Building record MLI90079 - Fleet Hospital (Holbeach Union Workhouse), Holbeach

Summary

Fleet Hospital (Holbeach Union Workhouse), Holbeach.

Type and Period (4)

  • (Post Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1836 AD to 1930 AD?)
  • (Post Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1851 AD to 1930 AD?)
  • (Early 20th Century to 21st Century - 1930 AD? to 2007 AD)
  • (21st Century - 2007 AD to 2011 AD?)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

Workhouse, now hospital. Built in 1837, enlarged 1851, 1867, 1871 and in the 20th century. Brown brick with red brick dressings. Hipped slate roofs with single ridge and single lateral stacks to east range. East range with central two and a half storey range of five bays and flanked by two storey, nine bay wings that are slightly set back with outer two bays on each side projecting far forward. For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. {1} Workhouse based on the 'hexagonal' design of Kempthorne, built in 1837. The building appears to have adhered to the model 'hexagon' plan in most respects, including the design of the entrance blocks. Its architect, Robert Ellis Jnr, must simply have produced working drawings and specifications from the published design. {2} Holbeach Union Workhouse was built between 1836 and 1837 at a cost of £4,830 and could accommodate 386 inmates. The architect was Robert Ellis Junior who designed the building based on Sampson Kempthorne's Hexagon plan (or Y-plan) model published by the Poor Law Commission in 1835. It comprised an entrance block facing onto Fleet Road, behind which three accommodation wings radiated from a central supervisory hub. A range of smaller buildings created a hexagonal perimeter around the complex. The areas between the accommodation wings were used as exercise yards for different categories of inmate. A separate infirmary was erected to the north-west of the workhouse in 1851. Extensions were added in 1904, which increased the capacity form 36 to 80 patients. The workhouse was also extended in 1867 and 1871 to accommodate 519 inmates. The entrance building comprised a three storey central block built of brown brick, with stone string courses at first and second floor levels and a slate-covered hipped roof. This was flanked by two storey red brick wings to the east and west, which terminated in cross wings. The infirmary began as a T-shaped symmetrical building before extensions were added in 1904. It was built of brown brick with a slate roof and was two-storeys high. It included separate wards for men and women, a fever ward, nurse's accommodation and a doctor's surgery. After 1930, the workhouse became Holbeach Public Assistance Institution. Following the inauguration of the National Health Service in 1948, it became Fleet Hospital. The building has now been slightly altered and the hexagonal perimeter has been demolished. It is in use (2007) as Holbeach House Nursing Home and is Grade II Listed. {3} Former workhouse currently (2013) undergoing conversion. {4} A basic photographic survey was conducted in September 2004, prior to development of the former infirmary building (now known as Holbeach House). {5}

Sources/Archives (5)

  •  Index: Department of the Environment. 1987. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 16/61.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Morrison, Kathryn. 1999. The Workhouse. p.75.
  •  Website: English Heritage. 2002-2009. Pastscape (National Monuments Record) archaeological records. https://www.pastscape.org.uk/. 1452061 (TF 32 SE; 31).
  •  Verbal Communication: Louise Jennings. 2013. Notes about buildings in Fleet. -.
  •  Report: CB Design Group. 2004. Holbeach House. -.

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred TF 36993 24927 (92m by 115m) (3 map features)
Civil Parish FLEET, SOUTH HOLLAND, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (3)

External Links (0)

Record last edited

Oct 14 2021 11:29AM

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