Building    From 1775 

Cleveland Street Workhouse

Categories: Medicine, Social Welfare

Created with an Act of Parliament in 1775, initially for the parish of St Paul in Covent Garden, this is the most intact example of an 18th century workhouse institution left standing in London. Joseph Rogers was appointed to the post of Medical Officer in 1856 and remained for thirty years. The name changes of the building over the years briefly summarise its history: St Paul Covent Garden Workhouse or simply Covent Garden Workhouse; Strand Union Workhouse; Central London Sick Asylum; Cleveland Street Infirmary; Middlesex Hospital Annexe; Middlesex Hospital Outpatient Department. At this point, 2008, it was scheduled for demolition but a spirited campaign, with some help from Charles Dickens, got it it listed in 2011 and it was saved. The picture source website is an invaluable resource.

2017: Now the Nightingale wards at the back and the burial ground, used for the paupers, are at risk from the developers. Read about one burial there, of an "Italian boy" who was murdered by "body-snatchers" so they could sell his body: An East End Murder & A West End Grave. And Florence Nightingale's connection is detailed here. We hope Camden does the right thing and protects this historic fabric.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Cleveland Street Workhouse

Commemorated ati

Charles Dickens - W1

Unveiled by Lucinda Dickens Hawksley. Behind this plaque is an interesting d...

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Other Subjects

The Reverend Reginald Herman Tribe

The Reverend Reginald Herman Tribe

Reginald Herman Tribe was born on 26 May 1881 in Chatham, Kent, the eldest of the four children of Herman Thomas Bedingfield Tribe (1855-1894) and Alice Mary Tribe, née Holder (b. c1860). His birth...

Person, Armed Forces, Medicine, Religion

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Sir Henry Wellcome

Sir Henry Wellcome

Born Wisconsin, USA, moved to London in 1880 for business reasons. Pharmacist, founder of the Wellcome Trust and Foundation. His collection of books & artefacts relating to the history of medic...

Person, Benefactor, Industry, Medicine, Museums / Libraries, USA

1 memorial
Dr Frederick N. Hicks

Dr Frederick N. Hicks

Long term resident of Stanmore. From HADAS "Dr Frederick Hicks is a retired GP and Vice-Chairman of the Stanmore & Harrow Historical Society." From MyLondon: "... Dr Hicks has attended St John...

Person, History, Medicine, Religion, Australia

1 memorial
St Benedict's Hospital

St Benedict's Hospital

Hill House, built in 1802, was the manor house on this site. It was bought by St Joseph's Teaching Brotherhood and they built a Roman Catholic school, St Joseph's Roman Catholic College, in 1887. T...

Building, Medicine

2 memorials
Frederick Salmon

Frederick Salmon

Rectal surgeon. Born in Bath. Founded St Marks Hospital. Died at home near Droitwich.

Person, Medicine

1 memorial