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Workhouse records

  • Thread starter Thread starter dearolmadolin
  • Start date Start date
Thank you
Yes I did contact Witton Cemetery and they responded that they do not do Cemetery searches. Then to my delight a week later I was emailed by the Friends of Witton Cemtery and they had in fact done a cemetery search for
Thomas Henry Manton and he was not found there.
On the bright side I have only recently found Thomas Henry Manton
on BDM Registration born 1855 2nd quarter which was never there before.
So now I have a chance to order his birth registration. My research continues...
 
My great Grandfather father died there. He was buried at Yardley cemetery. I think this was because his son, who registered his death, lived in that area. If you have the death certificate, check the address of the person who registered it, that may give you an idea where to look.
 
Does anyone know if there are records of admissions available to view? Looking for my GGG grandmother who was an inmate there around 1870.
 
thomas henry manton born 1866 in aston birmingham married sarah jane bennett born 1874. they married in 1900. thomas was a silversmith in birmingham and died in 1925 from lung cancer. they had 3 children. the youngest, horace, was my father born in 1910. there are many mantons with the names henry or thomas born in the late 1800s and are difficult to place. i am looking for thomas henrys grandparents, but am finding it quite difficult. his father was thomas also. there are several thomas or henry mantons who could be his father. several mantons from birmingham particularly aston were jewellers so i think they are related. i would be interested if anyone knows the parents of thomas manton born 1839 who married mary a born 1841.
 
Hi there,I've found this birth/christening.From IGI
THOMAS MANTON
 Birth: 03 SEP 1839
Christening: 28 JUN 1841 Saint Phillips, Birmingham, Warwick, England
Father: HENRY MANTON
Mother: ANN
I think this could possibly be the birth certificate reference for the above:
Thomas Manton
Year of Registration: 1839
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Birmingham (1837-1924)
County: Warwickshire
Volume: 16
Page: 236
 
hi ladylinda. thanks for your information relating to thomas manton. i have traced that line but found that thomas married ann rochford. my gt grandfather, thomas married mary a. i have come across three possible fathers: james born 1799 in northampton, thomas born 1802 in northampton who married elizabeth born 1802 or john born 1807 in brearely, warks who married jane 1807. each of them had a son thomas born around 1840, but i can find no other information. perhaps someone can give me some information. thanks again.
 
dogwoodtravel said:
Thank you
.....Then to my delight a week later I was emailed by the Friends of Witton Cemtery...
Click to expand...
Hi, I'm also trying to find a grave at Witton Cemetery and I was wondering if you could send me details of how to contact "Friends of Witton Cemtery"
Thanks
 
Here’s a ‘tear jerker’ story and I apologize for the length…….

I'm looking for any information concerning my maternal Grandmother, Gertrude Harley Webb.
I have a document that states she was residing at "The Workhouse, Selly Oak" on the 20th May 1921, she was born on 17th September 1895.
I believe this "Workhouse" became "Selly Oak Infirmary" and eventually became "Selly Oak Hospital".
However, prior to this, from her son’s birth certificate, Harold Leslie Webb, I’ve found that he was born on 25 June 1920 at 1 Union Street, which I found out as being 'ASTON Workhouse'.
This means his mother, Gertrude, was residing here at ASTON Workhouse in 1920, before moving to SELLY OAK Workhouse.
Incidentally her daughter, my mother, Violet Elsie was born in 1917 at 26 Perrott Street, Winson Green.
Harold was later killed at Dunkirk on 20 May 1940 aged 19.

From the web site https://www.workhouses.org.uk/ I found that ASTON Workhouse later became Highcroft hospital which now provides psychiatric care.
Also from this web site it states a number of different records can be found at the Central Library, these are:

Records include: Guardians' minute books (1836-1912); Creed registers (early 1900s onwards); Various workhouse infirmary patient records (early 1900s to 1980s); Register of adopted children (1903-11); Register of deserted children (1897-1912); Cottage Home registers 1889-1924. Guardian’s minute books (1783-1930); Indoor relief lists (1889-1915); Baptism registers (1864 onwards).

But “the spanner in the works” is... I cannot get at these records because these records are covered by a 100 year closure period in order to comply with Data Protection legislation and are not generally available to view. I must have legal permission to look at them and the Central Library, at the moment, has no legal representative they can contact.

I'm trying to find out what happened to Gertrude after the 'workhouse' any information relating to Gertrude or Harold or Violet at this time (1920ish) would be very much appreciated.
 
