Norfolk Poor Law Unions
The relief of the Poor after the Dissolution of the Monastries was covered
by Poor Law Acts in the reign of Elizabeth I in 1601.
Further Acts followed in the
next 250 years. Villages could build poorhouses and this was done
in some parishes.
Gilbert's Act 1782 enabled parishes to
group together forming a union to build poor houses.
Some of these existed in Norfolk.
In 1834 a countrywide Poor Law Act
was passed setting up Unions and Incorporations (not all containing the same
number of parishes). Some parishes
which were already in previous Unions did not transfer to the new ones
until a later date.
Places names are the modern ones with aliases in ( ) following.
Further information can be found:
Books
Poor Law Union Records in 4 volumes by Gibson
- 1. South-East England & East Anglia
- 2. The Midlands & Northern England
- 3. South-West England, The Marches and Wales
- 4. Gazetteer of England & Wales.
These pages are for personal use only. They may not be copied, and
the links within them may not be harvested for use on your own web
pages. Please see the
Copyright Notice.
Copyright © Mike Bristow.
February 2010
Post 1834 UNIONS and INCORPORATIONS(I)
Aylsham, Blofield, Brinton(I), Depwade, Docking, Downham, Erpingham,
East & West Flegg(I),
Forehoe(I), Freebridge-Lynn, Gt. Yarmouth, Guiltcross (dissolved in 1902),
Henstead, Kings Lynn, Loddon & Clavering,
Mitford & Launditch, Norwich(I), Smallburgh (from 1869), St. Faiths,
Swaffham, Thetford, Tunstead and Happing (to 1869), Walsingham, Wayland.
Wisbech in Cambridgeshire(CAMBS) included some Norfolk parishes to the
South and West of Kings Lynn.
The approximate distribution in the county is as follows:
*=Location of Workhouse (approx.) NORTH SEA
County of NORFOLK
HOLBEACH __ _____
______/ \_______/ \______ C=Cromer
L / BRINTON \_C__
I / * * \__
N / * WALSINGHAM ERPINGHAM \
C / DOCKING \__
S KL=King's | * * \_
Lynn ) FREEBRIDGE AYLSHAM TUNSTEAD \_
SPALD____ / LYNN * + HAPPING\_
-ING/ \ | MITFORD and ST FAITHS (SMALLBURGH)\
/ KL* * LAUNDITCH * * \_
_/ KINGS * NORWICH EAST+ \
| LYNN *-N- BLOFIELD WEST \
WISBECH * * FLEGG |
\_ SWAFFHAM HENSTEAD ___ |
C \ DOWNHAM FOREHOE * / \*
A | * * * | GY
M | (MARKET) WAYLAND LODDON + \
B | * CLAVERING_ ) GY=Great
S \_____ /\____/ \_) Yarmouth
\ THETFORD |
\ _______ GUILTCROSS * / N=City of Norwich
\______/ / * DEPWADE /
T_*_________ ___/ MUTFORD and
T=Thetford \___D______/ LOTHINGLAND
MILDENHALL D=Diss HOXNE
THINGOE STOW HARTISMERE WANGFORD
County of SUFFOLK
Places have been given their names according to the Genealogical Atlas
with aliases following in brackets.
The location of the Workhouse follows the list of parishes in each section.
Grid references [] (in square brackets) are given where known.
Lincolnshire Poor Law Unions and
Suffolk Poor Law Unions which were next
to those in Norfolk are also given.
Alby, Aylsham, Banningham,
Belaugh, Blicking, Brampton,
Burgh next Aylsham, Buxton,
Calthorpe, Cawston, Colby, Coltishall, Corpusty,
Erpingham, Foulsham, Guestwick, Hackford-by-Reepham,
Hautbois-Great, Hevingham, Heydon, Hindolveston,
Ingworth, Irmingland, Itteringham, Kerdiston,
Lammas with Little Hautbois, Little Barningham,
Mannington, Marsham, Oulton, Oxnead, Reepham, Salle, Saxthorpe,
Scottow, Skeyton, Stratton Strawless,
Swanton Abbott, Themelthorpe, Thurning, Thwaite All Saints,
Tuttington, Whitwell, Wickmere, Wolterton,
Wood Dalling, Wood Norton.
