The Lydiard Archives

Search
New

New items added each week!

The Purton Workhouse: A BBC Wiltshire Sound Recording

New items added each week!

Explore:

Plans of Cricklade & Wootton Bassett Union Workhouse at Purton

Plans of Cricklade & Wootton Bassett Union Workhouse at Purton
Hidden Content, Images, Videos and Documents

We hope you are enjoying browsing The Lydiard Archives. Sign up for free access to the entire contents of the Archives and receive regular updates on new collections and featured artefacts. We are uploading content daily, and we look forward to welcoming you to our free community.

Login Sign up

Plans of the ground and first floor of the Cricklade and Wootton Bassett Union Workhouse in 1880.

Known more familiarly as The Purton Workhouse, it was was designed by George Wilkinson, architect of many workhouses including those of Malmesbury and Devises in Wiltshire.

Built in 1837 to accommodate 200 inmates, it was based on a model "square plan" published by the Poor Law Commissioners in 1835 with segregated areas for men and women, young and old, able and infirm.

To discover more about life in Purton Workhouse, read the BBC interview with Alec Robbins shown below.

Year:
1880
Type:
Plan
Location:
Purton Museum
Copyright:
Purton Museum and Historical Society
Credit:
Pete Melsom
Last updated on:
Saturday 18th April 2026

Items of Interest

Postcard (2) of Cricklade & Wootton Bassett Union Workhouse at Purton
Postcard (2) of Cricklade & Wootton Bassett Union Workhouse at Purton

An early 20th Century view of the front of the Cri...

See more
Aerial view of Cricklade & Wootton Bassett Union Workhouse
Aerial view of Cricklade & Wootton Bassett Union Workhouse

An aerial view of the Cricklade and Wootton Basset...

See more
Purton Workhouse interview with Alec Robbins
Purton Workhouse interview with Alec Robbins

CLICK HERE FOR AUDIOA BBC Wiltshire Sound intervie...

See more