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Wigan Workhouse

29 Comments

Wigan Workhouse, Frog Lane.
Wigan Workhouse, Frog Lane.
Photo: Ron Hunt
Views: 15,956
Item #: 2121
Wigan Workhouse, Frog Lane. It was demolished in sections, St Stephens house which had 40 old people, was demolished in 1969/70 and the elderly were re-housed at Bottling Wood.
The hospital section was demolished in 1973 and residents were moved to a new wing at Billinge Hospital.

Comment by: Gaelann on 14th November 2007 at 09:59

Would this have been known as the Union Workhouse Wigan. I have a family member born there in 1844 and would be interested to hear from anyone who could confirm this.

Comment by: RON on 27th November 2007 at 11:25

Yes this was the Union workhouse

Comment by: TOM P on 3rd January 2008 at 19:16

THERE IS A SECTION OF LAND IN THE INCE CEMETERY, NO GRAVESTONES JUST UNDULATIONS WHERE I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE FROM THE WORK HOUSES WITH NO RELATIVES ARE BURIED.

Comment by: BRID on 13th May 2008 at 20:56

I LIVE VERY NEAR THE OLD WORKHOUSE SITE AND WONDER IF ANYONE COULD TELL ME IF THE HOUSES IN UPPER AND LOWER ST STEPHEN ST HAVE ANY CONNECTION WITH IT. I BELIEVE THE HOUSES WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT FOR THE RECTOR OF WIGAN..STAFF FOR THE WORKHOUSE? any info appreciated

Comment by: Heather Bassham on 1st February 2009 at 03:18

I have family that lived here before immigrating to California.
Can anyone enlighten me as to what exactly a workhouse was?

Comment by: Paul Moore on 28th March 2009 at 05:11

Like Heather, I am from California and had family die at the Wigan Work House. I will be in Wigan for week in May. Does anyone know the current address on Frog lane where the work house once stood?

Comment by: Carole Walker on 2nd April 2009 at 16:09

Hi Paul, here are the details for what was the Worhouse in Frog Lane, Wigan: -

Wigan Health Centre
Boston House
Frog Lane, Wigan, WN6 7DS
Tel: 01942 482070

If you search on Google for this there is a map to show you how to get there, it is only just outside the town centre.

My Grandad and a sister of my Grandmother died in what became Frog Lane Lane Hospital around 1966. I never went there but it doesn't sound to good. Happy hunting and enjoy your trip

Comment by: kenb on 8th July 2009 at 12:13

To Heather & Paul, if you haven't already found it, try http://www.workhouses.org.uk/

Comment by: Elaine Bradshaw on 25th August 2009 at 20:27

I have a relation John Webster who was an inmate in the Frog Lane Workhouse in 1881 aged 72. Can anyone tell me where I might view records from the workhouse, I would like to discover when he was admitted and probably when he died there?

Comment by: RON HUNT on 25th August 2009 at 23:21

Quote"Hi Paul, here are the details for what was the Worhouse in Frog Lane, Wigan: -

Wigan Health Centre
Boston House
Frog Lane, Wigan, WN6 7DS
Tel: 01942 482070

If you search on Google for this there is a map to show you how to get there, it is only just outside the town centre."

No it wasn't there. The Workhouse was more towards Wigan. Where there is a block of new apartments. Opposite the entrance to the refuse yard.

Comment by: Lesley on 28th August 2009 at 10:19

Thank you for this. My ancestor died there is 1902.
Does anyone know what the Workhouse records may hold? ie date off admission etc?

Many thanks

Comment by: vera howarth on 12th March 2010 at 21:53

I was very interested to see this photo.My aunt and 2 uncles ,as very small children were in Frog Lane on census night 1911.The address given for the place is 75 Frog lane.

Comment by: john wood on 23rd April 2010 at 22:41

My grandad george wood was superintendant of frog lane hospital in the 1950s.He and grandma lived in the house at the centreof the picture ihave a photo of me in 1951 aged 3 sitting on the steps shown.Doe anyone remembermy grandad?

Comment by: Jean Lowe on 9th June 2010 at 21:39

I remember George Wood, my dad Jack Farrimond took over as superintendant in 1953 when Mr Wood retired. We lived there until it was closed. My dad then went to Woodland Hall at Whelley. My sister, Christine and I have lots of memories of this house. I think Mr Wood had two daughters , Dorothy and Eliszabeth.

Comment by: jill stout on 7th August 2010 at 18:38

My mother was put into this work house in 1916. She was later transfered to an orphanage in liverpool. Where are the records for this work house as I would like to know what happened to her.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 7th August 2010 at 19:10

I think the records are in the History Shop? If not there they will be in the archives at Leigh

Comment by: jill on 8th August 2010 at 11:39

Thank's Ron, the history shop say they are not there, the archives in Leigh say there is none. How can something that played a big part of Wigan history not be still around? It's not as though it closed hundreds if years ago. If any one knows where the records are I am sure a lot of people would be interested. thanks again for your help Ron any help is most appreciated.

