Chatham Workhouse, Kent
The Medway Union workhouse was located on Magpie Lane on the outskirts of Chatham. My great-great-great-grandmother Caroline Knott née Wells was widowed and living in the Medway Union workhouse on the night of the 1881 census. She died in this workhouse in the third quarter of 1883. She was 84 years old at the time of her death, but the Workhouse recorded her age as 91.

In 1932, the workhouse became a hospital, which closed in 1999. It has since been demolished, and the site redeveloped for housing.

Chesterton Workhouse, Cambridge
Cambridge had two workhouses, one on Mill Road for the Cambridge Union and one on Union Lane for the Chesterton Union. My great-great-great-grandmother Caroline Stearn née Kester died in the Chesterton Union workhouse in north Cambridge in October 1907. She was buried in Dry Drayton churchyard on 22nd October, and the place of her death was recorded in the parish register. She was 77 years old.

The workhouse later became Chesterton Hospital, and the buildings were demolished in 2003. The site is now housing and offices.

Devonport Workhouse, Devon
The Stoke Damarel Incorporation workhouse was located in Devonport to the west of the city of Plymouth. My great-great-great-grandmother Caroline Bowles née Thompson was living in the Devonport workhouse at Plymouth on the night of the 1841 census. She was recorded as a pauper, and was just 25 years old. With her was her two year old daughter Angelina Frances. Caroline and Angelina would be in a workhouse again for the 1851 census (see Faversham Workhouse, below).

The workhouse that Caroline and Angelina knew was demolished shortly after their stay there, to be replaced by the large, new Devonport workhouse built in 1850 about two miles away. This has also since been demolished.

Ely Workhouse, Cambridgeshire
The Ely Union workhouse was located just off of the Cambridge Road. My great-great-grandfather Henry Page was living in the Ely Union workhouse on the night of the 1911 census. He was recorded as a former road labourer. Henry died in the workhouse on 21st October 1913. His age was recorded as 69, but in fact he was only 62. The cause of death was given as arterial sclerosis and synapse. He was buried in Ely Cemetery on 24th October.

My great-great-great-grandfather Thomas Cross died in the Ely Union workhouse in July 1909. He was buried in Ely Cemetery on 31st July, and the place of his death was recorded in the burials register.

The workhouse later became the Tower Hospital, and then in the 1990s the buildings, which survive almost in their entirety, were converted into apartments.

Faversham Workhouse, Kent
The Faversham Union workhouse was located in open fields to the west of Faversham, not far from the railway line. My great-great-grandmother Mary Ann Knott née Bowles was living in the Faversham Union workhouse with her mother, my great-great-great-grandmother Caroline Bowles née Thompson, at the time of the 1851 census, along with Mary Ann's sisters Angelina, Deborah and Susannah. Deborah had been born in the Faversham workhouse in 1848, which may give a date for their entry. They had left the workhouse by 1852, when Caroline's eldest son Charles was born elsewhere in the town, but they were back in the workhouse by 1854, because Caroline gave birth there to another boy, John. The child died six months later. After this, there do not appear to be any further records of the Bowles family living in the workhouse.

The workhouse buildings have all now been demolished, and a 1990s housing estate covers the site.

St Ives Workhouse, Cambridgeshire (was Huntingdonshire)
The St Ives Union workhouse was located at Hemingford Grey, a village just outside of the town. My great-great-grandmother Eliza Mortlock née Mansfield was living in the St Ives Union workhouse with her mother, my great-great-great-grandmother Kezia Mansfield, at the time of the 1851 census, along with four of Eliza's younger brothers and sisters. Her father was not in the workhouse, because he had been transported to Australia for house burglary. There is no evidence that he ever returned to England. Tthere were a number of Mansfield families in the workhouse at this and other censuses. Eliza married into relative wealth, although Kezia lived on parish relief for much of her life.

After lying derelict, the workhouse buildings have now been converted into apartments.

Strood Workhouse, Kent
The North Aylesford Union workhouse was located right in the middle of Strood, on Gun Lane opposite St Nicholas's church, and a short walk over the bridge from the centre of Rochester. My great-great-great-grandfather William Knott died in the infirmary of the Strood workhouse on 1st September 1857 of the symptoms of cholera. He was buried in St Nicholas churchyard on 4th September. His wife Caroline was also to die in the workhouse (see Chatham Workhouse, above).

Parts of the workhouse were later used as offices and a clinic, being demolished piecemeal. All that survives today is the infirmary block, which was used as the Medway teachers centre and later as a doctor's surgery.