Sister Vianny of the Mercy Nursing Order planting a
tree at the Workhouse Burial plot in 1999. In the
picture is Cllr.Joe McDonald and Michael Purcell
next to the flagpole.
Source of image: Michael
Purcell |
Carlow
Poor
Law
Union was formally declared on the
15th September 1840 and covered an area of 280 square miles. Its operation was
overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 30 in number, representing its 14
electoral divisions as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of
Guardians if more than one):
Co. Carlow: Bagenalstown (2), Barragh (2), Borris (2), Carlow (4),
Fennagh and Nurney (2), Grangeford, Idrone West (3), Kellistown, Kiltennell (2),
Tullow (2), Myshall (2).
Queen's County: Arles (2), Graigue (3), Shrule (2).
Later additions to
Co. Carlow:
Agha, Ardough, Ballickmoyler, Ballinacarrig,
Ballintemple, Ballon, Ballyellin, Ballylehane, Ballymoon,
Burtonhall, Clogrenan, Clonegal, Corries, Cranemore,
Doonane, Farnans, Garryhill, Johnstown, Kilbride, Killedmond,
Killerigg, Leighlinbridge, Newtown, Nurney, Old Leighlin,
Rathanne, Rathornan, Rathrush, Ridge, Rossmore, Shangarry,
Sliguff, Tankardstown, Templepeter, Tullowbeg, Turra.
Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow:
Co. Carlow: Rathvilly (2).
Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow:
Co. Carlow: Clonegal (2), Clonmore (2),
Hacketstown (2).
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford:
Carlow: Newtownbarry (2).
New Ross, Co. Wexford:
Co. Carlow: St Mullins (3).
The Board also included 10 ex-officio Guardians, making a total of 40. The
Guardians met each week on Thursday.
The population falling within the Union at the 1831 census had been 74,727
with divisions ranging in size from Grangeford (population 3,227) to Carlow
itself (11,318).
The new Carlow Union workhouse was erected in 1842-4 on a 7.5-acre site ¾ of
a mile to the south of Carlow (see map below). Designed by the Poor Law Commissioners' architect
George Wilkinson, the building was designed to accommodate 800 inmates. Its
construction cost £9,000 plus £1,470 for fittings etc. The site location and
layout are shown on the 1908 OS map below.
Click on images to enlarge
| Site of Carlow workhouse c1908 &
Graveyard |
The workhouse was declared fit for the
reception of paupers on 16th September 1844, and received its first admissions
on 18th November 1844.
During the famine in the mid-1840s, sheds were erected to accommodate an
additional 160 inmates. A building was hired as a temporary fever hospital
accommodating 70 patients.
Wilkinson's proposed design for the workhouse is shown
below. Male accommodation lay at the north of the site and female to at the
south. Single storey probationary wards lay to each side of the entrance at
the west. The the three-storey central portion of the main building probably
contained administrative offices, the Master's quarters and Guardians' board
room.
The wings to each side contained inmates accommodation with children's
quarters and school rooms at each end. Kitchens and washhouse lay to the
rear, leading to a central spine containing the chapel and dining-hall.
Infirmary and idiot wards stood at the east, each with its own yard. A
mortuary lay at the rear, with the workhouse's burial ground at the
south-east of the site.
Although Wilkinson's design had elements in common with
his other Irish workhouses, the long main block with its swept-back wings
seems to have been unique to Carlow. The planned arched walkway along the
front of the building appears not have been built, although a similar
feature can be seen at the St Asaph workhouse in north Wales.
A small lodge stood at the entrance to the site at the west. An entrance and
administrative block contained a porter's room and waiting room with the
Guardians' board room on the first floor above. Boys' and girls' school wings
were situated at each side. To its rear, a central spine containing the chapel
and dining-hall linked to the main accommodation block which had the Master's
quarters at the centre.
A hospital and mortuary were situated at the east, with the workhouse's
burial ground at the south-east of the site.
Carlow workhouse proposed design
-
- Carlow workhouse plan from the north-east ©
Peter Higginbotham.
|
-
- Carlow workhouse
|
-
- Zincographed in 1875,
|
-
- Carlow workhouse proposed design from the
south-west © Peter Higginbotham.
|
Plan of Carlow Union Workhouse 1873
Sorce of image: Its all about Carlow Facebook page.
