Cottage Homes, Downend, Christchurch, Mangotsfield, Keynsham
| Gramps ID | P0503 |
Narrative
From http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~rstephen/livingeaston/local_history/eastvilleworkhouse.html
Due to the extension of Bristol's boundaries in 1897 there was an affiliation of the Poor Law Unions of Clifton and Bedminster and the Board was reconstructed. this reorganisation took place on April 1st 1898. Major George F. Rumsey, who had been Chair of Barton Regis, was elected as Chair of the new body.
At this time 11,096 people were under the care of Guardians in orphanages, asylums, special schools, workhouses or in their own poverty stricken homes. In 1898 there were over 500 children living in the City's workhouses. Conditions were so bad that a scheme of building 'scattered homes' and homes for boys who were involved in industry/apprenticeships was initiated. The 'scattered homes' were built at Downend - The Downend Cottage Homes. Numbers of children accommodated declined - partly due to fostering - and by 1948 only the Crescent, Downend Homes, remained. As a further consequence of the City's eastward extension a number of Doctors, including Dr W.G. Grace, Easton's local doctor and surgeon resigned in protest.
The Eastville Institution was built in 1847 by the Clifton Union at 100 Fishponds Road. The Clifton Union was later divided and the Eastville area became known as the Barton Regis Union. It was assimilated into Bristol Union in 1898.
In September 1920 sick patients chargeable to the Guardians in the Eastville and Stapleton Institutions were transferred to Southmead Hospital in line with the new schemes which were being put in place. Southmead Hospital had been started just before 1898.
After World War II the Workhouse had become an Old People's Home. It was finally demolished in 1972. Where the Workhouse once stood there is now the development of Maypark.
And from http://www.gertlushonline.co.uk/1900--1912-timeline.html in 1904:
The Cottage Homes at Downend, constructed for the Bristol Guardians, were opened in November by the Rt. Hon Walter Long, MP, President of the Local Government Board. 20 acres of land had been purchased from Sir Charles D. Cave in 1901 at the cost of £5,000. The premises comprised 14 semi-detached homes in a crescent, a porters’ lodge, a convalescent home and a hail for general use. The cost of the building work (including fees) was £20,000 and the architects were La Trobe & Weston; the builder George Downs & Son.