The Workhouse

This scene provides a severe reminder of the grimmer side of the nineteenth century life in Halstead. It shows the Workhouse in the Hedingham Road as it looked in 1902. It was built in 1838 to house up to 400 destitutes and also had wards for tramps, 'Gentlemen of the Road' who walked from one workhouse to the next with a little discreet begging on the way. These able-bodied men - and sometimes women - were allowed one nights stay only but as the workhouses throughout the country were placed at distances apart which could be accomplished within a days tramping they could always find a bed for the night, although sometimes a barn or a convenient haystack would provide shelter. The Workhouse was demolished in 1922 to make way for the Homes of Rest built by Samuel Coutauld of The Howe providing housing for retired workers from Courtaulds factory (as shown in the colour photograph).