Home ---> Grinton Village ---> Workhouse
The former Poorhouse (or Workhouse), Grinton in Swaledale
		I'm not certain that this building was the Grinton Poorhouse, but... if you go to the old map of Grinton of 1857 by following Old maps web-site and type Grinton in the search box you will see the word 'Workhouse' at the East end of the village and this is the only building that matches. By this time it would no longer have been a Workhouse. the layout, described below by Michael, a present occupant, fits:
There is evidence for a former staircase at the central front of the property which would have led to dormitories to the east and west in the roof space. I believe this staircase was accessed through a former doorway where the current small window now is. This doorway would also have given access to the west (right) side (White Lea Cottage) which could also have been former 'work' rooms, family rooms or Guardian rooms. There is a stone staicase accessing the first floor from the room at the back. There is a former doorway to the east (left) of the current White Lea entrance, which led on to a former staircase accessing the first floor, these rooms could also have served as work rooms, family rooms or Guardian rooms. There are former doorways linking the two sides. Two on the ground floor two on the first floor and one on the second. The central room to the rear of the property (now White Lea kitchen) has ceiling irons and stone shelving consistent with a larder. The door to this room (seemingly original) has a large wooden lock on it! Now it is two private cottages, White Lea and Whitelea Cottage, named after a previous owner by the name of White.
The history of poorhouses / workhouses locally does not seem to be well recorded, but...
1752	Earliest record which is in the Grinton parish register is of paupers dying in the poorhouse at Grinton.
	Small poor houses existed in many towns and villages until the reforms of the 1830s.
1782	The Gilbert Unions - parishes joined together to provide poor relief and poorhouses.
1813	Grinton joined with the Bainbridge workhouse in Wensleydale (the dale to the south) but withdrew in 1827/8.
1837	The Poor Law Union in Richmond joined 44 parishes together, presumably including Grinton. In December of that year the Guardians for Reeth, Arkengarthdale, Grinton, Marrick and Ellerton Abbey met in Reeth to save the paupers in those parishes having to travel to Richmond to state their cases. Links for more information on Richmond Work house are: 1 and 2. Please use your browser back button to return to this page.
1840	The Reeth Union was formed and in July the Reeth work house was bought. Links for more information on Reeth Work house are: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4. Please use your browser back button to return to this page. ‡fj
For lots more information on workhouses, go to Peter Higginbotham's site at www.workhouses.org.uk This site really is a treasure trove of information and photographs on the history of, and conditions within, workhouses and poorhouses around the country. Just enter Grinton, Reeth or Richmond in the search box for the local references. This site quotes Grinton [near Reeth] as having 40 places whereas Grinton [near Leyburn] had 35 places.
ADS Record ID - NMR_NATINV-560265 The ADS site gives little detail. It gives the vague date of 'post medieval'.
Sources include the authoritive book 'A History of Richmond and Swaledale' by R. Fielding and B. Jennings and Michael the present occupant of the Eastern side.

Home ---> Grinton Village ---> Workhouse

The former Poorhouse (or Workhouse), Grinton in Swaledale

I'm not certain that this building was the Grinton Poorhouse, but...

if you go to the old map of Grinton of 1857 by following Old maps web-site and type Grinton in the search box you will see the word 'Workhouse' at the East end of the village and this is the only building that matches. By this time it would no longer have been a Workhouse.

the layout, described below by Michael, a present occupant, fits:

There is evidence for a former staircase at the central front of the property which would have led to dormitories to the east and west in the roof space. I believe this staircase was accessed through a former doorway where the current small window now is. This doorway would also have given access to the west (right) side (White Lea Cottage) which could also have been former 'work' rooms, family rooms or Guardian rooms. There is a stone staicase accessing the first floor from the room at the back.

There is a former doorway to the east (left) of the current White Lea entrance, which led on to a former staircase accessing the first floor, these rooms could also have served as work rooms, family rooms or Guardian rooms.

There are former doorways linking the two sides. Two on the ground floor two on the first floor and one on the second.

The central room to the rear of the property (now White Lea kitchen) has ceiling irons and stone shelving consistent with a larder. The door to this room (seemingly original) has a large wooden lock on it!

Now it is two private cottages, White Lea and Whitelea Cottage, named after a previous owner by the name of White.

The history of poorhouses / workhouses locally does not seem to be well recorded, but...

1752

Earliest record which is in the Grinton parish register is of paupers dying in the poorhouse at Grinton.

Small poor houses existed in many towns and villages until the reforms of the 1830s.

1782

The Gilbert Unions - parishes joined together to provide poor relief and poorhouses.

1813

Grinton joined with the Bainbridge workhouse in Wensleydale (the dale to the south) but withdrew in 1827/8.

1837

The Poor Law Union in Richmond joined 44 parishes together, presumably including Grinton. In December of that year the Guardians for Reeth, Arkengarthdale, Grinton, Marrick and Ellerton Abbey met in Reeth to save the paupers in those parishes having to travel to Richmond to state their cases.
Links for more information on Richmond Work house are: 1 and 2. Please use your browser back button to return to this page.

1840

The Reeth Union was formed and in July the Reeth work house was bought.
Links for more information on Reeth Work house are: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4.
Please use your browser back button to return to this page.
‡fj

For lots more information on workhouses, go to Peter Higginbotham's site at www.workhouses.org.uk This site really is a treasure trove of information and photographs on the history of, and conditions within, workhouses and poorhouses around the country. Just enter Grinton, Reeth or Richmond in the search box for the local references.

This site quotes Grinton [near Reeth] as having 40 places whereas Grinton [near Leyburn] had 35 places.

ADS Record ID - NMR_NATINV-560265 The ADS site gives little detail. It gives the vague date of 'post medieval'.

Sources include the authoritive book 'A History of Richmond and Swaledale' by R. Fielding and B. Jennings
and Michael the present occupant of the Eastern side.