History Society Review

Weaver Hall Workhouse

We are fortunate that our invited speakers are so invested in their subjects that they only need slides to illustrate their presentations and Graham Martin was no exception when he gave us a talk on the Weaver Hall Workhouse, Northwich, last Thursday 18th April 2024.

The need for such workhouses emanated from the C16th Poor Laws, amended in 1834, and were philanthropic endeavours.

Weaver Hall was built by George Latham, a renowned local builder from Nantwich, in 1839 using bricks made by Jabez Thompson, owner of Northwich Brickworks. This was to provide lodgings, food, clothing, education & work for men, women & children who were destitute until such time as they were able to get paid work for them to leave.

While they were in the workhouse they would earn their keep by stone, gypsum or bone crushing, agricultural & laundry work (cleanliness was next to Godliness) sewing, oakham picking & food preparation.

The workhouse closed in 1968 but the remaining buildings were saved by local resident Robert Westall's campaign and reopened as Weaver Hall Museum in 1977.