Plan of Carlow Union Workhouse from Ordnance Survey Map,
sheet 25 surveyed in 1873 and zincographed in 1875, under the direction of
Lt. Col. Wilkinson (not listed on sheet 25). The scale of map is 10.56 feet
to 1 mile. The detail of this building is enhanced by use of colour. The
building itself is coloured pink with gable and wall details highlighted in
red. The yard spaces are also clearly outlined. Entrance from the Kilkenny
Road shows central path bounded by grass and scattered trees. A lodge is
situated to the right of the entrance. The symmetrical plan is clearly
identified on the map. Part of the Parliamentary Boundary can be seen
passing through gable on left hand side of map, and to the County, Barony
and Parish boundary along the centre of the River Barrow.
Source: Carlow County Library
The workhouse buildings no longer exist and the Carlow College of Technology now stands on the site.
- These photos
of Carlow Workhouse was taken pre 1970 when the
grounds were
- been cleared for the new
Institute
of Technology Carlow which now occupies the whole
of this site.
The photos is
courtesy of Carloman and Carlow County
Library..
|
An
Advertisement for Staff Nov 24th 1849
Vacancies having
occurred in the Offices of Master, Matron, Porter,
Assistant Schoolmaster and Hospital Nurse. The Board of
Guardians will on THURSDAY, the 6th December, proceed to
the election of Officers to fill the vacancies, on the
following terms viz: -
- MASTER
- At a salary of £80
per annum, with rations and apartments. This officer will
be expected to enter into a Bond of £200, with two
solvent Sureties.
-
- MATRON
- At a Salary of £12
per annum, with rations and apartments, and will be
required on a Bond of £100, with two Sureties.
-
- PORTER
- At a Salary of £12
per annum, with rations and apartments, and will be
required to enter into a of Bond £20, with two Sureties.
-
- ASSISTANT
SCHOOLMASTER
- At a Salary of £20
per annum, with rations and apartments, and will be
required to enter into a of Bond £15, with two Sureties.
-
- HOSPITAL NURSE
- At a Salary of £12
per annum, with rations and apartments, and will be
required to enter into a of Bond £20, with two Sureties.
Tenders and
Testimonials of Competency and Character, to be lodged with
me on or before 10 o'clock on THURSDAY, the 6th of
December.
Personal attendance is
indispensable.
By Order
ROBERT DAVIES
- Clerk of the Union
- Poor Law Office
Carlow, 15th November
1849.
Source: Carlow County Library -
|
-
1.
Carlow County Library.
- 2. Slater Directory of 1846 (Carlow)
- 3. Rose Mary Ann Matron Carlow Union Workhouse Kilkenny
Road
- 4. Young Francis Master of the workhouse Carlow Union Workhouse Kilkenny Road
-
5. Bruen Col. M.P. Chairman of the Board of Guardians, Carlow Union Workhouse
Kilkenny Road
- 6. Butler Sir. Thomas Vice Chairman of the Board of Guardians, Carlow Union
Workhouse Kilkenny Road
- 7. Davies Robert Clerk, Carlow Union Workhouse Kilkenny Road
-
8. From “Carlow past and Present “ Vol 1 no: 4 1993
The project to catalogue the Carlow Workhouse
records.
This project was undertaken with the aid of a FAS
funded Teamwork Scheme. It was a challenging and rewarding enterprise,
completed in 1991. The results were presented to Carlow County Library. The completed work
contained on 14 computer discs, gives an insight into the conditions at the
work house from 1845 to 1923 as well as a
detailed account of all
the inmates and staff. Also presented was a bound volume
containing a history of the workhouse and a compilation of extracts from the 130
volumes
Source:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Bristol/Bristol1881.shtml
Please report any links or images which do not open to
mjbrennan30@gmail.com
- The information contained in
these pages is provided solely for the purpose of sharing with others
researching their ancestors in Ireland.
- © 2001 Ireland Genealogy Projects,
IGP TM By
Pre-emptive Copyright -
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