Ancestry UK

Faversham, Kent

[Up to 1834] [After 1834] [Staff] [Inmates] [Records] [Bibliography] [Links]

Up to 1834

Faversham's first workhouse was opened in 1722 on Church Street. In 1777, the property could house up to 70 inmates. The need for more space resulted in its relocation in 1822 to the hospital of former army barracks at Ospringe. In 1832, it housed 75 inmates, of whom 31 were under 14 years.

A workhouses was in operated at Davington by 1748 (Hitchcock, 1985). However, it did not feature in a parliamentary report of 1777 which recorded parish workhouses in operation in Boughton under the Blean (for up to 40 inmates ), Buckland (10), Linsted [Lynsted] (100), Sheldwich (16) and Throwley (12).

A house at the north side of Workhouse Road was Throwley's parish workhouse. The property is still known as the Old Workhouse.

In 1790, a Gilbert Union was formed by the parishes of Badlesmere, Boughton-under-Blean, Challock, Preston, Selling and Sheldwich. Later members were Norton (from 1792), Molash (1813), Dunkirk (1823), Leaveland (1823), Stone (1823), Goodnestone (1828), Harty (1829) and Davington (1831). The union used a workhouse at Hogben's Hill, Selling. After its conversion to cottages, the property became known as Harefield Square, now just The Square.

Selling workhouse cottages, 2005.
© Peter Higginbotham.

A large house dating from 1587 situated on Bogle Road, Lynsted, was once used as the parish's workhouse. Lynsted formed a Gilbert Union with Teynham in about 1816.

Lynsted former parish workhouse, 2005.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Ospringe had a purpose-built parish workhouse from 1792 located at Painter's Forstal.

Former Ospringe workhouse at Painter's Forstal, 2005.
© Peter Higginbotham.

After 1834

Faversham Poor Law Union officially came into existence on 25th March 1835. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 26 in number, representing its 25 constituent parishes as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):

County of Kent: Badlesmere, Boughton-under-Blean, Buckland, Davington, Doddington, The Ville of Dunkirk, Eastling, Faversham (2), Goodneston, Graveney, Hernhill, Leaveland, Linstead [Lynsted], Luddenham, Newnham, Norton, Oare, Ospringe, Preston-next-Faversham, Selling, Sheldwich, Stalisfield, Stone-next-Faversham, Teynham, Throwley.

The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 14,845 — with parishes ranging in size from from Buckland (population 15) to Faversham itself (4,429). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1831-4 had been £17,957 or £1.4s.2d. per head of the population.

The Faversham Union workhouse was erected in 1836 at a site to the west of Faversham. The design, by John Day, was an adaptation of the courtyard plan devised by Assistant Poor Law Commissioner Sir Francis Head. This type of layout, in which an outer perimeter of buildings enclosed a large inner courtyard, was employed by a number of Kent Unions including Blean, Bridge, Eastry, East Ashford, Hoo and Maidstone. In 1835, the Poor Law Commissioners authorised an expenditure of £6,360 on construction of the building which was to accommodate 500 inmates. The workhouse location and layout are shown on the 1907 map below:

Faversham workhouse site, 1907.

The former workhouse buildings have now been completely demolished and a housing estate was erected on the site in around 1995.

Staff

Inmates

Records

Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.

  • Kent History and Library Centre, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LQ
    • Faversham Gilbert Union: Minutes (1790-97); Ledger (1823-34); Relief list (1829-35).
    • Faversham Poor Law Union — holdings include: Guardians' minutes (1835-1930, with gaps); Ledger (1835-1930, with gaps); Births (1891-1915); Deaths (1835-66); Creed register (1869-1905); Admissions and discharges (1835-1929); Indoor relief books (1836-48); Punishment books (1852-1937); Register of children boarded out (1910-29); Register of girls sent to service (1913-26); Paupers' friends (1902-29); etc.

Bibliography

Links

  • None.

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