Workhouses were initially at Oulton [Map ref TG156276] and at
Buxton. These were closed in 1849 when the new workhouse
at Aylsham (now St. Michael's Hospital) [TG185266] was opened.
Description of union:-
Acle, Beighton, Blofield, Braydeston, Brundall, Buckenham Ferry,
Burlingham St Andrew, Burlingham St Edmund, Burlingham St Peter,
Cantley, Fishley, Freethorpe, Great Plumstead,
Halvergate, Hassingham, Hemblington, Limpenhoe,
Lingwood, Little Plumstead, Moulton St Mary, Postwick,
Ranworth-with-Panxworth, Reedham, South Walsham St. Mary,
South Walsham St. Lawrence, Southwood, Strumpshaw,
Thorpe St. Andrew (or Thorpe-next-Norwich), Tunstall,
Upton, Wickhampton, Witton (near Blofield), Woodbastwick.
Workhouse at Norwich Road, Lingwood [TG361081] now demolished.
Description of union:-
See also the list of the names of the
Guardians of the Blofield Union who served from October
1835 to March 1836.
Further info can be found:
- Serreau, Audrey
- Times and Years, Blofield.
A history of the Union Workhouse
at Lingwood in the County of Norfolk.
[ISBN: 0-948903-93-7 : Bungay,Suffolk: Morrow & Co, 2000]
Brinton, Melton Constable with Burgh Parva.
This Incorporation (old Gilbert Union) was dissolved in 1869 and
parishes moved to Walsingham Union. Workhouse was at Brinton.
Alburgh, Ashwellthorpe, Aslacton, Billingford (near Diss), Brockdish,
Bunwell, Burston, Carleton-Rode, Denton,
Dickleburgh, Diss, Earsham, Forncett St. Mary,
Forncett St. Peter, Frenze, Fritton, Fundenhall,
Gissing, Great Moulton, Hapton, Hardwick, Hempnall,
Morningthorpe, Needham, Pulham St. Mary Magdalen (or Pulham Market),
Pulham St. Mary-the-Virgin, Redenhall with Harleston, Rushall,
Scole, Shelton, Shimpling, Starston,
Stratton St.Mary, Stratton St.Michael, Tacolneston,
Tasburgh, Tharston, Thelveton (or Thelton), Thorpe Abbotts, Thorpe Parva,
Tibenham, Tivetshall St. Margaret, Tivetshall St. Mary,
Wacton, Wortwell.
Workhouse at Pulham St. Mary Magdalen (on main A140 Norwich to Ipswich
road and now converted into flats) [TM185875].
Description of union:-
Anmer, Bagthorpe, Barmer, Barwick,
Bircham Newton, Bircham Tofts, Brancaster, Broomsthorpe,
Burnham-Deepdale, Burnham-Norton, Burnham-Overy,
Burnham Sutton-cum-Burnham Ulph, Burnham-Thorpe, Burnham-Westgate,
Choseley, Dersingham, Docking, East Rudham, Fring,
Great Bircham, Great Ringstead, Heacham, Holme-next-the-Sea,
Hunstanton with Barrett-Ringstead, Ingoldisthorpe, New Houghton,
North Creake, Sedgeford, Shernborne, Snettisham,
South Creake, Stanhoe, Syderstone, Thornham,
Titchwell, Waterden, West Rudham.
Workhouse at "Burntstalk",Sedgeford Road, Docking [TF749371].
