Monument record 11199/1 - Chester Union Workhouse, Hoole Lane

The Chester Poor Law Union was established in 1869 later than other union workhouses as the city was exempted from the original 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act due to its Incorporation status. The new union was built at Hoole in 1873, designed by Perkin and Sons with a T shaped main building set back from the road, an infirmary to the west (CHER 11199/4), a school (CHER 11199/3) and church to the south (CHER 11199/2), a gasometer west of the infirmary (CHER 11199/5) and a separate house to the north, possibly for the superintendant (CHER 11199/6). (3)

In 1930 the workhouse became St James’ Hospital and following the NHS Act of 1948, Chester City Hospital. The hospital was closed in 1991 and the buildings later demolished. (3)

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1872-1875, Metric Ten Foot Scale Town Plan of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6780.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

<3> Higginbotham, P., 2012, The Workhouse, http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Chester/ (Web Site). SCH6930.