The Workhouse
The Axbridge Poor Law Union came into being in 1836. It was governed by a Board of Guardians, representing the 38 parishes of the Union.
Axbridge, Badgworth, Banwell, Berrow, Biddisham, Blagdon, Bleadon, Brean, East Brent, South Brent, Burnham with Aston Morris, Burrington, Butcombe, Chapel Allerton, Charterhouse, Cheddar, Christon, Churchill, Compton Bishop, Congresbury, Hutton, Kewstoke, Locking, Loxton, Lympsham, Mark, Nyland with Batcombe, Puxton, Rowberrow, Shipham, Uphill, Weare, Wedmore, Weston-super-Mare, Wick St Lawrence, Winscombe, Worle, Wrington with Broadfield.
Later Additions: Brent Knoll, North Highbridge, South Highbridge (from 1896).
(Note: South Brent at that time, is the area we now call Brent Knoll. Its possible that the name Brent Knoll replaced South Brent in the Union records in 1896. when it came into everyday use? .JR).
The population within the Union of parishes at the 1831 census had been 28,794 with parishes ranging in size from Nyland with Batcombe (population 52) to Wedmore (3,557).
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A number of poor East Brent individuals and families were forced to enter the Axbridge workhouse.
(You can find a list of these here in a PDF file or MSword)
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Where was the parish 'Poor House' ?
Axbridge, Badgworth, Banwell, Berrow, Biddisham, Blagdon, Bleadon, Brean, East Brent, South Brent, Burnham with Aston Morris, Burrington, Butcombe, Chapel Allerton, Charterhouse, Cheddar, Christon, Churchill, Compton Bishop, Congresbury, Hutton, Kewstoke, Locking, Loxton, Lympsham, Mark, Nyland with Batcombe, Puxton, Rowberrow, Shipham, Uphill, Weare, Wedmore, Weston-super-Mare, Wick St Lawrence, Winscombe, Worle, Wrington with Broadfield.
Later Additions: Brent Knoll, North Highbridge, South Highbridge (from 1896).
(Note: South Brent at that time, is the area we now call Brent Knoll. Its possible that the name Brent Knoll replaced South Brent in the Union records in 1896. when it came into everyday use? .JR).
The population within the Union of parishes at the 1831 census had been 28,794 with parishes ranging in size from Nyland with Batcombe (population 52) to Wedmore (3,557).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~#
A number of poor East Brent individuals and families were forced to enter the Axbridge workhouse.
(You can find a list of these here in a PDF file or MSword)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Where was the parish 'Poor House' ?
The Axbridge Poor Law Union came into being in 1836. However we know from the census of 1841 and church records c 1857 that a parish 'Poor House' still existed located it is thought, somewhere in Rooksbridge?
It must have been larger than the average cottage at the time, as several families are listed as residing there?
It must have been larger than the average cottage at the time, as several families are listed as residing there?
The Axbridge Workhouse. circa 2000.
The Axbridge Union workhouse was erected in 1837 at the south side of West Street in Axbridge. The Poor Law Commissioners authorised an expenditure of £4,496.17s.6d on construction of the building which was intended to accommodate 250 inmates. It was designed by Samuel T Welch who was also the architect of workhouses at Wells and Clifton. The workhouse became officially known as Axbridge Poor Law Institution.
Initially, workhouse medical facilities were often minimal and were sometimes under the charge of a local doctor,
The majority of inmates were undernourished or infirm etc. so gradually hospital and isolation wards were added. Later these facilities were made available to the general public and became the local Hospitals and Infirmaries for the area.
A separate Infirmary block was added to the Axbridge Workhouse in 1903. The workhouse was in use until the 1930's The workhouse buildings later became St Johns Hospital. The Hospital closed in 1993 and has now been converted for residential use.
A number of poorer East Brent individuals and families were forced to enter the Axbridge workhouse.
You can find a list of East Brent inmates here in
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