Fountain Cottage / Workhouse
For a list of all Fountain Terrace Houses and a history of Fountain Terrace overall please refer to the Fountain Terrace page.

Workhouse Numbers
Year | Total | Male | Female | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
1841 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Workhouse master not yet appointed |
1851 | 27 | 11 | 16 | oldest 98 youngest 4 |
1861 | 16 | 8 | 8 | oldest 91 youngest 1 |
1871 | 23 | 11 | 12 | oldest 98 youngest 6 months |
1881 | 37 | 23 | 14 | oldest 85 youngest 3 months |
1891 | 21 | 19 | 02 | oldest 86 youngest 13 |
1901 | 30 | 24 | 06 | oldest 79 youngest 10 |
1911[1] | 26 | 20 | 06 | oldest 99 youngest 36 |
1921[2] | 21 | 20 | 01 | oldest 83 youngest 24 |
1931 | 06 | ? | ? | Bellingham to close; inmates to Hexham |
Isabella Johnson (aged 99 in 1911 census) turned 100 on 17th April 1912 and was photographed by Roderick Thompson (Bellingham Faces & Places). She died of “senile decay” at the end of the year.
Bellingham Workhouse in the Hexham Courant
01/01/1874 The inmates of Bellingham Union Workhouse were treated to a roast beef and plum pudding meal by Thomas James Esq.
31/12/1879 On Christmas Day, the inmates of Bellingham Union Workhouse were provided with a substantial meal, consisting of roast beef and plum pudding, with a plentiful supply of good ale. It was all part of the annual gift from W. H. Charlton Esq. of Hesleyside.
28/12/1882 Inmates of the Bellingham Union Workhouse tucked into a substantial Christmas dinner of roast beef and plum pudding, with a good supply of ale, the annual gift of W. O. Charlton of Hesleyside.
02/01/1898 There was a rift between Bellingham Parish Council and the guardians of the poor of Bellingham union over burial arrangements of inmates at the workhouse. It was agreed that paupers who died in the workhouse should be buried in the parish from which they came to the workhouse rather than in Bellingham.
14/11/1908 Mr. and Mrs. Banks of Bellingham workhouse were on Monday 9th November 1908 appointed Master and Matron of Berwick workhouse. There were 104 applicants for the Mastership.
17/04/1912 An old woman named Isabella Johnson on Wednesday 17th April 1912 celebrated her 100th birthday in the Workhouse, Bellingham, of which she had been an inmate for the past two years. Mrs. S. L. Wilkinson of Riverdale kindly entertained the inmates to tea in honour of the event.
04/01/1913 (HH) Death of Isabella Johnson (Old Bella) aged 100 at Bellingham Union Workhouse on Saturday 28th December 1912.
10/07/1915 Mrs. Atkinson, matron of Bellingham Workhouse, obtained her CMB certificate at the recent examination at Leeds. She was trained at the Royal Maternity Hospital in Edinburgh.
24/07/1915 Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson, master and matron of the Bellingham Union Workhouse, were appointed to similar but more important posts at Glossop. Compare 10/07/1915.
14/08/1915 Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson move from Bellingham Workhouse to Glossop. Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Johnston of Bellingham were to be invited to take on a temporary appointment of master and matron. Compare HC 28/08/1915 for their appointment.
22/04/1916 A proposal to close Bellingham Workhouse was defeated.
16/06/1917 T. B. Johnston, master of Bellingham workhouse, was to be called up on 9th July and Mrs. Johnston to be put in his place.
31/12/1932 Bellingham Workhouse was closed for Poor Law purposes in 1931 and still remained empty, despite central heating and other improvements being installed costing some hundreds of pounds.
18/05/1935 A “speculative scheme” to convert Bellingham Workhouse into two flats and three houses was criticised.
30/05/1953 Bellingham Rural District Council opened its new council chamber in the old workhouse.
Hexham & Haltwhistle Workhouses
22/02/1913 (HH) State of children’s teeth at Haltwhistle Workhouse. Compare 17/05/1913.
31/12/1874 Rather than setting the old men at the workhouse to work on stone-breaking or oakum picking, Hexham Board of Guardians decided that splitting firewood would be more pleasant work for them.
10/08/1876 Hexham workhouse children were treated to a day out at Dilston Villa. They behaved “most unlike the proverbial workhouse children” with their good behaviour being put down to them being allowed to “mix up” with other children. The 60 children were all given a large bun to take home.
20/09/1888 Hexham Board of Guardians expressed concerns over plans to replace bedsteads in the workhouse with hammocks to make room for oakum picking.
10/11/1900 The suicide of Thomas Christopher aged 28, a tailor, at Hexham workhouse.
15/02/1927 Residents at Peth Head and White Cross complained loudly about the great volumes of thick black smoke, which were often seen bellowing from the chimney of the Hexham union workhouse.