St Michaels Hospital (EHER 15373)

Braintree Union Workhouse was designed by William Nash and erected between 1837 and 1838. It was based on Sampson Kempthorne's 'hexagonal' plan, but included a detatched infirmary from the outset. In the mid-19th Century a new infirmary and dining room were erected, and in 1890 new entrance buildings, including a board room, andnew infirmary buildings were added to the designs of Frank Whitmore. A nurses' home was erected in the 1930s and casual huts in 1948.The three main ranges of the former workhouse are three-storeys high and one room deep. In the main hexagonal hub the kitchen occupied the ground floor. The complex is now part of St Michael's Hospital and is a Grade II Listed building.

November 1973. Grade II listed. Formerly the old workhouse, built in 1837. A red brick building now with 20th century wings on the east and west ends. Three storeys with a five-window range. Roof slate, hipped. <1> See photos <2>. 1998. Field survey. Based on plans by William Nash the workhouse was erected between 1837 and 1838 (RCHME 1996); the design is similar to the hexagonal model of Sampson Kempthorne with three arms radiating from a central hub. Later buildings include casual wards, a detached infirmary, and a receiving ward and board room. All the structures are of red brick with slate roofs. The main entrance beside Rayne Road retains the original gate piers and railings. The principal three-storey workhouse originally comprised a 'Y-shaped' range with single-storey outbuildings enclosing the yards; a dining hall, kitchen and infirmary stood to the rear. At the south end stands the entrance, which was initially flanked by single-storey wings; these were replaced in 1896-1897 by a two-storey infirmary. The principal entrance range is of three-storeys with a hipped roof surmounted by two chimney stacks; the central three bays break forwards. Pilasters supporting a stone entablature stand on either side of the main door and, round headed sashes provide light at ground and first floor level. The later ward wings were designed by Frank Whitmore, but the verandas are now enclosed; contemporary two-storey canted bays stand at the outer ends. A flat roofed ‘disinfector’ lies at the east end of the south range and extending north-wards is a rectangular single-storey laundry; the latter has a hipped roof surmounted by a ridge vent. The raised doorways on the eastern elevation were to enable off-loading from horse carts and a square single-storey boiler house terminates this end of the range. Projecting from the central octagonal hub and creating the Y-plan are three wings. These are of three-storeys being lit by opposing windows; those on the second floor have rounded heads with sash and hoppers below. The wider blocks at the end of each range appear to have been lit by round headed windows. A stained class window in the north wall at the east end of the east range appears to be original and the hub has a window on each floor overlooking the yards. A dining hall and chapel originally stood to the north; these were subsequently used as class-rooms for boys’ and girls’. This area has been much altered and a single-storey kitchen surmounted by a ridge vent now links the hub to a gabled rectangular dining hall; the long walls being lit by sash and hopper windows. The northern end of the dining hall is flanked by two parallel rectangular blocks; these may have been part of the original infirmary, but they are recorded in the 1930s as female day rooms and a carpenters shop (Public Assistance Committee 1930). Two single-storey out-buildings to the east of this range may have been used as wash houses. A red brick two-storey infirmary stands to the north of the dining hall. Probably erected in the mid-nineteenth century it originally adopted a 'U-shaped' plan with single-storey wings projecting from the east and west. Most of the sash and hopper glazing survives, but the building has been considerably altered. According to the RCHME report, the 1930s nurses home to the west of the infirmary has good surviving interiors (RCHME, 1996). The appearance of the workhouse was altered in 1895-1896 by the construction on the south side of two red brick structures (RCHME 1996). To the east of the driveway stands the Master’s office and board room; the single-storey building is approached by stone steps, and the round headed entrance is surmounted by a pediment and date-stone. The board room, a tall single-storey range with a canted end, lies to the rear; the windows are divided by brick buttresses and contained replacement glazing. According to the RCHME report, it has a fine interior (RCHME, 1996). A female receiving ward projects north-wards at the west end of the range. The 'U-shaped' two-storey building to the west of the driveway had many uses; these included male receiving wards, casual cells, a porters lodge, matrons apartment and clothing store. Additional casual and receiving wards were located to the west, but these have been demolished. Two Emergency Medical Scheme Huts stand at the west end of the site. Erected in around 1948, one is weather-boarded, whilst the other is rendered and white-washed; the roofs are clad with asbestos. ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL: Although converted into an old peoples home the site retains much of its external integrity. Fixtures/fittings have probably been replaced, but the original arrangement of rooms, corridors and stairs may survive providing important evidence of internal layout, circulation and gender segregation. SITE SIGNIFICANCE: This is the only extant 'Y-shaped' workhouse in Essex. Conversion has not detracted from its importance, but a number of the outbuildings have been demolished and the interior of the main range has been considerably altered. The workhouse forms an important element of the nineteenth-century historic and social fabric of Braintree. CURRENT STATUS: The entrance range is Grade II listed RECOMMENDED ACTION: The listing merely protects the most attractive structure on site and fails to appreciate its links in terms of both date and function to the workhouse as a whole. Although these are curtilage buildings, a case could be made for the creation of a discrete Conservation Area encompassing features 1-9; those with good interiors should also be considered for Grade II listing. MANAGEMENT: Currently in use and well maintained, but some of the brick-work has badly weathered. Should the site become threatened all the buildings described above with the exception of the EMS huts should be retained together with any internal fixtures/fittings. Detailed recording needs to form an integral element in any future scheme of reuse. <3> 1999. Building recording. Brief internal and external photographic survey with simple plans and elevations, carried out prior to buildings demolition. <4> <5> 2003. Building recording. A brief photographic survey of the X-ray building prior to its demolition. <6> The Poor Law Union Workhouse was erected in 1838, replacing the parish workhouse on Market Street. It was based on a design by James Bentham and could accomodate 300 people. Of red brick build with a small central building from which three arms radiated, with a house at the front. The building was subsequently enlarged to hold 400 inmates and several acres of land added, including piggeries. The buildings now form the central part of St Michael's Hospital, established 1948. <7> NRHE data transfer: Braintree Union Workhouse was designed by William Nash and erected in 1837-1838, and based on Sampson Kempthorne's 'hexagonal' plan, but included a detatched infirmary from the outset. In the mid 19th century a new infirmary and dining room were erected, and in 1890 new entrance buildings, including a board room, and new infirmary buildings were added to the designs of Frank Whitmore. A nurses' home was erected in the 1930s and casual huts in 1948. The three main ranges of the workhouse are three-storeys high and one room deep. In the main hexagonal hub the kitchen occupied the ground floor. The complex is now part of St Michael's Hospital and is a Grade II Listed building. <8> <5> See also <9>. NRHE summary description: Braintree Union Workhouse was designed by William Nash and erected between 1837 and 1838. It was based on Sampson Kempthorne's 'hexagonal' plan, but included a detatched infirmary from the outset. In the mid-19th Century a new infirmary and dining room were erected, and in 1890 new entrance buildings, including a board room, and new infirmary buildings were added to the designs of Frank Whitmore. A nurses' home was erected in the 1930s and casual huts in 1948.The three main ranges of the former workhouse are three-storeys high and one room deep. In the main hexagonal hub the kitchen occupied the ground floor. The complex is now part of St Michael's Hospital and is a Grade II Listed building.