I had a look around for is this had been done before and couldn't see it, so I hope this is interesting for my first report on here!
Ventured out today in the wet to have a mooch around.
History:
Up to 1834, a parliamentary report (1777) listed parish workhouses in operation around Penzance for up to 30 inmates (and also in operation in Marazion for up to 8 inmates)
After 1834, the Penzance Poor Law Union was formed in 1837, it represented 19 constituent parishes around Penzance.
The Madron Workhouse was built in 1838 (In Madron), intended to accommodate 400 inmates, it served many of the surrounding villages and towns as a place where the poor could be sent to live and work.
The institution was closed in after the inauguration of the NHS in 1948- with the entrance block being converted into a house, and the infirmary into a meat processing factory.
The Visit:
I had to enter through the back, with the side gates being too high and wet, and in clear view of the estate opposite, luckily a door had been opened that led into the old warehouses at the back.
side view of the buildings (old):
Within the older buildings, there's a lot of the older floors, doors, and fire places still in place:
A few shots of the interior stairs and the warehouse you enter through:
The modern side of the buildings still have a fair amount of things still left in them:
That's about all the pictures I got from todays walk around, I ran out of time to try and find a way into the attic (i've been in once, and found some old bath tub type things).
If anyone wants any more information, just give us an ask, or check out this website:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Penzance/
I'd also be more than happy to take any of you up in a group visit!
Thanks for reading,
Blirg.
Ventured out today in the wet to have a mooch around.
History:
Up to 1834, a parliamentary report (1777) listed parish workhouses in operation around Penzance for up to 30 inmates (and also in operation in Marazion for up to 8 inmates)
After 1834, the Penzance Poor Law Union was formed in 1837, it represented 19 constituent parishes around Penzance.
The Madron Workhouse was built in 1838 (In Madron), intended to accommodate 400 inmates, it served many of the surrounding villages and towns as a place where the poor could be sent to live and work.
The institution was closed in after the inauguration of the NHS in 1948- with the entrance block being converted into a house, and the infirmary into a meat processing factory.
The Visit:
I had to enter through the back, with the side gates being too high and wet, and in clear view of the estate opposite, luckily a door had been opened that led into the old warehouses at the back.
side view of the buildings (old):
Within the older buildings, there's a lot of the older floors, doors, and fire places still in place:
A few shots of the interior stairs and the warehouse you enter through:
The modern side of the buildings still have a fair amount of things still left in them:
That's about all the pictures I got from todays walk around, I ran out of time to try and find a way into the attic (i've been in once, and found some old bath tub type things).
If anyone wants any more information, just give us an ask, or check out this website:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Penzance/
I'd also be more than happy to take any of you up in a group visit!
Thanks for reading,
Blirg.
