Building record 1842/7/1 - East Northamptonshire District Council Stores (formerly Thrapston Union Workhouse)

Thrapston Union Workhouse was built in 1836 to designs by William J Donthorne. The cruciform plan building is constructed of stone with slate roofs. An infirmary was added in the late 19th century. At the time of a RCHME (Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England) survey in 1992, the workhouse building was derelict and the infirmary was in use as East Northamptonshire District Council stores, cleansing department and document store.The building is Grade II listed. [Alternate names: East Northamptonshire District Council Stores Cleansing Department And Document Store; Thrapston Council Offices]

{1} Workhouse, now Local Authority offices and stores, c.1836 by M.J. Donthorne. Squared coursed limestone, with ashlar facades and dressings, and slate roofs. Originally four 3-sided courtyards. 2 storeys. Main front of 13 bays. Centre and end bays break forward as cross wings forming sides of 2 courtyards. Centre cross wing has gabled end with 7-light stone-mullion window at first floor, with arch-head lights and transoms. Similar pair of 2-light windows at ground floor. Chamfered and corbelled corners and ashlar gable parapet with octagonal finial. Return wall has stone-mullion windows and lateral stack with octagonal flues. 5-window ranges, flanking either side, of 2-light stone-mullion windows with transoms at ground floor and gablets over at first floor. Return walls of flanking cross wings are similar 3-window ranges. Right cross wing has C20 lean-to extension. Rear elevations of main range are each of 5-window ranges. Central rear wing attached at right angles of 6-window range. Various casements, at first floor, under scored stone lintels with keyblocks. Various C20 openings at ground floor. Intersection of main cross wings is octagonal and has 2 doorways, to rear elevation, with 4-centred arch-heads; giving access to through-passage between courtyards. Interior: central staircase with stick balustrade. Masters office, to front of central cross wing, has C19 fireplace and panelled window reveals. First floor hall of main cross wing has arch-head stone surrounds to windows. The third side of the 2 rear courtyards was demolished about 1900. W.J. Donthorne was also architect for No.78 (The Old Rectory), High Street (q.v.).

{2} Former workhouse built c.1836 by W. J. Donthorne. Originally four 3-sided courtyards. 2 storeys. Main front of 13 bays. Right crosswing has 20th century extension. The third side of the 2 rear courtyards was demolished around 1900. In recent times has become East Northants District Council offices.

{3} Thrapston Union Workhouse, Denford Road. Neat stone building erected in 1836, located a quarter of a mile from the town. Union consisted of 26 parishes and 62 square miles. The services of the workhouse included vaccination office, medical officers, register of births, deaths and marraiges. The former workhouse is shown as 'PA Institution' on map of 1950 and is now in use by East Northamptonshire District Council. Other small structures which were on the site have since been demolished. Film 2, photo 15-19.
The frontage of the building is of stone and is a listed building, immediately behind this the original structure has been demolished, but a modern structure of the same plan form has been erected in its place. Film 2, photo 15-19.

{7} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 16/183 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G08 p.87 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (checked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<4> Higginbotham P., 2002, The Workhouse: Banbury & Northamptonshire Extract, (unchecked) (Extract). SNN102266.

<5> Richardson H. (Editor), 1998, English Hospitals 1660-1948: A Survey of Their Architecture and Design, (unchecked) (Book). SNN62723.

<6> Morrison K., 1999, The Workhouse: A Study Of Poor-Law Buildings In England, p. 67, 208 (Book). SNN100282.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Thrapston (Photographs). SNN113630.

Record last edited

Jul 6 2022 10:27AM