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From: "Mark A. Brandrick" <>
Subject: [STS] West Bromwich Union Workhouse
Date: Fri, 31 Dec 1999 18:46:02 -0000


Hi List,

I was researching West Brom Union Workhouse last year. I got a lot of good
help on the subject but it all ended in disappointment when I discovered via
Smethwick Archives that the workhouse records appear to have been destroyed
in a fire during WW2.

I was trying to trace records pertaining to my Great Grandfather Thomas
Brandrick, his mother and his brothers and sisters who were inmates at the
workhouse around 1910-1920???

The exact location of the workhouse is featured on the West Bromwich 1902
Old OS Map (Staffs Sheet 68.10) available from Alan Godfrey Maps, Newcastle
(UK). Tel: 01912 761155 @ £2.45 + P&P (Price from last year). According to
the map (of which I have a copy), the vast workhouse complex was situated on
the west side of Hallum Street. I don't know how this relates to the
location of the modern hospitals.

Please include me in any information you discover as I am very interested in
the subject.

Below is a summary of the information I have received from list subscribers
throughout the last year and some of it may provide routes for alternative
research:
- --------------------------------------------------
An extract from Kelly's Staffordshire Directory shows -The Workhouse, Hallam
street, opened in Sept.1851 at a cost of about 30,000 pounds, is capable of
holding 820 inmates, & has an infirmary & imbecile department attached, &
with its offices & grounds occupies about 8 acres; the building is in the
Gothic style, & includes an infirmary, laundry & washhouse added in 1884, at
a cost of 18 000 pounds; the infirmary will hold 350 patients; new board,
relief, casual & receiving wards & other buildings were added in 1887;
Robert Rees M.B.,C.M., medical officer; Rev. William Henry Horton, chaplain;
Halley John Adcock, master; Mrs. M.C. Adcock, matron.
- ---------------------------------------------------
On checking the Poor Law Union Records guide by Gibson & Rogers - it states
that West Bromwich partly came under Shrops and Worcs (as well as Staffs).
Sandwell hold the minutes from 1891 to 1912. I don't have the guide which
deals with Worcs and Shrops though - sorry.
- --------------------------------------------------
The building was taken over by the local hospital years ago and has since
been demolished. All records have been destroyed - they think during the war
- --------------------------------------------------
On browsing through the 1881 census,I came across a walsal &west bromwich
disrict school, wigmore ,there are quite a lot of pupils there ,also I
assume this is a private school!!,but a lot of the pupils are only aged 3 or
4,then rising.this place still excists. If you wish to browse these enter
JOSEPH TUFFT suprintendent click on his name then hit neighbours,then scroll
down.Hit f9 to display full details throughout the pages After the school is
the UNION WORKHOUSE in hallam st westbromwich, 17 pages
worth,interesting!!.
- -------------------------------------------------

Hope this helps,

Mark A. Brandrick
SUFFOLK, UK

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