Grewelthorpe

Workhouse Inmates

The following people born in the villages around Ripon were recorded on the various census as inmates in the Union Workhouses in the area.
Last update August 2023.


RIPON WORKHOUSE 1871.

ASCOUGH ELIZABETH. u/m age 35. Charwoman. Imbecile. Born Azerley.
BARKER JOHN. u/m age 59. Gen Labourer. Born Healey.
BODDY FRANCES. u/m age 35 Charwoman. Imbecile Born Sawley.
FAIRBURN JOSEPH. u/m age 73. Ag Lab. Imbecile from birth. Born Kirkby Malzeard.
KNAGGS ROBERT. Widr. age 33. Bricklayers Lab. Born Azerley.
LOFTHOUSE ANN. u/m age 50. Imbecile. Born Grewelthorpe.
THIRKILL GEORGE. u/m age 69. Woodcutter. Born Sawley.
WATSON ELIZABETH. u/m age 45. Dom. Serv. Born Kirkby Malzeard.


RIPON WORKHOUSE.1881
CHAPMAN JOHN. unmarried age 59. Butcher born Sawley.
CLAY MARTHA. aged 37. Dom. servant Lunatic. Born Galphay
DAWES MARY ANN. u/m aged 64. Imbecile. Born Kirkby Malzeard.
JANSON JANE ANN. u/m aged 27. Deaf & Dumb. Born Kirkby Malzeard.
LOFTHOUSE ANN. u/m aged 60. Former Dom serv. Imbecile. Born Kirkby Malzeard.
MURRAY ALICE. child age 2. Born Mickley.
SMITH JAMES. u/m aged 66. Blacksmith. Born Grantley.
WADDINGTON JOHN. u/m aged 65. Gen. Lab. Born Galphay.
WOOD THOMAS. u/m aged 59. Ag. Lab. Born Dallowgill.

In 1888 it was reported in the Leeds Mercury that the Master & Matron of the Ripon Union Workhouse were Mr & Mrs Greenwood. They were celebrating their sliver wedding and were presented with several fine gifts from the Board of Guardians.

RIPON WORKHOUSE 1891.
BILTON JOSEPH. Widr. age 79 Lab. Born Kirkby Malzeard.
HEATH WILLIAM. Widr. age 86. Tailor. Born Mickley.
HORNER JOHN. u/m age 73 Lab. Idiot. Born Sawley.
JACKSON ISABELLA. u/m age 56. Idiot. Born Grewelthorpe.
JANSON JANE ANN. u/m age 36. deaf & dumb. Idiot. Born Kirkby Malzeard.
LOFTHOUSE ANN. u/m age 69. Dom Serv. Idiot. Born Kirkby Malzeard.
WATSON ISABELLA. u/m age 19. Idiot. Born Kirkby Malzeard.
Death in Workhouse.
HOLMES THOMAS. Born 1800. Died 1883 aged 83. from Kirkby Malzeard.


RIPON WORKHOUSE 1899
New Infirmary opened.


RIPON WORKHOUSE 1900
In July Hannah Wade age 95 died in Ripon Workhouse. She had been an inmate for over 60 years. She had for 17 years been an inmate of Ripon poor house. It was demolished. to make way for the Workhouse in 1854.


In 1914 it was reported that Mr.J.P. Balley of Field House Ripon, sent an egg, to celebrate Easter, for each inmate of the Ripon Union Workhouse.
Christmas 1915, reported in Ripon Gazette that various gifts were given to the Workhouse by residents of Ripon.
Alderman Metcalfe gave each inmate a 3d bit. Sugar and tea, biscuits, oranges, crackers and toys, a Christmas tree and holly.
Tom Wells gave a bottle of rum for the sauce. He had done this for 39 years. Messrs Row & Sons gave unwanted spectacles.

KNARESBOROUGH WORKHOUSE. 1851
Workhouse adjoining Knaresborough Grammar School.
CRABTREE SARAH. age 1 born Mickley. Also her Mother Ann and sister Maria.
SCRUTON ELIZABETH. Married age 70 born Ripon.


KNARESBOROUGH WORKHOUSE 1871 Inmates 185.


KNARESBOROUGH WORKHOUSE.1881

KERTON GEORGE. married aged 65. Former Gen. Lab. Born Kirkby Malzeard.


KNARESBOROUGH WORKHOUSE 1880. Inmates number 130 and the master is Mr. Butterworth.


KNARESBOROUGH WORKHOUSE 1888. Master Mr. Mustell. Inmates 104.
William Pawson was imprisoned for 14 days for running away from the workhouse and stealing some clothes.


