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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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...

Read More

Other Subjects

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

Born in Whitechapel. She was the first female doctor to be trained in Britain and went on to promote the medical training of women at a time when medicine was an all-male profession.  Elder sister ...

Person, Gender Issues, Medicine

3 memorials
Frederick Salmon

Frederick Salmon

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

Person, Medicine

1 memorial
King George Hospital, HMSO, Stamford Street

King George Hospital, HMSO, Stamford Street

From the Survey of London and Ezitis (excellent) we learn that the five storey Cornwall House, built as warehouse for H.M. Stationery Office, was completed in the middle of WW1 and so was used unti...

Group, Medicine

1 memorial
Royal Army Medical College

Royal Army Medical College

Built on the site of Millbank Prison.

Group, Armed Forces, Education, Medicine

1 memorial
Dr. Edward Adrian Wilson

Dr. Edward Adrian Wilson

Born Cheltenham. One of Scott's four companions who died with him, returning from the South Pole. Cheltenham honours Wilson with a statue on the Promenade and an exhibition in the town museum.

Person, Exploring, Medicine, Arctic & Antarctic

2 memorials