The Workhouse

Whepstead Workhouse or Workhouse Cottages were located at the bottom of Church Hill. They seem to have been a row of cottages where families could remain together. We don't yet know when the workhouse opened but we know that families were living there in Victorian times:

1843 Tithe Map. Bass, Hardy and others.

1881 Census

59. Old Workhouse. Willliam and Naomi Button and 4 children

60 Hall Cottage. Henry and Sarah Button and nephew Henry Hardgrave 11.

61. Old Workhouse. Andrew and Eliza Byatt and 3 children.

62. Old Workhouse. Harry and Ellen Rolfe and 5 children.

63. Walter and Sarah Hurrell and 4 children

The property was deliberately destroyed by fire in 1962.

Whepstead 19th century Poor House. c.1962. Photo Mr K. Smith.

Whepstead Poor House. c. 1962. Photo Mr K Smith.