The Infirmary at Cedar House c1920

 

Thrapston Union Workhouse c1900, known as Cedar House

The Inspector Calls!

In 1897, a newly appointed Local Government Board National Inspector adversely reported that in his opinion, the Thrapston Union should provide better nursing accommodation and more bed space for the sick.

The immediate response of the custodians of the local purse, the Board of Guardians, was to fight a rear guard action , led by Colonel J S Stopford Sackville. The Union countered with a proposal of immediate repair to the workhouse building wherever it was needed.

However, the National Inspector stood his corner and wrote back to say that “the cost to your ratepayers of a new infirmary building would very little, if at all, exceed that of patching up the old miserable buildings“.

In the continuing correspondence the Inspector insisted that his aim was to obtain reasonably good and comfortable accommodation for the aged sick and infirm at the smallest cost to ratepayers.

Eventually the Thrapston Union agreed to the Inspector’s proposals and the new infirmary opened in 1900.

Infirmary Costs

A levy of 1s 2d in the £ was placed on the local rates and raised £7,700 which paid for the construction of the Infirmary.

The builder, C F Henson from Kettering charged £6,565.

The architects fee, from Blackwell & Thompson from Kettering, was £338.

Purchase of the land cost £350, with legal fees of £75.

Building & Clerk of Works Supervision fees were £120.

Furnishings cost £252.

Ref:

Extract from a joint publication by Thrapston District Historical Society and East Northamptonshire Council to celebrate the refurbishment of the old Union Workhouse to accommodate the new Council Offices.