Actham Workhouse Shrewsbury

[sparky1955]

I recently posted a request looking for a relative who was born out of wedlock and a reply gave me a connection to a person who may be the one I was looking for.

I sent for the birth certificate and it looks like it was the genuine one as the father wasn't named and the mothers name was correct.

The address where born was 11 Barton St Shrewsbury which when Googled was not found but think it may have been the workhouse would anybody know if it was common practice to send someone to the workhouse to give birth?

Regards
Steve

[KGarrad]

Most workhouses had an attached infirmary - used by the poorer sections of society.
Women would go there to give birth.

The Atcham (& Shrewsbury) Workhouse was based at Cross Houses, some 6 miles from Shrewsbury.
During WW1 it became the Berrington War Hospital.
After the war it became the Poor Law Hospital for Shropshire, and was later known as the Cross Houses Hospital.
It was later used by the Shropshire Health Authority, and the site was redeveloped in 2004.


Shrewsbury did have it's own workhouse, until 1871 and was purchased by Shrewsbury School.
Shrewsbury School is situated in Ashton Road, Shrewsbury.

[cath151]

Hi
Can t find a Barton Street on the censuses, but  there is a Burton Street Shrewsbury, perhaps that's it.

Cathy

[rosie99]

There is also a Betton Street in Shrewsbury.  Neither 11 Burton or Betton Street were the workhouse, they were both private residences

[chris_49]

Most workhouses had an attached infirmary - used by the poorer sections of society.
Women would go there to give birth.

The Atcham (& Shrewsbury) Workhouse was based at Cross Houses, some 6 miles from Shrewsbury.
During WW1 it became the Berrington War Hospital.
After the war it became the Poor Law Hospital for Shropshire, and was later known as the Cross Houses Hospital.
It was later used by the Shropshire Health Authority, and the site was redeveloped in 2004.

Shrewsbury did have it's own workhouse, until 1871 and was purchased by Shrewsbury School.
Shrewsbury School is situated in Ashton Road, Shrewsbury.

 In her autobiography "Bad Blood" Lorna Sage describes giving birth at Cross Houses as late as the 1950s. It sounds pretty grim even then. She was sent there despite there being possible places nearer her home in Whitchurch, because that's where the unmarried mothers were sent (though she'd married weeks earlier more or less secretly at the RO, such was the shame.)

[Alberbury]

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Atcham/

[sparky1955]

Many thanks to everyone who's posted information another great response.

Yes I agree the workhouses were not very pleasant it just shows the importance of asking questions of parents / grandparents etc. as my wife's father did have contact once with this lady but that information is now gone but we'll still keep trying.

Once again many thanks for the posts.

Best Regards
Steve