Description of union:-
Barton Bendish, Bexwell, Boughton, Crimplesham, Denver, Downham Market,
Fincham, Fordham, Hilgay, Holme next Runcton, Marham, Roxham, Ryston,
Shouldham, Shouldham-Thorpe, South Runcton, Southery,
Stoke Ferry, Stow-Bardolph, Stradsett, Tottenhill,
Wallington cum Thorpland, Watlington, Welney, Wereham, West Dereham,
West Welney, Wiggenhall St. German, Wiggenhall St. Mary Magdalen,
Wiggenhall St. Mary the Virgin, Wiggenhall St. Peter, Wimbotsham,
Wormegay, Wretton.
Workhouse at Downham Market [TF613030].
Description of union:-
Aldborough, Antingham,
Aylmerton, Baconsthorpe, Barningham-Norwood, Barningham-Winter,
Bayfield, Beeston Regis, Bessingham, Bodham, Briston, Cley-next-the-Sea,
Cromer, East Beckham, Edgefield, Felbrigg, Gimingham, Glandford,
Gresham, Gunton, Hanworth, Hempstead (by Holt), Holt, Hunworth,
Kelling, Knapton, Letheringsett, Matlaske, Metton,
Mundesley, North Repps, North Walsham (to March 1884), Overstrand,
Plumstead, Roughton, Runton, Salthouse, Sheringham, Sidestrand,
South Repps, Stody, Suffield, Sustead, Thornage,
Thorpe Market, Thurgarton, Trimingham, Trunch, West Beckham, Weybourne.
Workhouses at Gimingham, Sheringham which were replaced by one at
West Beckham [TG147386] marked Beckham Palace on maps.
Description of union:-
Faith's (Saint) see St. Faith's Union
Ashby St Mary, Billockby, Burgh St. Margaret & St. Mary,
Caister next Yarmouth, Clippesby, East Somerton, Filby,
Hemsby, Martham, Mautby, Oby, Ormesby St. Margaret, Ormesby St. Michael,
Repps with Bastwick, Rollesby, Runham, Scratby, Stokesby with Herringby,
Thurne, Thrigby, West Somerton, Winterton.
Workhouse at Rollesby [TG456151] marked Rollesby Court on some maps.
Description of Incorporation:-
Barford, Barnham-Broom, Bawburgh, Bowthorpe, Brandon Parva,
Carleton-Forehoe, Colton, Costessey (or Cossey), Coston,
Crownthorpe, Deopham, Easton, Hackford (near Wymondham), Hingham,
Kimberley, Marlingford, Morley St. Botolph, Morley St. Peter, Runhall,
Welborne, Wicklewood, Wramplingham, Wymondham.
Workhouse at Wicklewood [TG080018].
Description of Incorporation:-
Ashwicken, Babingley, Bawsey, Castle Acre, Castle Rising, Congham,
East Walton, East Winch, Flitcham cum Appleton, Gayton, Gayton Thorpe,
Gaywood, Great Massingham, Grimston, Harpley, Hillington, Leziate,
Little Massingham, Middleton, Mintlyn, North Runcton, North Wootton, Pentney,
Roydon (near King's Lynn), Sandringham, Setchey, South Wootton,
West Bilney, West Newton,
West Winch, West Acre, Wolferton (or Wolverton).
Workhouse at Gayton [TF736211].
Description of union:-
Dissolved in 1902 when its parishes were divided between Depwade(D), Thetford(T)
and Wayland(W).
Banham(W), Blo' Norton(T), Bressingham(D), Bridgham(T), East Harling(T),
Eccles(W), Fersfield(D), Garboldisham(T), Gasthorpe(T), Kenninghall(W),
New Buckenham(W), North Lopham(T), Old Buckenham(W),
Quidenham(W), Riddlesworth(T), Roydon(D) (near Diss), Shelfanger(D),
South Lopham(T), West Harling(T), Wilby(W), Winfarthing(D).
Workhouse at Kenninghall [TM019846] built in 1836 and now mostly gone.
