Although the history of Orsett workhouses, the hospital and a piece of land known as Slades Hold have been documented many times, mystery has always surrounded the original site of the first workhouse from1669 and the location of the land known as Slades Hold.
Through research in the Essex Records Office I have been able to prove that despite a number of official papers suggesting that the hospital grew from the original 1669 workhouse that is not true.
Poorhouses, as workhouses were once known, go back as far as the Old Poor Law act of 1601. This act remained until the New Poor Law act of 1834. Throughout history, a whole range of acts have tried to provide care for the poor, some more effective than others. The Workhouse Test Act 1722-3 was the one that encouraged the building of workhouses throughout England and many of these developed into institutions and hospitals. The Parish of Orsett Essex had a poorhouse (5 cottages) situated on 8.5 acres of land as far back as 1669.
It is suggested that the land was given to the parish for the poor. Many official documents, including hospital minutes from the 1950s, leaflets published by the hospital in the late 1960s and other publications in the local library indicate that Orsett Hospital was built on the 1669 land. When the hospital Trust sold off the land for housing many local people set up a petition claiming the land belonged to the parish.
Out of interest, I found a map dated 1895 that showed an old workhouse 0.4 miles from the hospital site. This started my research into the true history of the Orsett workhouses, the hospital and the 8.5 acres known as Slades Hold. What I discovered was despite the official documents the hospital was never built on the original site and in fact all the hospital land had been purchased by the various authorities over many years.
My first task was to find Slades Hold. Despite numerous references to Slades Hold no documentation or maps gave the exact location. The Oxford dictionary’s definition of the word Slades is - little valley, ravine, open space between banks or woods, often used in place names. The definition of the word Hold is - to be the proprietor, retaining something.
Making reference to the 1777 Chapman & Andre map of Orsett I found an area 0.4 miles from the current hospital site. It lies within a little ravine between banks. It also shows buildings (that could be cottages) situated on the land. The hospital site showed no such area so I was able to conclude that Slades Hold was definitely not the hospital site and the cottages could well have been the original poorhouse.
Following further investigation I found documents that referred specifically to the restructuring of the poorhouse into a workhouse. Following the publication of the New Poor Law in 1834 the Orsett Union reported on the state of the workhouse in 1835 making specific reference to the 8.5 acres and the poor state of the workhouse.
It was decided at the meeting of 13th April 1837 that a new workhouse should be built and to purchase Mr. Thomas Oakley's 1 acre land for £115. On 20th April 1837 tenders were opened and the Board accepted Messrs Streggles and Sons of Bury St. Edmunds’ quote of £2,773.
The 1839 Provisional Article of Agreement map showed the area of land enclosed by four roads (where the hospital stood until the early 2000s) was owned by a number of other land owners as well as Thomas Oakley and it was 0.4 miles from the old workhouse. This proved beyond doubt that the land on which Orsett Hospital was built was not the original 1669 land bequeathed to the parish and therefore the sale was legitimate. Many local people are still not convinced.
From the 1837 workhouse Orsett Hospital became a 500 bed acute hospital and served the Thurrock population well. While the hospital did not directly stem from the foundations or land of the early 17th century workhouse, it is true to say that the origin of the hospital lies in their history.
A full publication of my research can be provided on request.
Gary’s two memoirs / history of nursing books are available for members to borrow from the Library - 'It's not all blood and guts: my amazing life as an A&E nurse' and 'The history of emergency nursing 1972-2007 : my memoirs continue'.
