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City of London Workhouse, Bow Road, East London
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City of London Workhouse, Bow Road, East London
Situated where Mile End Road continues as Bow Road in East London, the City of London Union Workhouse opened in 1849. The palatial building, designed by Richard Tress, later became the union infirmary, and is now St Clements Hospital
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Media ID 4470351
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10424728
1840s 1849 1894 Clement Clements Health Infirmary L Aw Mile Palatial Poor Poverty Tress Workhouse Workhouses
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the imposing and austere facade of the City of London Union Workhouse, located at Bow Road in East London. The workhouse, which opened in 1849, was designed by architect Richard Tress and served as a vital institution during the Victorian era when poverty and destitution were rampant in the city. The building was initially intended to provide shelter, food, and work for the able-bodied poor, as well as a infirmary for the sick and infirm. The palatial structure, with its grand arches, intricate stonework, and large windows, may seem out of place amidst the bustling streets of East London. However, it was a testament to the law of the time, which required local authorities to provide adequate housing, medical care, and support for the poor, under the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834. The City of London Union Workhouse was later renamed St Clements Hospital in 1894, and continued to serve as a vital medical institution well into the 20th century. The image, taken in the late 1890s, shows the workhouse in its final years as a union workhouse, before its transformation into a hospital. The photograph offers a glimpse into the past, providing a poignant reminder of the harsh realities of poverty and the importance of social welfare in Victorian England. The grand architecture of the building stands in stark contrast to the hardships faced by those who sought refuge within its walls, highlighting the complex and often contradictory nature of social institutions during this period.
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