The surviving minutes of the Board of Guardians are held at Bromley Historic Collections archives. Over the years of my research of various aspects of the Union records and transcription of the various record series I have developed a detailed understanding of the site development and the work of the Board of Guardians and Local Government Board to adapt the acquisition of land to make improved provision for the developing Infirmary and improve conditions for children admitted.
In the 1880's several Guardians clearly record that the population of the workhouse (which has grown) are largely either the young or the sick and infirm many of whom are cosidered elderly. The Casual wards are clearly needed for other purposes and the Guardians are not in favour of labour in cells. The Bromley Workhouse was rural in location and type of labour- women occupied in the Steam Laundry; men in the Labour Yard which handled some material for road surfaces and in winter provided occupation for working men unable to work on the land or as building labourers. The workyard principally handled timber and produced spiles or tied bundles of kindling.
For a history of casual wards in the London Workhouses see Professor Heginbotham's description. Bromley was markedly different in its desire to put ablebodied men and women to more local occupation. The local commons and some land owned by the Union (Workhouse Field) had been used for spile making- see my blog about spile makers.
Casuals are the exception to the general description of the workhouse population and the Guardians acquisition of land (and eventually the only residential property and large garden) in Wellbrook Road and adjoining Tugmutton Common and what is nowadays Starts Hill Road enabled planning new Casual Wards. In 1907/8 the long planned two storey Childrens Homes were built and opened to join the existing relocated Casual wards.
In planning the casual wards the Local Government Board had insepcted the land and raised the question of Metropolitan Police proximity to the site. The Farnborough Police Staion had been close by the 1844 buildings and before approval was given the Metropolitan Police had to reassure that their beat patrol included all areas of land and buildings surrounding the entire Workhouse site and that the access to the site was not a problem for constables.
The Casual wards were approved and had their own entrance; the later development of Childrens homes had separate entrances facing Tugmutton Common. The northern extension of the Union Workhouse site (originally enclosed orchard) was further enclosed as the Casual ward was constructed.
The image above shows that the modern development on the site of demolished buildings retained part of the old brickwork and incorporated it in the boundary wall. I wonder how many of the staff and patients of the large Doctor's surgery on the site have ever noticed this piece of local history?
© Henry Mantell Downe Online Parish Clerk 2013-2018