My Thomas Henry Manton was born Aston Manor,Erdington, Warwick. Parents James Manton and Sarah Ann Swain. Thomas Henry Manton had siblings: James Albert Manton B: 1858, Emma Elizabeth Manton B: 1859, Sarah Ann Manton B:1863, Alice Maude Manton B: 1866, Charles Ernest Manton B: 1868 and William Frederick Manton B: 1871 all born in Aston except William who was born in Handsworth.
My Thomas Henry Manton was married 18 Nov 1876, Birchfield, Handworth to Fanny Lizars Morrison B: 13 Jan 1858, Ipswich, Suffolk. Their children were Archibald Thomas James Manton B: 4 Oct 1877, Birmingham - Hubert Frank Manton B: 10 Apr 1878, Birmingham - BEATRICE MAUD MANTON B: 26 Apr 1879 Birmingham (my grandmother) and Florence May Manton 1881.

My Henry Manton was living at 84 Lozell Road, Aston in 1876 working as a Silversmith.
Then in 1881 he was living in Ashdale, Yardley, Liverpool. Worcester as a Master Silversmith will 40 employees.
Then in 1891 I believe he was an inmate at Winson Green Assylum discharged to Aston Union Hospital (Workhouse) the same year his records only say he had his first attack at 34 yrs of age. Does not say when he died or what he died of.

In 1891 Fanny was living at 124 Bordsley Green, Aston working as a shopkeeper of Sweetmeats.
In 1901 Fanny was teaching at a Cooking School living at Chaworth Road, West Bridgeford, Nottinghamshire where her son Archibald Manton lived.
Since his wife Fanny moved to Canada in 1902 it may be that Thomas Henry Manton died in that year. I have no further reference to him. Fanny took Beatrice and Florence on the SS Parisiane 24 April 1902 and lived in Winnipeg then Vancouver, B.C., Canada then Seattle Washington, USA.

Hope this is of some assistance.
 
I have just recieved my husbands G.Grandmothers death certificate, it states that she died in the workhouse infirmary,the Registration District was Aston in the Sub-district of Erdington.
The residence she had been living at was 3,Court,11 House,Gt Francis Street,Birmingham.
Her name was Jane Ford and died 3rd October 1916 aged 36 from ovarian Cancer, leaving behind a husband and seven children the youngest aged 3 and the eldest 10.

My question is can anyone advice me if they have any idea of which workhouse she would have died in,and did they inter the bodies in the grounds of the workhouse.

Thank you all in advance
Thirza
 
Type Erdington Workhouse in the search box at the top of the page for info on it. There was also another Workhouse in Birmingham the Western Road workhouse. There are records held in the Central Library email [email protected] they are very helpful, but there is I think a 100 year closure period, by proving you are a relative of Jane Ford they will waive the rule.
Good luck
 
Last edited:
Hi - I went in to Central Library in Birmingham on Saturday to see if any records from Aston Union workhouse were there, but apparently there are none. However, I seem to remember somebody on an older forum saying some admissions records existed but were going to be restored. Does anyone know where I may access these records as I am looking for an adult admission around 1818/9?

However, I'm also searching for two children admissions and even though their mother may have been in the workhouse with them, I am told they would still have been housed in the cottages in 1818/9. were children housed separately to their parents?

I have been pointed in the direction of somebody who deals with adoption records from that time as she can trace the cottages records. even though the children in question were not orphans will i still need to contact this person?

I would be grateful for any help re workhouse records as it was very hard to extract any information form the library. many thanks:)
 
I have a death certificate for a 14 year old boy who died of typhoid fever in the Aston Union Workhouse in April 1891. The certificate is signed by a William Hogg(?) - Master of Aston Union Workhouse, Erdington. The boy's name was William Marklew and it is possible that he was an ancestor of mine. The problem is that the certificate says, under the heading "occupation" - Son of William Marklew, labourer of Moseley Street, Deritend and this does not quite fit with other information I have. So, the question is have I got the right father and son team or not ?. My best guess is that the son was admitted to the infirmary and was not a resident of the workhouse. I'm having difficulty throwing any light on the father or any other members of the family who might have lived in Moseley Street. Can anyone throw any light on either the father or the son ?

Regards, Snowball.
 
there is a william marklew on the 1891 census in the workhouse which is the one you have got the death cert for. he is listed as age 13. there is also in 1891 a william marklew in prison, he is listed as married and aged 39yrs but his occ. is barber (hair).
 
