Birmingham Union Workhouse


Founded 1734 in Lichfield Street, site of the Victoria Law Courts. As numbers increased a new Union Workhouse was called for. Designed by J.J. Bateman it opened its doors on 25th March 1852 on Western Road, Winson Green. More and more room was taken over by the sick, and W.H. Ward designed an Infirmary. Opened in 1889 it had a corridor a quarter of a mile long linking nine pavilions, based on a model recommended by Florence Nightingale. Following the Introduction of the NHS in 1948 Birmingham Workhouse became Summerfield Hospital on Western Road. Summerfield Hospital has since been demolished, leaving one solitary building in the grounds. An appeal is presently being made to have this building listed. The Workhouse Infirmary became Dudley Road Hospital, later re named City Hospital, Dudley Road.
A description of the new building is contained in Langford's book "Modern Birmingham and its Institutions" "In March, 1852, the new workhouse at Birmingham Heath was opened for Public Inspection. The excitement was very great: upwards of 8,000 persons visited the building, of which the following is a description. It was erected from the designs of Mr Bateman, and the building and grounds cover an area of somewhat more than five acres. It is intended to accomodate 1,610 inmates, including officer: viz., 602 adults, 601 children, 310 in the infirmary, 80 tramps, and 17 officers. The principal features of the plan are the perfect isolation of the various departments; the complete separation of the classes and sexes in each department. he building is so arranged that every part of it has the benefit of sunshine during the day, a matter apparently of trivial importance, but really of great advantage in contributing to the health and comfort of the inmates. The site itself is dry and airy, the result in these respects being in strong contrast with the prognosications of those who so vehemently opposed the removal of the workhouse from Lichfield Street. The building is throughout of two storeys, with the exception of the central portion, which consists of three. There is only one entrance to the establishment. On either side are the porters lodge and apartments, the Clerk's and assistant Clerk's offices and waiting rooms. On the second floor is a spacious boardroom, retiring room and cloakrooms. This, however, is altogether apart from the workhouse proper, which is separated by a court yard, in front of which are the Master's and Matron's rooms, so that all persons entering or passing out of the establishment may be seen by them. The building is divided into four departments: namely the adult's, the children's, the infirmary and the tramps. The main portion, which is three storeys, is devoted to adult males and females: a remarkably fine corridor, 460 feet long and 10 wide, open from the floor to the roof, with galleries on the second and third storeys, runs from one end of the building to the other. This arrangement affords ample facility for supervision, and the open space promotes the thorough ventilation of the building. The corridor separates the able bodied paupers from the aged and infirm. The pumps for the supply of water to the establishment are situated near to the able bodied department, and are worked by hand labour. Separate day rooms and dormitories are provided for each class, and each adult pauper has a separate bed; all the rooms are well lighted and cheerful; and everything has been arranged so as to preserve the health and comfort of the inmates. The classification and accommodation in this department are: infirm and aged, men and women; ditto disorderly able men and women ditto disorderly The average superficial space alloted to each pauper is, in the day rooms, 14 feet, and in the dormitories 30 feet 7 inches. At the back of the female department is the laundry, fitted up with every convenience. The dining hall, which will accommodate about 1,000 persons, is over the centre of the corridor, so as to be readily accessible; and by means of a gallery the officers can overlook the occupants during meal hours.
The Childrens department is isolated from the other portions of the building; and is surrounded with an air of cheerfulness, comfort and independence, so as to deprive it as far as possible from all association with pauperism. This department consists of a main building with two wings. The ground floor is devoted to educational purposes, the sexes being kept distinct. There are separate class and work rooms, which are lofty and airy; and day rooms are set apart for the boys, girls and infants, which also serve as play rooms in wet weather. In these rooms each child has his own seat, which is numbered, with a little box for his play things, and a peg for his hat; an arrangement which tends not only to habits of order but to excite in the mind a spirit of independence, and habits of providence arising from actual possession. Shoemakers' and tailors' shops are provided for the boys and work rooms for the girls in the respective yards. There are also spacious lavatories and separate bathrooms for the boys and girls, with plunge and slipper baths attached to each department, which may be used hot or cold at discretion. Three dining halls are provided - one for children above seven years of age, another for those under seven, and a third for infants. Above are the dormitories. The apartments of the schoolmaster and schoolmistress are so placed as to give complete supervision over their respective departments. A wash-house,drying stoves, laundry, etc., adjoin the general washing department, but there is no communication between them. Under each of the wash houses, which are supplied with hot and cold water, are immense tanks capable of containing upwards of 20,000 gallons of rain water. At the end of the Childrens department, and facing the turnpike road is the Chapel, one of the neatest structures of the kind we have seen. It is in the perpendicular style of architecture, surmounted at the intersection of the transept with a light and elegant bell turret. The interior is fitted up with much taste, and is calculated to accommodate 500 adults and 500 children. The aisles, nave and chancel are paved with encaustic tiles, presented by Mr Bateman, architect and Mr Minton. The seats are open, and are of stained deal, as is the other woodwork of the establishment. There are galleries in the transepts for the children. The roof is open, supported by six light bronze pillars. There is an elegant stained glass window, the gift of the guardians, Officers of the Parish and the contractor. The very elegant altar cloth was executed and presented by Mr Bateman's Sister. At the opposite end of the house is the infirmary, which is detached from all the other buildings. It consists of spacious and well ventilated wards for common cases, four convalescent wards, four for idiotic and epileptic cases, nurses rooms, sculleries, water closets and bathrooms; with separate staircases and airing courts for the different classes. The fever, infection and lying in wards are detached from the building. The dispensary and surgeons rooms occupy the centre of the ground floor. The cost of the workhouse, including land, building, furniture etc., amounted to ï¿½44,476. Article by Courtesy of http://www.workhouses.co.uk

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