Description of union:-
Arminghall, Bixley, Bracon Ash, Bramerton, Caistor St. Edmund,
Colney, Cringleford, Dunston, East Carleton,
Flordon, Framingham Earl, Framingham Pigot, Hethel,
Hethersett, Holverston, Intwood, Keswick, Ketteringham,
Kirby Bedon, Markshall, Great Melton (Melton Magna),
Little Melton (Melton Parva),
Mulbarton, Newton-Flotman, Poringland Great (or East),
Poringland Little (or West), Rockland St. Mary,
Saxlingham-Nethergate, Saxlingham-Thorpe,
Shotesham All Saints,
Shotesham St. Mary & St. Martin, Stoke Holy Cross,
Surlingham, Swainsthorpe, Swardeston, Trowse (or Trowse Newton),
Whitlingham, Wreningham.
Workhouse at Swainsthorpe [TG212012]. Now called the "Vale Hospital".
Description of union:-
Mendham
This is a Suffolk Union. Mendham has 800 (out of 3000) acres in NFK
and a NFK population of approximately 267 people in 1841.
Workhouse at Stradbroke (Barley Green) [TM252733] in Suffolk.
- All Saints, South Lynn
- St Edmund, North Lynn
- King's Lynn, St. Margaret
- King's Lynn, St. Peter
- West Lynn
Workhouse at Kings Lynn (on St James' Hospital site) [TF623198].
Aldeby, Alpington, Ashby, Bedingham, Brooke,
Broome, Bergh Apton, Burgh St. Peter, Carleton St. Peter, Chedgrave,
Claxton, Ditchingham, Ellingham, Geldeston,
Gillingham All Saints, Gillingham St. Mary,
Haddiscoe, Hales, Hardley, Heckingham, Hedenham, Hellington,
Howe, Kirby Cane, Kirstead, Langley, Loddon, Mundham,
Norton Subcourse, Raveningham, Seething, Sisland, Stockton,
Thorpe next Haddiscoe, Thurlton, Thurton, Thwaite St. Mary,
Toft Monks, Topcroft, Wheatacre All Saints, Woodton, Yelverton.
Workhouse at Heckingham became Hales Hospital
and closed c.1997 [TM386973].
Description of union:-
Further info can be found:
- Bilyard, John
-
- Hales Hospital, a history: workhouse to hospital.
[Norwich: Norwich Health Authority, 1987]
- Hales Hospital: Thirty Years of Friendship.
[The Friends of Hales Hospital:about 1991]
- Reid, Andy
- Fire at the workhouse!
(Series title: Teaching historical skills).
[Great Yarmouth: Bridge Publications, 1988]
Bawdeswell, Beeston All Saints (cum Bittering), Beetley,
Billingford (near East Dereham), Bintry (Bintree),
Brisley, Bylaugh, Colkirk, Cranworth, East Bilney,
East Dereham, East Lexham, East Tuddenham, Elsing,
Foxley, Garveston, Gateley, Great Dunham, Great Fransham,
Gressenhall, Guist, Hardingham, Hockering, Hoe, Horningtoft, Kempston,
Letton, Litcham, Little Bittering, Little Dunham, Little Fransham, Longham,
Lyng, Mattishall, Mattishall Burgh, Mileham, North Elmham,
North Tuddenham, Oxwick, Pattesley, Reymerston, Rougham,
Scarning, Shipdham, Southburgh (Southbergh), Sparham, Stanfield,
Swanton Morley, Thuxton, Tittleshall, Twyford,
Weasenham All Saints, Weasenham St. Peter, Wellingham, Wendling,
West Lexham, Westfield, Whinburgh, Whissonsett, Wood Rising,
Worthing, Yaxham.
Workhouse at Gressenhall (now a
Museum of Rural Life) [TF974170].
