Liverpool Workhouse

The website https://www.workhouses.org.uk/Liverpool/ provides some excellent and detailed information on Liverpool Workhouse, its history, and the type of life its residents would have experienced. I will therefore restrict myself to a summary of key dates in its development (gleaned from the website):

• 1732 - Established as a workhouse on the corner of College Lane and Hanover Street.
• 1772 - ‘House of Industry’ built on Brownlow Hill.
• 1777 - Capable of housing 600 inmates.
• 1790 - 1220 inmates.
• 1832 - Royal Commission into workhouses was generally complimentary; could accommodate 1750.
• 1834 - Board of Guardians appointed under Poor Law Amendment Act.
• 1841 - Liverpool’s Select Vestry resumes control.
• 1843 - Brownlow Hill enlarged. Accusations of lax supervision.
• 1862 - Fire destroys church and a children’s dormitory. 23 deaths.
• 1866 - Workhouse inspected. Some criticism. Could accommodate 3600.
• 1895 - Steam pipe explosion; 3 deaths.
• 1922 - Several local workhouses amalgamated.
• 1928 - Workhouse closed.
• 1931 - Demolished. Site was expected to be used for Lutyen’s Catholic Cathedral.

Austin Melia

Austin Melia’s date of admission has not been clearly established but the date of his death, on August 11th 1853, is recorded in more than one record (see ‘Official Records’ page on this site).