Building record 727/53/1 - Nos. 5-19 Gilbert Scott Court (Towcester Workhouse)

A workhouse built between 1836 designed by George Gilbert Scott. All that survives is a central block with two wings and the remains of some attached out buildings. Originally the building consisted of three parts: a central block, polygonal to the rear and of three bays with four storeys, and two wings to the north and south, each of seven bays with three storeys. The building is of coursed ironstone, with slate roofs. By 1987 the building had been converted to housing and apartments, prior to this it was used as a Depot by Northamptonshire County Council.

{1} Former workhouse, now being converted into houses and flats. 1836 by George Gilbert Scott. Coursed squared ironstone, hipped slate roof, brick lateral and internal stacks. Central 4-storey, 3-window pavilion flanked by 3-storey, 7-window wings. In late Georgian style. Doors and windows have flat-arched heads. Quoins and moulded stone eaves.

{4} Undated photo, also eight photos dated November 1979, and two photos dated September 1986;

{5} Erected in 1836 architect Gilbert Scott. The Towcester Poor Law Union comprised 62 square miles and 23 parishes. The building is constructed of stone and is a listed structure. The building closed as a workhouse in 1930's and has since been used for civil defence, by local organisations, a building for Northamptonshire County Council and the district library. In 1986 it was converted into a luxury development of houses and flats. Film 1, photo 21-23.

Historic England, TOWCESTER WORKHOUSE, TOWCESTER, BF008215 (Archive). SNN115377.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 6/119 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F08 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Morrison K., 1999, The Workhouse: A Study Of Poor-Law Buildings In England, p. 72, 208 (Book). SNN100282.

<4> Photographs of buildings in Towcester (Photographs). SNN114425.

<5> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester (Industrial), 3.7 (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100255.

<6> Higginbotham P., 2002, The Workhouse: Banbury & Northamptonshire Extract, (unchecked) (Extract). SNN102266.

Record last edited

Aug 16 2023 12:50PM