Beech House, Gressenhall, East Dereham, Norfolk, NR30 4DR, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1362 860 563 - Fax: +44 (0)1362 860 385
Description of union:-
Further info can be found:
- Reid, Andy
- The Union Workhouse
[ISBN: 0-85033-914-6 : Phillimore, 1994]
All Saints, Earlham St. Mary, Eaton St. Andrew, Heigham,
Hellesdon (part of-see also St.Faiths), Lakenham, Pockthorpe,
St. Andrew,
St. Augustus,
St. Benedict,
St. Clement,
St. Edmund,
St. Etheldred,
St. George Colegate,
St. George Tombland,
St. Giles,
St. Gregory,
St. Helen,
St. James,
St. John Maddermarket,
St. John Sepulchre,
St. John Timberhill,
St. Julian,
St. Lawrence,
St. Margaret,
St. Martin-at-Oak,
St. Martin-at-Palace,
St. Mary-at-Coslany,
St. Mary-in-the-Marsh,
St. Michael-at-Coslany,
St. Michael-at-Plea,
St. Michael-at-Thorne,
St. Paul,
St. Peter Hungate,
St. Peter Mancroft,
St. Peter-per-Mountergate,
St. Peter Southgate,
St. Saviour,
St. Simon & St. Jude,
St. Stephen,
St. Swithin,
Thorpe, Town Close, Trowse Millgate, Carrow & Bracondale.
Workhouse at Norwich at Heigham (West Norwich Hospital on Bowthorpe
Road) [TG209088].
Alderford, Attlebridge, Beeston St. Andrew, Booton,
Brandiston, Catton, Crostwick, Drayton, Felthorpe,
Frettenham, Great Witchingham, Hainford (Haynford),
Haveringland, Hellesdon (part of-see also Norwich),
Honingham, Horsford, Horsham St. Faith's, Horstead with Stanninghall,
Little Witchingham, Morton-on-the-Hill, Newton St. Faith's, Rackheath,
Ringland, Salhouse, Spixworth, Sprowston, Swannington,
Taverham, Weston Longville, Wroxham.
Workhouse at Manor Road, Horsham St Faith (Demolished and a Crematorium
built on its site) [TG218161].
Description of union:-
(Tunstead and Happing to Sept 1869)
Ashmanhaugh, Bacton, Barton Turf,
Beeston St. Lawrence, Bradfield, Brumstead, Catfield, Crostwight,
Dilham, East Ruston, Eccles, Edingthorpe, Felmingham, Happisburgh,
Hempstead (near Stalham), Hickling, Honing, Horning, Horsey-next-the-Sea,
Hoveton St. John, Hoveton St. Peter,
Ingham, Irstead, Lessingham, Ludham, Neatishead,
North Walsham (from March 1884), Palling-near-the-Sea (Sea Palling),
Paston, Potter Heigham, Ridlington, Sco-Ruston (or South Ruston),
Sloley, Smallburgh, Stalham, Sutton, Swafield, Tunstead,
Walcott, Waxham, Westwick, Witton (near North Walsham), Worstead.
Workhouse (now demolished) at Smallburgh was in Union Road [TG326243].
Description of Incorporation:-
Ashill, Beechamwell, Bodney, Buckenham near Tofts (Buckenham Parva),
Caldecote, Cockley-Clay, Colveston, Didlington, East Bradenham,
Foulden, Gooderstone, Great Cressingham, Hilborough,
Holme Hale, Houghton-on-the-Hill, Ickburgh (Igborough),
Langford, Little Cressingham,
Narborough (Narburgh), Narford, Necton, Newton by Castleacre,
North Pickenham, Oxborough, Saham Toney, Shingham, South Pickenham,
Southacre, Sporle with Palgrave, Stanford, Swaffham,
Threxton, West Bradenham.
Workhouse at Swaffham [TF824081]. The site is now under "The Oaklands"
and other roads just off the Watton Road and is now a
housing estate.
Description of union:-
This consisted of 20 Norfolk and 14 Suffolk parishes.
The Norfolk ones are:-
Brettenham, Cranwich, Croxton (near Thetford), East Wretham, Feltwell-Anchor,
Feltwell Fen Farms, Feltwell St. Mary & St. Nicholas,
Great & Little Snarehill, Hockwold cum Wilton,
Kilverstone, Lynford, Methwold, Mundford, Northwold, Rushford,
Santon (or Santon House), Sturston, Thetford St. Cuthbert, Thetford St. Mary,
Thetford St. Peter, Weeting All Saints, West Tofts, West Wretham,
Whittington (from 1874).
