Site of Rochford Union Workhouse (EHER 15383)

Rochford Union Workhouse was erected in 1837 to accommodate around 300 inmates. It was designed by William Thorold following Sampson Kempthorne’s 'cruciform' model plan. In 1920 the workhouse infirmary became known as Rochford Hospital. The building that replaced the main workhouse building in the 1930s was probably the last Public Assistance Institution to be erected in England. Almost all of the workhouse buildings were demolished in the late 1990s.

1998. Building survey as part of comparative study of modern/industrial sites and monuments. Designed by William Thorold, the original workhouse was erected in 1837 following Sampson Kempthorne’s 'cruciform' model plan. An infirmary designed by Mr Stock, was added to the north-west in 1858 and the chapel in around 1865; of these only the latter survives. The infirmary was extended between 1901 and 1920 with the construction of parallel ward blocks linked by two-storey covered ways; the central administration block is all that remains. Other buildings, predominantly early twentieth century in date, include the Public Assistance Institution, dining hall and kitchen, laundry, a possible receiving ward, administration block, board room and additional wards; these are predominantly of brown brick with slate roofs. The buildings of the Hospital Extension Scheme undertaken by Southend-on-Sea County Borough Corporation between 1938 and 1941 are omitted having been fully described elsewhere (Cooper-Reade 1996 and 1998). <1> <2> The workhouse chapel (see EHER 26426) comprises a rectangular, single-storey building of brown brick with a gabled slate roof. A doorway at the south end, is flanked by round-headed windows and surmounted by an occulus; four large, round-headed sash windows light the east and west walls. Having been converted to offices few internal features are expected to survive. To the east stands a parallel single-storey range which housed the dining hall and kitchen; a plaque at the south end records a construction date of 1912. The former is lit by round headed windows to the east and west, divided by brick pilasters. A gabled porch with stone dressings provides access at the south end and glazed tiles up to five feet in height line the interior. A square kitchen block with a ridge lantern stands at the north end. Two single-storey buildings beside the dining hall may have contained the laundry. Erected in the early twentieth century, the doorways and corners of the range are executed in blue engineering bricks, and the roof is clad with asbestos. The laundry is in a poor condition and appears to have suffered fire damage. The only remnant of the infirmary is the central administration block; this is of two-storeys, stock brick with a slate roof. The arched openings for the former covered way that linked the buildings to the north and south are now blocked or form doorways. Two stock brick buildings of unknown function stand to the south of the infirmary; these have been interpreted as a receiving ward and administration block (8 [RCHME, 1995]). The former is a single-storey symmetrical building with two canted entrance bays to the roadside frontage (Plate 3). The latter contains a central two-storey range with single-storey wings to either side (Plate 2); it is now in use as a nursery. On the opposite side of the road stands a single-storey stock brick board room with two parallel ranges (9 [Plate 4]). That to the east has an elaborate central entrance, whilst the gabled block to the rear contains a large Venetian window at the north end. A date-stone of 1923 identifies the architect as Norman Evans; the building is now in use as a ‘Growing House’. At the far west of the site are two ward blocks. Erected in 1928 these adopt the same plan with a central two-storey range and single-storey wings to either side. Access is via a single-storeyed central block and sanitary annexes stand to the rear. The 1930s building, which replaced the original workhouse as a Public Assistance Institution is U-shaped in plan and faces west. It is two storeys high, of stock brick with red brick dressings around all apertures and has a flat roof. It has a central entrance and canted bays with flat roofs projecting into the inner grassed area. ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL : Slight; many of the original buildings have been demolished. An internal inspection is needed to assess whether any internal fixtures/fittings survive. SITE SIGNIFICANCE: Rochford probably retains the last Public Assistance Institution to be erected in England and these provide an important contrast to those associated with the 1930s Hospital Extension Scheme. The former are functional utilitarian structures where architectural decoration is kept to a minimum, whilst the latter are designed in the ‘moderne’ style and were seen very much as a model complex. CURRENT STATUS : Both the chapel (2) and the buildings of the Hospital Extension Scheme are Grade II listed. The infirmary administration block (3), dining hall and kitchen (4 and 5), laundry (6), receiving ward (7), administration block (8), board room (9) and Public Assistance Institution (11) form part of the Rochford Conservation Area. RECOMMENDED ACTION : The Conservation Area should be extended to include the 1928 ward blocks; de-list the chapel. MANAGEMENT: The chapel (2), dining room and kitchen (4 and 5), receiving ward (7), administration block (8), board room (9), the 1928 wards (10) and the 1930’s institution (11) are worthy of retention because of their spatial relationship with the buildings of the Hospital Extension Scheme. Important internal features should be preserved and recording needs to form an integral element of any future scheme of reuse. Information copied from <1> as part of the SMR enhancement process at the end of this survey. Rochford Union Workhouse stood on what is now the site of the hospital. It was designed by William Thorold in the style of Sampson Kempthorne’s ‘square’ plans for workhouses and erected in 1837. A chapel and infirmary were added in the mid-nineteenth century. The chapel still exists but the workhouse and infirmary have been demolished <2> <4> also provides a detailed chronology of Rochford Union Workhouse. He notes that it was built in 1837 on the north side of West Street. The building cost in the region of £5000 and accommodated 300 inmates. It was designed by William Thorold closely following one of Sampson Kempthorne's model plans published by the Poor Law Commission in 1835 and 1836. An infirmary was added in 1858 and the chapel around 1865. During the early years of the 20th century a number of additions were made. In 1901 the original infirmary became used for male patients, with an infirmary administration block and an infirmary for female patients being erected to the north. At around the same time, two further blocks were constructed at the east side of the southern entrance from Union Lane. The northernmost was possibly used for disabled or mentally ill patients while the southern may have been a receiving ward. In 1912 a new dining hall, kitchens and laundry were erected east of the chapel. In May 1916 the 'aged and infirm' block was repurposes for housing German prisoners of war. In 1920 the workhouse infirmary became known as Rochford Hospital, and expanded during the 1920s with a new board room block at the south of the site, additions to the infirmary and nurses' home and a new block for mentally ill patients. The board room block was subsequently also used as a chapel. In 1930 the workhouse part of the site was transferred to the Public Assistance Committee and renamed Rochford House. The main building was rebuilt in stages throughout the 1930s. After 1948 the former workhouse became Connaught House, an old person's hostel, and was later known as the Roche Close Home for the Aged. Most of the former workhouse buildings were demolished in the late 1990s. NRHE data import: Rochford Union Workhouse was built in 1837 at a cost of £5,000 and could accommodate 300 people. The architect was William Thorold who clearly followed Sampson Kempthorne's square-plan workhouse model. It was three storeys high with a central entrance bay set forward under a pediment. An infirmary was added at the north-west of the workhouse in 1858 and a chapel in around 1865. The chapel is now Grade II listed. <3> The infirmary was enlarged several times between 1901 and 1920, when it took on the name Rochford Hospital. After 1930 the site came into the control of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. The workhouse was rebuilt as a public assistance institution and renamed Rochford House whilst the infirmary continued to develop and adopted the name Southend Municipal Hospital. Rochford House was a U-shaped building, open to the west, built of yellow brick with red brick dressings and a flat roof. After 1948, the former workhouse became Connaught House old person's hostel, and was later known as the Roche Close home for the aged. Many of the former workhouse buildings were demolished in the late 1990s. The buildings on the hospital site, built in the 1930s, are good examples of the international modern style and several are now Grade II listed. <3> <4> <5> See also <6> and <7>.