Good evening Shera from a dark windy night in Australia.

I can find William the younger as a son to William the father and Jane Marklew as a three year old in the 1881 census, the only record I can find after that is for this boy of the same name in the Workhouse infirmary and who died there in 1891 - the ages between for the son matches the ten year time gap. I can find no other record of the younger William in the 1901 census although I can find his family, William and Jane and some of their children.

You are also correct in placing my ancestor as a guest of Her Majesty in Birmingham Jail in the year 1891 and for most of his life he was a hair dresser (except for the bit in jail). I have seen lots of really shocking hair do's in England during my last visit so I presume sending your hairdresser to jail if you don't like the finished product is no longer carried out in England ?.

Do you think that we are still looking at just two William Marklews, a father and son, or do you think that the William Marklew from Moseley Street is another person altogether ?

Regards, Snowball.
 
Rebecca Waterson b 1867 in the East Indies.She moved to Aston and on the 1881 census was
living with Father Henry James,Step Mother Ann(nee Owen).Henry b 1865.John b 1869.
Henry junior married Clara Cadman in 1892 and by 1901 was living at Kings Heath.
By 1901 Henry James and his wife were dead.No sign of John.
Rebecca was a inmate of The Work House aged 32.
I can not find a marriage for Rebecca,or a death.
What happened to her and John?
Regards
John Hughes
 
in 1911 she was still in the workhouse. they have her as aged 33 but i think it must be her. she is single and occ. is former servant born india.
 
regarding john waterson - in 1911 living registered lodging house in dean st. bham aged 40. single. a labourer at coal wharf. born at sea
 
theres a death of rebecca waterson in bham north in 1929 aged 51. perhaps there was confusion over her age as in 1911 census!!

also a death of john waterson in bham north in 1926 age 47.
 
Many thanks again Shera.The information about Rebecca sounds good.I think I will try for a death cert for 1929.Not too sure about John
Waterson.The family from the East Indies(or India depending on which Census) did not do too well.
Rebecca's mother died in Aston 1871.(Catherine)
Her brother Henry who married my Grand mother's sister was a painter and decorator by trade, the lime used in white washing ceilings
got in his eyes and he lost his sight.I can just about rember him in the late 1930's
Bye
John Hughes
 
Shera
You will be glad to know Rebecca Waterson is the right one.The death was 10 July 1929 at 18 Union Rd,Aston.Her Father is given
as Henry Hughes(painter) deceased,which is 100% correct.She had been living at 3 Court 6 House,Leopold St.Not far from the old
Family Home.I must do more work on the brother.
Cheers
John Hughes
 
Thirza, It is quite likely that this was the Aston Union workhouse, situated in Union Road, renamed Highcroft Road, Erdington There are no recorded graves on that site as it was only a mile or two from Lodge Hill cemetery.

I have recently joined this forum; now retired, a past employee at the site, subsequently Highcroft Hospital.
we produced an illustrated history 78 pages: Highcroft from Workhouse to Modern Mental Health Service. Copies still available to purchase via the FRIENDS OF HIGHCROFT, list price £8.99 Reply to me if interested; we had no access to indivudual records, so we cannot help trace any individuals. best wishes Julian Cleaver
 
Dear Friends, re: Aston Union Workhouse, Highcroft Hall, Highcroft Hospital,
having recently retired and joined the Forum, this is to let you know that the book, Highcroft from Workhouse to Modern Mental Health Service, an illustrated history (78pages) is available from the FRIENDS OF HIGHCROFT . List price £8.99 if you reply to me I can explain how to obtain a copy.
We do not, however, have any personal information regarding residents or staff.
regards, Julian Cleaver
 
Hi Dogwood
Recently retired from the Highcroft site I hope this helps. the city lunatic asylum became All Saints psych hospital; the transfer to Aston Union workhouse would likely have happened for one or both reasons, 1) that the patient got better from an acute mental illness and could be managed in the less intensive facilty of a workhouse. 2) workhouses cost less to the state than asylums and transfers were achieved when the patient inmate could perhaps begin to contribute to the working life of the institution. At that time Aston Union workhouse would have had old people, infirm people, homeless, itinerants, and children, with its own infirmary for those who needed nursing or medical attention. We don't have any information re individual residents or staff. Best wishes, Julian Cleaver
This is to let you know that an illustrated history published 2002 is again available from FRIENDS of HIGHCROFT 78pages HIGHCROFT from Workhouse to Modern Mental Health Service.list price £8.99
 
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