History Talk on Winchcombe's Workhouse and local schools in the 19th century - Thurs 24th Jan, 7.30pm , Village Hall

Wincomb Workhouse after 1834

Winchcomb (now usually spelt Winchcombe) Poor Law Union was formed on 16th January 1836. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 32 in number, representing its 30 constituent parishes as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):

County of Gloucester: 
Alderton and Dixon, Grafton (in Beckford), Buckland, Bishop's Cleve [Cleeve], Charlton Abbots, Didbrook, Dumbleton, Gotherington, Temple Guiting, Lower Guiting [Guiting Power], Hailes, Hawling, Pinnock and Hyde, Prescott, Rowell [Roel], Snowshill, Southam and Brockhampton, Stanley Pontlarge, Stanton, Stanway, Sudeley, Toddington, Great Washbourne, Winchcomb (3), Woodmancott [Woodmancote], Wormington.

County of Worcester:
Alstone, Cuttesdean, Little Washbourne.
Later Additions: Alstone.

The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 9,715 with parishes ranging in size from Rowell (population 38) to Winchcomb itself (2,514). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1833-5 had been £4,911 or 10s.1d. per head.

The new Winchcomb Union workhouse was built in 1836 on a site to the west of the town at the north side of Gloucester Street. The Poor Law Commissioners authorised an expenditure of £3,750 on construction of the building which was intended to accommodate 180 inmates. It was designed by the Sampson Kempthorne who designed many other workhouses including one for the Thornbury Union. His design for Winchcomb was based on his model "200 pauper" plan. An entrance and administrative block lay at the south, with accommodation ranges behind in a cruciform layout. However, there was no central supervisory hub to the building. The workhouse location and layout are shown on the 1921 map below.

More information

For more information about the UK's workhouses visit  www.workhouses.org.uk/

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