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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Sir Archibald McIndoe

Sir Archibald McIndoe

Born Dunedin, New Zealand. Pioneering plastic surgeon who worked for the Royal Air Force during World War II, treating badly burnt aircrew. Appointed C.B.E. in 1944. Knighted 1947. Helped found ...

Person, Medicine

1 memorial
Middlesex Hospital

Middlesex Hospital

Opened first in 1745 on Windmill Street and moved to Mortimer Street, Fitzrovia in 1757 where new wings were added over time. Between June 1928 and May 1935 it was completely rebuilt on the same si...

Group, Medicine

4 memorials
Dr Annie McCall

Dr Annie McCall

One of the first women to qualify as a doctor, in 1885. Born Manchester. She studied abroad and in London. Once qualified she quickly started a clinic and school of midwifery in her own home at 165...

Person, Gender Issues, Medicine

1 memorial
Sir John Pringle

Sir John Pringle

Military physician. Born Roxburghshire, Scotland. Studied in Flanders/Netherlands, where he later returned in his role as military physician, and Paris. Instituted sanitary reforms first on battlef...

Person, Armed Forces, Medicine, France, Netherlands, Scotland

1 memorial