turleytree

East Preston Workhouse

In 1792, a union workhouse was erected in East Preston at a cost of £1,059. The building was enlarged in 1806. Because of its Gilbert Union status, East Preston was largely immune from most of the provisions of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act. The workhouse was enlarged in 1853 by the addition of a school-room and an infirmary. A new workhouse, was built on the same site in 1872-3. An infirmary and nurses' home were added at the south-east in 1906.

In 1834 the Poor Law Commission Report contained a description of the workhouse and its moderate regime. "That at East Preston, incorporated for [19] parishes is the largest with which I met [in West Sussex] though the inmates did not average more than 50 in summer and 70 in winter. The house is farmed at 3s a head per week [3s was allowed for the maintenance of each pauper at that time]. A Visitor is appointed annually, and attends the house twice or three times a week. A committee [Guardians] meet at the house the first Monday in every month. The diet is arranged by the committee and the bread and beer consumed are made in the house. Six meat dinners and one bread and cheese dinner are allowed, also a pint of beer daily.

Breakfast consists of milk, bread and cheese or soup, supper is the same. The inmates are either old and infirm, a few young children, orphans, deserted or bastard, and occasionally females who have been sent home on account of pregnancy. A medical man attends twice a week. There is a manufactory of sacking and ropes and bedding, to an extent not exceeding £20 a year. A cottage garden and a large square yard in the centre of the holding, belong to the house. Some of the old people are allowed to smoke, and to some an allowance of tea or tobacco is made. All dine in the same hall, but the sexes have their meals at different tables, and are separated at night, the men sleep two to a bed. One of the paupers stands at the gate, which was stated to be always locked"

These Photographs of the East Preston Workhouse taken in the 1960's, give an indication of what an inhospitable place it must have been.