From workhouse to wards

'From Workhouse to Wards’ at From Workhouse to Wards’ at North Manchester General Hospital

A special heritage event is being held on Saturday 7 September at North Manchester General Hospital, at 1.00pm.

The event is a rare opportunity to hear from local workhouse expert, Peter Higginbotham, who will explain the complicated and emotive history of workhouses and what life was really like in the workhouse.

The talk will cover topics including; the workhouse buildings, admission and discharge procedures, workhouse life, labour, food, and the development of medical facilities.

There will also be a special exhibition with some original indexes to patients from 1907 and workhouse admissions from 1933, (creed and burial registers), artefacts, maps and photographs dating back to the early 1900s.

Following the talk, members of the public will be welcome to walk around the North Manchester site and view the exterior of some of the historical buildings.

Peter Higginbotham is a leading authority on the workhouse, probably best known for his website www.workhouses.org.uk. He is the author of a number of books on the subject including The Workhouse Encyclopaedia, Workhouses of the North, The Workhouse Cookbook and A Grim Almanac of the Workhouse. He has also contributed to many radio and TV programmes such as Making History, Heir Hunters and Who Do You Think You Are?"

Peter’s most recent appearance on television was for BBC 1’s “Who Do You Think You Are?" celebrity genealogy series where he his filmed tracking down the family history and grandparents of actress, Una Stubbs, at the former York Workhouse.

The event, organised by The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in partnership with Manchester Archives, will be held at the Post-Graduation Education Centre at North Manchester General Hospital.

The event is free and open to the public, staff and The Pennine Acute Trust’s Foundation Trust members. Light refreshments will be provided.

To book your place contact Angela Greenwood on 01706 517302 or email ft.membership@pat.nhs.uk

The event is one of a series of regular events held by the Trust for the public and its members. The Trust held a similar heritage event in February at its Fairfield General Hospital which was a great success and well received by those who attended.