Comment by: dave c on 25th August 2010 at 14:12

It was always a bit of a joke when I was younger, but I actually worked in the Workhouse. For a few years Wigan Metros Architects Department occupied part of one of the building. I did a Summer and then part of my "year out" from Uni. there. It was quite a spooky atmoshere, even in the 1970's, especially on dark evenings. A very sad memory of those buildings was the fact that it was used as a Geriatric ward for a while and unfortunately my Grandfather ended up in there when they couldn't do anything further for him and died. It was very dismal and sombre, then. Lord knows what it was like when it was operating as a Workhouse.

Comment by: Ali C. on 1st April 2011 at 15:45

remember being taken to see elderly relatives at Frog Lane a few times in the 60s, was there a sort of gatehouse with a clock tower?

Comment by: Tracey Boardman on 5th September 2011 at 10:35

I'm tracing an ancestor who possibly was born in 1851 in the Wigan Workhouse. I'm unable to find him in the 1861 census but then he reappears as a boarder with a couple in 1871. Any ideas as to what may have happened to him in those early years. He would have only been a minor. I seem to have come to a dead end with my search. Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks x

Comment by: Kathy Corrigan on 9th March 2012 at 05:09

Records
•Wigan Archive Service, Town Hall, Leigh WN7 2DY. Holdings include: Guardians' minutes (1837-1930); Register of inmates (1906-49); etc.
•Lancashire Record Office, Bow Lane, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2RE. Holdings include: Guardians' minutes (1837-1930); Ledgers (1836-61);

Comment by: Elaine Melia on 23rd November 2012 at 21:11

I am looking into my family history and I remember my mum saying her younger sister died in a Sanatorium in Wigan in 1933 can anyone tell me anything sbout this place, I think it might have been a work house on Frog Lane

Comment by: carol jones on 8th December 2012 at 21:04

Hiya everyone I recently got my great grandfathers death certificate and it said that he died at 75 frog lane in 1948,I have also discovered it was a hospital, I am trying to find out how many hospitals ther was in wigan at that time because the certificate says he was a hospital boiler stoker,(retired) is ther anyone who might know of him, his name was John William Powell. any information would be great. thanks carol.

Comment by: SusanN on 23rd March 2015 at 03:06

My Grandmother's birth certificate lists that she was born at 75 Frog Lane. Her mother was not married, and she later gave my Grandmother up for adoption when she was 3 years old. Would she have given birth in the infirmary or is it possible that unwed mothers were taken in at the Workhouse. Her occupation is listed as 'machinist' and there is another address on her birth certificate on Brookhouse Street. I would like to sort this out as I am trying to collect more info

Comment by: Hazel on 10th May 2015 at 22:18

http://tinyurl.com/p7ullfn
This is the present site of what was 75 Frog Lane - presumably the site of the Union Workhouse, although there is huge amount of redevelopment on the opposite side of the road as well. It is now Markland Court (flats). If you move the view slightly to the right, you can see that the last house of the row is No.73 Frog Lane.

Comment by: Maurice Occleshaw on 1st May 2019 at 00:33

My Grandmother Kate Elizabeth Occleshaw b.1882, and lived at 35 Bradshawgate at the time, was sent there in the early to mid sixties, and died around 1967. can anyone confirm this, and perhaps where she might be buried? Maurice Occleshaw, Australia.

Comment by: Craig on 28th October 2020 at 20:33

My Wife's Great Grandmother (Sarah Hartley) was born in Wigan April 27, 1970. Her mother (Ellen Mather/Hartley) died Feb/1871 and is buried in Ince cemetery. Sarah was 1st recorded in 1881 census at the Wigan Union Workhouse as inmate/scholar. Her father and 2 siblings were recorded in the 1871 census and her eldest sister stayed/lived in England her entire life. In 1883, Sarah was enrolled in the Dr. Stevenson Children's Orphanage in Bolton, trained as a domestic/housekeeper and in June 1886 (age 16) was sent to Quebec Canada. Her guardian was Richard Hartley. She is considered/registered as a "British Home Child". Upon her arrival in Quebec, she (and 35+/- others) travelled by train to Hamilton Ontario and ultimately, Sarah was assigned as an indentured servant to the Col. John Murray farm in Stewartttown Ontario. My question is: Are there any records/documents available for the time (1871-1883) where was most likely spent at the Union Workhouse in Wigan. I have some records for the orphanage in Bolton but between 1871 when Sarah's mother died and the census in1881, I have no documents/records. Sarah married in Canada and raised a family (5 girls/2boys) between 1888 and 1897. She died in July 1941. Does anyone know who might have any such records. Thx Craig

Comment by: Glenys on 1st November 2020 at 11:12

The Guardian Minutes may include her. They are at Wigan & Leigh Archives, Leigh Library, Leigh. WN7 1DY www.archives.wigan.gov.uk. There may be a delay in replying at the moment as the Archives are temporarily closed to the public and documents are in storage whilst refurbishment of the Town Hall takes place.

Comment by: Craig on 17th June 2022 at 18:11

Graham Taylor's stories of the Wigan Union Workhouse and the story of Sarah Hartley, inmate 1881. Wigan Local History and Heritage Society web site December 2021 and spring 2022.

https://www.wiganlocalhistory.org/articles/tales-from-the-workhouse-the-story-of-sarah-hartley

Check them out. They are both detailed excellent articles.

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