---

Workhouse Guestbook 2010

Thanks for visiting The Workhouse web-site at www.workhouses.org.uk.
You are welcome to submit an entry to the current guestbook. (Links to previous years' guestbooks here.)

---

I found this website so moving, so informative & above all, so absolutely timely, with the draconian situation the poor are living through now in England. I work with the homeless in a nearby Soup Kitchen & have lived in Tottenham Street for 50 years, near the Dickens family house at 22 Cleveland Street & the Strand Union Workhouse, which we are trying to save. (my house is the same period) My great great uncle, the Rev Heathcote worked as pastor at the Thomas Coram Foundation along with Handel & Coram with the children of the destitute poor, so I feel I have come home.
Fiona Green
2010-12-29

---

looking for marraige cert of daniel hawthorn and catherine lang or loynachan there children names duncan lachan daniel malcolm and marion catherine died in 1868
John Allen <john.allen39 AT ntlworld.com>
2010-11-28

---

Congratulations Peter on an astounding website. I can scarcely believe what you have achieved in such a relatively short time. The content, organisation, and ease of access is brilliant. I can't keep away. I am tempted to try and 'trace' WRH - there are plenty of clues in his story but I certainly don't think it would be easy. I will be promoting the website in my local family history group's newsletter and, I am sure, coming back again and again. Kind regards from Kara, Drury, New Zealand. (3 x great grand daughter of Thomas Charles Rogers who died as an inmate of the Hampstead St. John, Workhouse, 20 May 1875)
Kara Oosterman
2010-11-09

---

Wonderful Website!! I would like any information regarding the Belfast Workhouse, (now Hospital). My GMother, Eliza Jane (Lizzie) Smyth gave birth to a girl, Martha Smyth in 1904, in the Workhouse. Thank you,
Joan <bougie AT csolve.net>
2010-10-15

---

My GAunt, Emily Farrow, was born in Chelmsford Union workhouse on 5th October 1851. Her mother was, of course, an inmate. I would be grateful to anyone who can point me in the right direction to find details of inmates at that time.
Les Farrow <landp AT rditmail.co.uk>
2010-10-13

---

What a gem this website is! Thank you so much for some very interesting reading and a place to start researching. This is the sort of social history that is very hard to come by normally.
Louisa Pick, Bristol
2010-09-06

---

My family relations spent some time in the Gordon Road workhouse and the children homes of Newlands, Ashbourne Grove and Crystal Palace Road between October 1910 and September 1915 The family name was Walter Rowden and his wife Florence nee Hobbs and the children were Ella, Walter, Horace and Queenie.If anyone has anything on these places or the family I would love to hear from them.
Joan Turner <joanturnerjsy AT gmail.com>
2010-09-01

---

Hi all, My Great Great Grandmother was an inmate at Chelmsford Union Workhouse as a child. Her name was Lucy Wren, and she is marked on the 1871 census at age 9 but I can't see any other of her family members. It was nice to be able to get a better understanding of where she would have grown up through this site.
Elizabeth Bond
2010-08-22

---

Hi there - I am a new teacher at a school in Kent, and I am trying to find out if it is possible to visit any workhouses in the county? I want to show the students what they look like, and have a tour if possible? Does anyone know if this service is available anywhere in Kent at all?
Claire Bridges <c.bridges AT hotmail.co.uk>
2010-08-14

---

I am looking for any information on Callan Workhouse In Kilkenny, Ireland My GGrandmother Anne Salinger/St Leger was born there in 1867 to Mary Butler. I would like to know if there are any records surviving anywhere with entry information, and anything about the date they left. My GGrandmother did leave and married and had 11 children. A cousin I contacted, I found in Ireland and he remembers his grandmother telling him, to eat all your food as the children in the workhouses would love to eat it. Which is very sad I think. Any help would be great. Thanks
Julie Feathers <juliegydglais AT talktalk.net>
2010-08-10

---

What a fantastic website, and so informative. Having recently found an ancestor who was a inmate at a CWH (Charity Work House) in Greyfriars, Edinburgh (Janet MUAT), I was delighted to find a website that gave me everything I needed to know about Workhouses during the 18th Century. Thank you so much for your knowledge - I hope to use this website many times.
Lorna Kinnaird, Edinburgh <lorna-kinnaird AT blueyonder.co.uk>
2010-07-12

---

Hi, I am planning a visit to the UK for a personal genealogy project and found your list of workhouse addresses and detailed information to be very useful. Thanks for your collecting this information and presenting it on your site. This is a great living history project, and I will be sure you show my students and colleagues it! Thanks,
Harry Taint <dr_harry_taint AT medicalcenter.voodoobuddha.net>
2010-06-26

---

A brilliant site, thanks for all the work that has gone into it.
Peter Mills
2010-06-16

---

Hello, My grandfather Walter Henry Belgrove was born 5 March 1876 as Walter Henry Cresswell in the Union Workhouse Back Street, Cheltenham. Can you tell me anything about this establishment? His grandfather was John Belgrove who lived at 3 Mitre Street, Cheltenham (1881 Census). As well as his wife & 3 children, they appear to have two lodgers complete with their families - a total of 11 people - a lot for a small house? Google Street View finds 3 Mitre Street which looks a possible for that of 1861. Can this be confirmed? In the 1851 Census John Belgrove was living at 5 Mitre Street with his family & 7 lodgers, a total of 15 people. Thank you.
Malcolm Farrell <xx>
2010-05-14