The Suffolk ones are:-
Barnham, Barningham, Brandon,
Coney Weston, Euston, Fakenham Magna,
Hepworth, Honington, Hopton, Knettishall,
Market Weston, Santon Downham, Sapiston, Thelnetham.
Workhouse at Thetford [TL870822].
Tunstead and Happing Union
see Smallburgh.
Alethorpe,
Bale (or Bathley), Barney, Binham, Blakeney,
Briningham, Brinton (from 1869), Cockthorpe,
Dunton cum Doughton, East Barsham, East Raynham (or Rainham St. Mary),
Egmere, Fakenham (or Fakenham Lancaster), Field Dalling,
Fulmodeston cum Croxton, Great Ryburgh, Great Snoring,
Great Walsingham, Gunthorpe, Helhoughton, Hempton, Hindringham,
Holkham, Houghton-in-the-Hole, Kettlestone, Langham,
Little Ryburgh, Little Snoring, Little Walsingham,
Melton Constable with Burgh Parva (from 1869), Morston, North Barsham,
Pensthorpe, Pudding Norton, Quarles, Saxlingham, Sculthorpe,
Sharrington, Shereford, South Raynham (or Rainham St. Martin),
Stibbard, Stiffkey, Swanton-Novers, Tatterford, Tattersett,
Testerton, Thursford, Toftrees, Warham All Saints,
Warham St. Mary, Wells-next-the-Sea, West Barsham,
West Raynham (or Rainham St. Margaret), Wighton, Wiveton.
Workhouse at Great Snoring [TF967352].
Description of union:-
Attleborough, Besthorpe, Breckles, Carbrooke,
Caston, Great Ellingham, Griston, Hargham, Hockham, Illington,
Larling, Little Ellingham, Merton, Ovington, Rockland All Saints,
Rockland St. Andrew, Rockland St. Peter, Roudham, Scoulton, Shropham,
Snetterton, Stow-Bedon, Thompson, Tottington, Watton.
Workhouse at The Street, Rockland All Saints [TL9925096950].
Description of union:-
11+ NFK parishes + 7 Cambridgeshire ones.
Central Wingland, Clenchwarton, Emneth, Islington,
Outwell, Upwell, Terrington St. Clement,
Terrington St. John, Tilney All Saints, Tilney St. Lawrence,
Walpole St. Andrew, Walpole St. Peter, Walsoken, West Walton.
Workhouse at Wisbech now demolished [TF464100].
Workhouse at Great Yarmouth became Northgate Hospital [TG526087].
End of Norfolk Unions
The Poor Law Unions which covered areas that bordered Norfolk are given
followed by the location of their workhouses :-
- Holbeach - Built in 1837 on the border between the parishes of
Holbeach and Fleet
[TF370249].
- Spalding - on Pinchbeck Road, Spalding, c. PE11 1QN, [TF247235].
End of Lincolnshire Unions
The Poor Law Unions which covered areas that bordered Norfolk are given
followed by the location of their workhouses :-
- Hartismere - one at Eye [TM141741] and one at Wortham on the
Ling [TM0979].
- Mildenhall - in Mildenhall [TF710746].
- Mutford and Lothingland - at Flixton & Oulton (both near Lowestoft)
[TM524953]. Note these should not be confused with another Flixton
near Bungay in Suffolk and another Oulton near Buxton in Norfolk.
- Stow - at Onehouse (west of Stowmarket) [TM033591].
- Thingoe
- At Suffolk General Hospital (1836) - Hospital Road,
Bury St. Edmunds, IP33 3NE, [Map reference is TL846637].
- Borough of Bury St. Edmunds had a separate workhouse in
College Street, c. IP33 1NL, [TL855639].
- Wangford - at Shipmeadow [TM378898].
