Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse

Last updated

Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse is a museum of rural life and former workhouse in the village of Gressenhall, Norfolk. [1] It also houses a traditional working farm, [2] a collection of art and artefacts, and a library and archive. [3] [4]

Contents

History

Union House - Gressenhall workhouse - geograph.org.uk - 1309541.jpg

The Mitford and Launditch Hundreds Incorporation was established in 1775, with the land on which a "house of industry" would be built being purchased the following year. [5] The Mitford and Launditch Corporation House of Industry was opened on 7 July 1777. [6] The building accommodated an average of 450 "inmates", but at its peak in 1801 housed 670. [5]

In 1834, the Poor Law Amendment Act led to the creation of the Mitford and Launditch Poor Law Union. [5] The conversion of the House of Industry to Union Workhouse began in 1836. [6]

Inhabitants of the workhouse who have been remembered include Harriet Kettle, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison with hard labour for setting a fire in the building, [7] and Elizabeth Rudd, "a pauper inmate of the workhouse", who became pregnant while there. [8]

The workhouse chapel, built 1868 The workhouse chapel - view east - geograph.org.uk - 1309609.jpg
The workhouse chapel, built 1868

The chapel was, designed by R. M. Pinson and opened by the Bishop of Norwich, was built in 1868. [6]

In 1930, the workhouse became Gressenhall Institution, and after World War II provided accommodation for elderly people, and occasionally as emergency housing for homeless families. [5] In 1976, it became a rural life museum. [5]

Notable people

Museum

In 2011, Gressenhall became the first accredited museum to have a gallery dedicated to Land Girls and the wartime role they played. [10] As well as photographs, uniforms, and tools, the exhibition featured audio recordings by former members of the Land Army and Timber Corps. [10]

In 2024, an exhibition called "Making the Rounds" used textile works to explore the story of workhouse nurses. [11] One of the women whose story was uncovered by volunteers conducting research for the project was Helen Hart, a British-born suffragist, lecturer, nurse, and journalist, who became well-known in Australia. [12]

The art collection includes works by artists such as Perry Nursey (1799–1867), J. Locke (active 1870–1900), and James Scraggs (active 1816–1831). [13]

References

  1. ↑ "What's here at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse". Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse - Norfolk Museums Service. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  2. ↑ "Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse". Visit Norfolk. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  3. ↑ "Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse: The Museum of Norfolk Life | Art UK". artuk.org. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  4. ↑ "Gressenhall library and archive". Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse - Norfolk Museums Service. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Workhouse in Mitford & Launditch, Norfolk". www.workhouses.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  6. 1 2 3 "Workhouse timeline". Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse - Norfolk Museums Service. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  7. ↑ Storey, Neil R. (2012). Norfolk villains : rogues, rascals and reprobates. Internet Archive. Stroud : History. ISBN   978-0-7524-6001-7.
  8. ↑ Lee, Robert (2005). Unquiet country : voices of the rural poor, 1820-1880. Internet Archive. Bollington [England] : Windgather ; London : Distributed by Central Books Ltd. ISBN   978-1-905119-03-5.
  9. ↑ Reid, Andy (2021). Harriet Kettle: Pauper, Prisoner, Patient, and Parent in Victorian Norfolk. Poppyland.
  10. 1 2 "Land Girls and Lumber Jills celebrated at Gressenhall". BBC News. 2011-08-24. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  11. ↑ "Dereham workhouse nurses are topic of new art exhibition". BBC News. 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  12. ↑ "Workhouse discovers its former nurse who was sacked for 'insubordination' went on to pioneer suffragette movement in Australia". Lynn News. 2024-11-14. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  13. ↑ "Art UK | Discover Artworks". artuk.org. Retrieved 2025-03-17.

52°42′54″N0°55′17″E / 52.7149°N 0.9213°E / 52.7149; 0.9213

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.