Leicester Union Workhouse

Help for the Poor

The first half of the 1800s saw an increase in unemployment and rising prices. Many people found themselves needing food and somewhere to live. The 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act meant that the only way to get help was to move into a workhouse. Inside the workhouse, conditions were harsh, and you had to work hard. This was to stop people going to the workhouse. In 1836 eight local councils joined together to form the Leicester Union and together planned a new workhouse.

Leicester’s New Workhouse

In 1839 the new workhouse was opened. It was designed by William Flint who was from Leicester. It housed 650 people and was one of the largest workhouses in England. Between 1850-1851 it was substantially rebuilt to house over 1,000 people. Inmates had to wear a uniform and were given very plain food including bread and dripping (made from animal fat). In 1879 Joseph Carey Merrick, also known by the stage name The Elephant Man, entered Leicester Union Workhouse.

Entrance gates and lodges of the Leicester workhouse

The End of the Poor Law

In 1948 the last elements of Poor Law were removed. A new benefit called National Assistance was introduced. In the 1960s the Leicester Union Workhouse became Hillcrest Hospital, a home for older people. However, along with some of the structure of the workhouse, the stigma of its history also remained. Hillcrest closed in 1974 and the building was demolished in 1977. Today, only the gateposts from the old workhouse building remain. The site is now home to Moat Community College which opened in 1981.

Nursing staff pose for a photograph in one of the women's wards at Hillcrest