KNARESBOROUGH WORKHOUSE . 1892.
Tenders for supply of the workhouse for the ensuing half year which were accepted.
H.Franks. Harrogate Groceries.
Lofthouse & Hammond. Boroughbridge. Flour.
T.Stead. Knaresborough. Meat.
W.Gilling Knaresborough. Coal.
Reynard Bilton. Milk.
Sturdy & Son Knaresborough. Joiner work.
James Foster Forest Lane Head. Mason.
T.Greetham. Harrogate. Plumber.
W.Cassells Knaresborough. Slater.
J.Bradley Knaresborough. Boot repairs.
G.Fallas. Knaresborough. Barber.
Groves & Co. Knaresborough. Beers & Spirits.
J.W.Middleton Knaresborough. Carter.
Mr Gott. Knaresborough. Whitesmith.
J.W.Mason. Knaresborough. Turner.
KNARESBOROUGH WORKHOUSE 1895.
The members of Harrogate Baptist Church entertained the inmates of the workhouse with a concert. They sang songs and showed slides. At the end they gave toys to the children. All much appreciated.


KNARESBOROUGH WORKHOUSE 1898.
On 13th August 1898 the women & children from Knaresborough workhouse were taken on a day trip to the seaside. They travelled by train from Knarsborough to Harrogate and then on an excursion train to Bridlington.
They were treated to dinner and tea, punch and judy and donkey rides. pierrot show and all the fun of the seaside before catching the train back to Knaresborough for 1015p.m. Everyone grateful for a great day out.

BEDALE WORKHOUSE.1881

Map showing site of Bedale Workhouse.

Bedale Workhouse. Built in 1839.
Report from York Herald March 1900.

Census 1881. There were 34 residents. Samuel Tasker was Master. 2 residents born locally:-
GALLOWAY JOHN. u/m aged 47. Imbecile. Born Masham.
NORRIS ANN. u/m aged 75. Imbecile. Born Masham.
LEYBURN WORKHOUSE. 1851

PEACOCK John. pauper u/m 66 farmer born Kirby Malzeard.
FAWCETT Mary. pauper/ u/m 21 serv. born Masham.
FAWCETT Margaret. pauper 1 mth born Leyburn.
METCALFE Esther. pauper u/m 21 serv. born Masham
ASCOUGH Jane. pauper age 14 born Masham
METCALFE Robert. pauper age 10 born Masham
LEYBURN WORKHOUSE 1861
WILSON Jane. age 46 inmate born Kirkby Malzeard.
In 1881 an inmate Sarah Stainton assaulted the matron. Committed to prison for 1 week.


WEST END WORKHOUSE, LEYBURN. 1871
ASCOUGH Jane. U/M age 44 Imbecile born Masham.

KIRKBY MALZEARD
There was a Poor House in Kirkby. The overseer of the Poor House in Kirkby explained that in 1832 it incorporated the four adjoining townships of Laverton, Azerley, Grewelthorpe and Kirkby Malzeard. These were all within 2 miles of each other. Kirkby had been, in 1832, established for 12 years. (See Appendix to the First Report from the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws of 1832. p. 769a.) Until 1834 Overseers were appointed to carry out the,Relief of the Poor&. Awkward paupers were threatened with the workhouse in Ripon.

In 1852 the Poor House was not big enough. Kirkby was replaced by The Ripon Union formed in 1852 (October 6th.) Kirkby Malzeard was one of the 32 townships in the Union . By 1873 12 more had been included.

More details available from the Workhouse Museum in Ripon.

The Poor House, in Kirkby as it was commonly called, stood on Main Street near the Queen’,s Head and on the same side of the road. If you stand at the Queen’,s Head and look West towards the West End and Ringbeck, the Poor House was the first house you can see after the end of the land belonging to the pub.

View Larger Map
Thanks to Ian Corfield of Kirkby Malzeard for the above information.

LEYBURN WORKHOUSE 1881

THWAITES THOMAS. aged 64. Former Farm Lab. Born Healey.

LEYBURN WORKHOUSE 1901

METCALFE Esther. u/m age 51 born Fearby &#8211, feeble minded.
SAYLE Robert. M age 76 born Fearby.
QUARRY HILL HOUSE, LEYBURN WORKHOUSE 1911
METCALFE Esther. u/m age 61 formerly gen dom serv. born Fearby.
SCRIVEN WORKHOUSE 1851
AKENS JANE. widow age 82. Pauper born in Ripon.



THIRSK WORKHOUSE 1839.

Number of inmates – 54. List of the oldest.
William Brown age 72
Mary Grange 74
William Burton 78
Ellen Harland 94
Thomas Brown 74
Jane Wood 88
Francis Baldridge 87
Alexander Blacklock 95
George Sadler 77
Thomas Warriner 77
Mary Dodsworth 72
Thomas Dodsworth 79.
William Curry 75
William Meek 72
Thomas Simeson 75
John Marshall 76
Henry Baxter 75
Anthony Leckonby 76
Robert Clough 74