Posted with permission of the transcriber, Ann Selchick. Geo SICKNESS & POVERTY IN Nineteenth Century Whitehaven. # 48. WORKHOUSE. ____ WHITEHAVEN. There has been no new workhouse built here since the formation of the Union, the old workhouse for the town of Whitehaven, and at Ginns, for Preston Quarter, being considered sufficiently capacious. The former of these is situated in Scotch street, and was built in 1743, at the cost of a considerable sum, "borrowed upon tickets not exceeding £25 each, bearing interest for thirty-one years," after which the payment of the principal commenced, and was all paid off in 1780. It was considerably enlarged in 1795, so that it is now capable of containing two hundred persons, and is appropriated for the reception of female paupers. The Preston Quarter Workhouse is appropriated to the male paupers, and in consequence of some recent alterations is now calculated to hold about two hundred inmates. The Union comprises the following 23 townships and parishes, vis., Arlecdon, Cleator, Distington, Egremont, Ennerdale and Kenniside, Gosforth, Haile, Harrington, Hensingham, Lamplugh, Lowside Quarter, Moresby, Nether Wasdale, Parton, Ponsonby, Preston Quarter, Rottington, St. Bridget's, St. Bees, St. John's, Sandwith, Weddicar, and Whitehaven, containing in 1841, a population of 30,202 souls, and covering an area of 81,109 acres. The population and area of each district is as follows: - Egremont, 6623 souls, 34,217 acres Harrington, 6944 souls, and 43,422 acres. The Board of Guardians consists of 32, viz., six for Whitehaven, three for Preston Quarter, two for Egremont, two for Harrington and all the rest one guardian each. The following are the officers: -Chairman, William LUMB, Esq Vice Chairman, Mr. Wm. WILSON Treasurer, Mr. Peter CAMERON, manager of the Joint Stock Bank, Whitehaven. Auditor, R. F. YARKER, Esq., Ulverstone Clerk & Superintendent Registrar, Mr. Jno. B. POSTLETHWAITE, Solicitor, Whitehaven Chaplain, Revd. John HODGSON Relieving Officer and Registrar of Births and Deaths for Whitehaven District, Mr. John MAWSON, Church Street. Relieving Officer for St. Bees District, Mr. John WALKER, Gill. Registrar, Mr. MOSSOP, Hale Long, 15 Preston street. Registrar for Cleator, W. KITCHEN. Relieving Officer and Registrar for births and deaths for Distington, Jeremiah GUNSON Registrar for Marriages, John JACKSON and Richd. S. WHITESIDE, Spirit Merchants, Whitehaven. Medical Officers, Robert LUMB, Church Street for Whitehaven District. Isaac MOSSOP, Queen Street for Preston Quarter, William Maxwell JOHNSTON for Harrington district; William REEVES for Egremont District; James BRYDEN for Gosforth District. Master and Matron for Workhouses, Henry and Mrs. STURGEON Sub-matron for Whitehaven Workhouse, Jane WILSON William BENSON is schoolmaster for Preston Quarter workhouse and Barbara WATTERS is schoolmistress for the other. All the magistrates of the district are ex officio guardians and the meetings are held every Thursday at the Savings Bank, Whitehaven. There were for the quarter ending Dec. 24th, 1846, 1914 paupers relieved, at an expense of £1579 3s 7d exclusive of £38 19s 0d registration, and £10 7s 0d vaccination fees. The total expenditure of the Union for the year ending March 1844, was about £6830; for 1845, £7620; for 1846. £7470; and for 1847, £7800. The number of paupers now (July 1847) in the workhouses is 127 males and 150 females, and the number of children in the schools is about 130, viz., 70 boys and 60 girls. ___________