Ecclesall Union Workhouse - Sheffield

[mbnixon]

Mary Riley gave birth to a daughter - Lilian Riley - in this workhouse in 1882. The father is unknown. I'd be grateful for any details about Mary's entry into the workhouse and details of any other members of her family. She was about 22 years old. Thanks

[KGarrad]

The information page on the Workhouses website is:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/EcclesallBierlow/

At the bottom of the page, there are clues as to what records are available:


    Sheffield Archives, 52 Shoreham Street, Sheffield S1 4SP. Holdings comprise: Workhouse admission registers (1883-1928); Register of inmates (1904-31); Creed registers (1902-31); Births (1898-1929); Deaths (1903-31); etc.

[mbnixon]

Thanks for the link which gives the inmates at the date of the 1881 census. However Mary Riley entered the Workhouse sometime between the 1881 census and May 1882 when her illegitimate daughter was born.
Thanks

[rosie99]

It is likely that she just entered for the birth of the child. 

[mbnixon]

Rosie,
From what you say, it sounds as if the Workhouse provided a delivery service for pregnant mothers. So they could enter the Workhouse for the sole purpose of delivering their baby and then returning home.

[KGarrad]

The workhouse itself didn't
But the attached infirmary almost certainly did.

Before the start of the NHS (in 1947), infirmaries attached to workhouses were the only medical help that most people had access to.

[mbnixon]

Thanks for all the clarifications so far. If Mary went to the workhouse infirmary solely for the purpose of delivering her baby - then the workhouse may not have recorded her entry and exit. However, I wonder if the Infirmary kept it's own records?

[jonw65]

Nether Edge Hospital, Sheffield formerly Ecclesall Bierlow Institution
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/746814c0-341a-4867-bb06-7258ef3cd9a5

All these dates for the workhouse/imfirmary records seem to be too late for you? The earliest we have seen mention of is 1883.

[KGarrad]

The answers, if there any to be found, will be at Sheffield Archives ( as I said in my first reply ).