Norfolk: Poor Law after 1834 Act

Depwade Union

Union history

1834 - Depwade Poor Law Union was formed.
1836 - Workhouse was built.
- Located at Hillcrest Court, Norwich Road, Pulham St. Mary Magdalen (on main A140 Norwich to Ipswich Road), IP21 4XP, [Map reference TM185875].
1845 - Description is in Whites 1845 directory
1883 - Entry from Whites 1883 directory
1885 - Mar 25th - Gained that part of Mendham in Norfolk (ie. the portion north of the river Waveney) which was added to Redenhall with Harleston.
1902 - Gained parishes from Guiltcross Union.
1930 - Union dissolved.
1933 - Kelly's directory lists it as "The Institution on the Norwich Road erected 1836 to hold 500 inmates". Also mentions a "Childrens Home at Long Stratton." The above under section "Norfolk No 12 Area Guardians Committee".
1937 - Kelly's directory - as 1933.
1930's - 1948 - Building called at various times :- "Hill House Institution", "Hill House Hospital, Pulham" , "The Hill House" or "Hill House County Home"
Subsequently sold and became "Bumbles Hotel" (c. 1984) which did not last long.
c. Late 1980's - converted into flats and named "Hillcrest Court".

Before 1834 some of these parishes belonged to Gilbert Unions, Incorporations or had their own Work or Parish House (WkHse) as shown.

Depwade Union Places	Pre 1834 Union, Incorporation or Parish Work House	Pre 1902 Union (if not Depwade)
Alburgh
Ashwellthorpe	WkHse
Aslacton
Billingford (near Diss)
Bressingham (from 1902)	WkHse	Guiltcross
Brockdish
Bunwell	WkHse
Burston
Carleton Rode	WkHse
Denton
Dickleburgh	WkHse
Diss	WkHse
Earsham
Fersfield (from 1902)		Guiltcross
Forncett St. Mary
Forncett St. Peter	WkHse
Frenze
Fritton
Fundenhall
Gissing
Great Moulton (St Michael)
Hapton
Hardwick
Hempnall
Morningthorpe
Needham
Pulham St. Mary Magdalen (or Pulham Market)
Pulham St. Mary-the-Virgin	WkHse
Redenhall with Harleston (In 1885 part of Mendham added to this parish *)	WkHse
Roydon (near Diss) (from 1902)		Guiltcross
Rushall
Scole
Shelfanger (from 1902)	WkHse	Guiltcross
Shelton
Shimpling
Starston
Stratton St. Mary
Stratton St. Michael
Tacolneston
Tasburgh
Tharston
Thelveton (or Thelton)
Thorpe Abbotts
Thorpe Parva
Tibenham	WkHse
Tivetshall St. Margaret
Tivetshall St. Mary
Wacton
Winfarthing (from 1902)	WkHse	Guiltcross
Wortwell

Poor Law Records - Transcriptions

List of the names of the Guardians of the Depwade Union who served on the first board and committee members from April 1835. First applicants, includes names and parishes, who were asking for help.

Poor Law Records - Images

Online images of some poor law registers, admissions books etc. from 1796 to 1900 are available at the

LDS familysearch website (UK+Ireland records section)

Go down the "Historical Record Collections"
Select Title - "England, Norfolk Poor Law Union Records, 1796-1900"
Select "Browse through xxx images"
Under County pick - "Norfolk"
Under Poor Law Union select the "Required Union"
Records are under headings such as "District, Workhouse & Unknown etc."

Other Websites

Acts, descriptions, maps, some pictures etc. can be found at :-
www.workhouses.org.uk (The Story of Workhouses).

Notes

Mendham is fully described under Hoxne Union.

Further information can be found:

about locations in the Towns and Parishes pages.
about which hundred a parish occurs in.

See also the Poor Law page and the Post 1834 Unions page

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