayday Road in 1885. It was renamed Mayday Hospital in the 1920s, and was taken over by Croydon Corporation in 1930, and the National Health Service in 1948.
Anerley SchoolThe North Surrey District School for pauper children, later known as Anerley School, opened at Penge in 1850. It aimed to teach children basic literacy and numeracy skills, and (more importantly) practical skills such as shoemaking, baking, farming for boys, and sewing or washing for girls. It was initially run jointly by the Boards of Guardians of Croydon, Wandsworth and Clapham, Kingston, Lewisham and Richmond, and the parish of St Luke, Chelsea. After 1885 Croydon Union withdrew, but children from Croydon continued to be sent there under a contract arrangement. Croydon children were also sent to Brentford Schools; Forest Gate Schools; Chase Farm Schools, Enfield; and Warren Farm, Brighton. Details of admissions to these schools are also given.
Queen's Road Homes/Queen's HospitalAfter the abolition of the Board of Guardians in 1930, the workhouse (now called the Queen's Road Homes) was taken over by the County Borough of Croydon. It continued to perform the same functions as the workhouse, though with a growing emphasis on the care of the elderly. During the Second World War it was reclassified as a Class 2 Hospital under the Emergency Hospital Scheme, and was severely damaged by bombing in April 1941. It was taken over by the National Health Service in 1948, when it was renamed Queen's Hospital, and became a geriatric hospital. It closed in 1987.
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Friday, 25 July, 2008 | ||
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