Author Topic: Workhouses in Ellesmere  (Read 762 times)

Offline dtlroots

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Workhouses in Ellesmere
« on: Wednesday 27 January 21 15:12 GMT (UK) »
I have a (presumed) ancestor whose burial record in Ellesmere for 1810 shows the 'House of Industry' as place of residence. I assume that this would be the Workhouse erected at Swan Hill (Haughton), which my googling endeavours lead me to believe was erected in 1791/1792 and was opened as a 'House of Industry' in January 1795. So far so good. However, someone of the same name (who I believe to be the same person, but you know how it is!) gave birth to an illegitimate child in 1776, and the baptism record (Ellesmere) shows the mother's place of residence as 'Workhouse'. Does anyone know where this would have been?
Leek - Salford/Radcliffe/Shropshire
Gaut - Shropshire
Harrison - Burntwood Staffordshire
Dutton - Tarporley, Cheshire
Hayes - Forton/Preston
Corbett - Coleshill
Wareing - Forton, Woodplumpton Lancashire
Bonser - Leicestershire
Hughes - Amlwch, Rhosybol, Parys Mountain, Cauldon Lowe
Williams - Amlwch
Thomas - Llaneilian, Llanwenllwyfo
Dodd - Shropshire

Offline Gadget

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Re: Workhouses in Ellesmere
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 27 January 21 15:15 GMT (UK) »
There's a little bit about the pre 1834 poor law in Ellesmere here:

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

It's not very clear about the pre-1791 situation.
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Offline dtlroots

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Re: Workhouses in Ellesmere
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 27 January 21 15:21 GMT (UK) »
Thanks Gadget. This is the article from which I got the information on the opening of the House of Industry, but it doesn't seem to give any clue where a workhouse in 1776 would have been - which of course even precedes the 'Shrewsbury Incorporation' (1784) to which the article refers.
Leek - Salford/Radcliffe/Shropshire
Gaut - Shropshire
Harrison - Burntwood Staffordshire
Dutton - Tarporley, Cheshire
Hayes - Forton/Preston
Corbett - Coleshill
Wareing - Forton, Woodplumpton Lancashire
Bonser - Leicestershire
Hughes - Amlwch, Rhosybol, Parys Mountain, Cauldon Lowe
Williams - Amlwch
Thomas - Llaneilian, Llanwenllwyfo
Dodd - Shropshire

Offline Gadget

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Re: Workhouses in Ellesmere
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 27 January 21 15:24 GMT (UK) »
I'm trying to do some searches but it's very vague. It would come under the Old Poor Law which would mean a parish responsibility. I wonder if it's worth e-mailing the Shropshire archives to see if they have anything.
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Offline Bookbox

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Re: Workhouses in Ellesmere
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 27 January 21 15:27 GMT (UK) »
It will almost certainly have been an ordinary house in the parish, taken over by the vestry to house the poor.

See here (pp. 39-40) ...
https://shropshirearchaeologyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/shropshire-transactions-vol.-82_sm.pdf

Early poor law records for Ellesmere are at Shropshire Archives.

Offline Gadget

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Re: Workhouses in Ellesmere
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 27 January 21 15:31 GMT (UK) »
Census &  BMD information Crown Copyright www.nationalarchives.gov.uk and GROS - www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

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Offline Gadget

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Re: Workhouses in Ellesmere
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 27 January 21 15:38 GMT (UK) »
It does look as if they are still answering e-mail queries:

https://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk/blog/lockdown-again/
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Offline dtlroots

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Re: Workhouses in Ellesmere
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 27 January 21 16:51 GMT (UK) »
Thanks for the responses both of you. Some interesting things to look at.
Lockdowns aside, I live quite far away from Shropshire, so emailing Shropshire archives probably isn't a bad idea. I had looked on the website around poor law provision, and while I could not find what I wanted online I did actually see a much more recent reference to someone else definitely in my tree. The National archives site has been letting users download stuff available digitally free during the lockdowns. Didn't see anything suggesting Shropshire archives are doing the same unfortunately.
Leek - Salford/Radcliffe/Shropshire
Gaut - Shropshire
Harrison - Burntwood Staffordshire
Dutton - Tarporley, Cheshire
Hayes - Forton/Preston
Corbett - Coleshill
Wareing - Forton, Woodplumpton Lancashire
Bonser - Leicestershire
Hughes - Amlwch, Rhosybol, Parys Mountain, Cauldon Lowe
Williams - Amlwch
Thomas - Llaneilian, Llanwenllwyfo
Dodd - Shropshire

Offline Gadget

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Re: Workhouses in Ellesmere
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 27 January 21 17:40 GMT (UK) »
When I've dealt with them, both from the Highlands and now from the North East, they have been very helpful. 
Hope you get what you need  :)
Census &  BMD information Crown Copyright www.nationalarchives.gov.uk and GROS - www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

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