SNN102330 - The Casual Wards, Irthlingborough: An Architectural-Historical Assessment

The significance of the Irthlingborough Casual Wards lies in the fact that no workhouse, or poor-law Institutions, as they were now officially termed after 1913, and Public Assistance Institutions after 1930, were erected through the 1920's, and many of the older ones were now being converted to cottage hospitals, old folks homes, or even demolished, like at Berkhampstead in 1939. Here at Irthlingborough we have something probably unique; a new building, designed specifically to cope with the age-old problem of casualties, but in a changing climate, and indeed one in which the lot of casuals had been somewhat improved. No longer did they have hammocks in which to sleep, but were now provided with iron bedsteads and mattresses. Nor were they required to sleep on sleeping platforms or in small cells. Here we see the reversion to relatively large dormitories with attached WC's for night use instead of the old commodes. They also had, in the ablutions, fresh clean water in which to wash. The much dreaded oakum picking was now banned and stone breaking was frowned upon. Some degree of socialising was now encouraged in the day rooms. In addition separate entrance for Board members and guests were provided so that the visitor did not come face to face with the tramps. The only near parallel is the Rochford Public Assistance Institution, near Southend, built in 1930. In architectural terms, the Irthlingborough Casual Wards are very much in the run of the plain, rather featureless, red-brick industrial post-war buildings, particularly those erected for the boot and shoe factories both in Irthlingborough and elsewhere in the county. The most significant feature is undoubtably the male ward block, which is impressive in its sclae, particularly the internal height of 27ft (8.23m). Internally, the conversion to a miner's hostel for immigrant workers after 1948 has removed most of the original fittings particularly those of the WC's, ablutions, and kitchens, and this was exacerbated by its later conversion to a record office by British Steel.