---

Hi, my name is Tom Betteridge, I have a birth certificate for my Great Grandmother Rhoda Richardson and found out she was born in the Foleshill Workhouse in Warwickshire, I am trying to extend this line but found there is no Father recorded, I would love to find more information as to her Mother, Jane Richardson, if anyone can help in any way I would be very grateful, kind regards, Tom.
Tom Betteridge <thomasbetteridge1 AT hotmail.com>
2010-05-09

---

I see from the Bulmer's Directory 1892 that my Great Grandfather Richard SISSONS was an Assistant Overseer. I am presuming he worked in a workhouse or had something to do with the Poor Law Union but don't have any further information other than that. If anyone can point me in the right direction. It would be appreciated. Thanks
Fran McElroy <fran.mcelroy AT yahoo.co.uk>
2010-05-04

---

My Mother-in-Law was born in the Bradford Workhouse in 1912, the illigitimate child of Amy Spencer. Amy had previously given birth to two other children, both illigitimate, and all three were probably by different fathers.After my M-in-L was born, Amy gave up her children (the second one had died by then) in order to enter a "Penitentiary". This was not a penitentiary in the American sense of the word, but a place to do penance voluntarily. I can find no records of any such establishment so if anyone out there has any ideas I would be grateful. The penitentiary in question was in Bromley. Whether this was Bromley, Kent, New Bromley, London, or any other Bromley I have no Idea.
Bob Waight <bob AT waight.com>
2010-04-28

---

Hello, I would dearly appreciate any help. My father fled Poland (Krakow) during WW2, after seeing his family shot. I understand he had a sister. He came out here illegally, (no record) around or before 1950. He refused to tell me anything regarding his past. Would love to know if I have any family in Poland. My Father's name was Michael Orlik, from Krakow, Poland. If he would still be alive today, he would be around eighty. Thankyou.
Linda Ashton <lindyloo_40 AT hotmail.com>
2010-04-26

---

It has recently come to my knowledge that my Grandmother was an inmate in Dewsbury Union Workhouse in 1911 and she was aged 10. I would appreciate contact from anyone who had relatives in this institution at this time; also any details or photographs taken between 1900 and 1912. Thank you
Polin Smith <PolinSmith AT aol.com>
2010-04-25

---

Hello. I have just discovered your site today 22 4 10 . Ihave a death cert of my g grandfather Garrett Roach. He died in Throston workhouse in Hartlepool in 1897, As his Christian name is a bit unusual and it is the only death with his name i have ever found ithink it might be right as the age is ok. He came from Hackney London. I wonder if he went Hartlepool for work. Any help from more clever people than me would be great, Jean
Jean Smith <jean.smith11 AT ntlworld.com>
2010-04-22

---

Does any one know where I can get a list of names plus any details of patients in the Rochdale union workhouse in 1911? Thank you
Lybette Cook <Lynnette AT talktalk.net >
2010-04-03

---

Hi. I am searching for my Grandmother who was an inmate at the above. She was Blodwen Pugh, her D.O.B was 1906 and she had a younger brother (Cyril) and possibly another sib. She was adopted from there by a family from Skewen and her brother by a family from Neath. Any help would be much appreciated.
Pam <krow1004 AT aol.com>
2010-03-05

---

Hi, I am looking for any information about William Clements born 1872 in Orpington Kent. Thanks
Pat Impey <pat.impey AT ntlworld.com>
2010-02-16

---

My father was born Oct 3rd 1903, and went in Rochdale union workhouse called dearnley workhouse. He went in with his mother roundabout 1904-7. His mother died in the workhouse, so his aunt and uncle brought him out .His name was FRANCIS CARTY he would only have been a small child. I don't know his mothers or fathers name if I could just find out his mothers name I could find out just what happened to her and what she went through I would love to know. I think I owe it to her she must have felt so alone, and I would like to pay my repects to her if I could just find out her name. PLEASE PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME.
Christine Hall <chrishall2 AT live.com>
2010-02-15

---

Can anyone tell me what an 'In Pass' meants under Parish to which belonging on a workhouse admittance sheet dated November 1854? Thank you.
Llinos <Edgeley AT talktalk.net>
2010-01-18

---

... for a very useful site. May Your Skies Stay Ever Blue! GB & TC
Andy
2010-01-07

---

Hello fellow researchers and a happy 2010 to one and all. I have recently found out that my great grandfather Walter Sharman died in the Kingston Workhouse/Infirmary in 1921(the address on the certificate confused me a little as it stated 2 Upper Shoreham Road and I had no idea that was the adress of Southlands Hospital as it is known today). As he lived in Brighton and there was at the time a workhouse/hospital there I wondered why he was admitted to Shoreham and not Brighton. The certificate states that it was an accident so I'm assuming that this was where the accident happened? There was an inquest so I may be able to find out more that way. Not sure what else to try. Working at a hospital myself I know how difficult it can be to find out information about a patient - even though it was a long time ago. Will post another message as and when I find anything out. Barbs from Brighton.
Barbara Jones
2010-01-05

---

[Guestbook 2000] [2001] [2002] [2003] [2004] [2005] [2006] [2007] [2008] [2009] [2010] [Home Page]