Trunch and the Workhouse
Contents of this page
1. Introduction
2. Location of the House of Industry/Workhouse
3. 1836-1850 changes
4. 1841 census - Workhouse residents
5. What happened to the building after closure in 1850?
6. Trunch Workhouse residents after the 1850 closure of Gimingham
7. Break-in at the Workhouse
1. Introduction
2. Location of the House of Industry/Workhouse
3. 1836-1850 changes
4. 1841 census - Workhouse residents
5. What happened to the building after closure in 1850?
6. Trunch Workhouse residents after the 1850 closure of Gimingham
7. Break-in at the Workhouse
1. Introduction
From 1598 parishes were responsible for the welfare of poor parishioners and this took the form of relief for them in their homes or in specially built facilities. The book "An Historical Atlas of Norfolk" has a parish workhouse marked in Trunch between 1776 and 1803 and William Rees (a rector) recorded that in Trunch there were two tenements under one roof called the Town House which was kept in repair at the expense of the parish and occupied by paupers placed there by parish officers. He said that it was not known how the parish became possessed of this property. The building was destroyed by fire in the early 19th. Century and the school was built on the site. The Trunch "poor houses" were also mentioned in the Workhouse Minute books.
In 1782 the Gilbert's Act allowed parishes to join together and run a workhouse for the old, the sick and the infirm. In 1805, the parishes of Gimingham, Knapton, Mundesley, Overstrand, North Repps, South Repps, Sidestrand, Trimingham, and Trunch formed a Gilbert union and erected a House of Industry at Gimingham.
From 1598 parishes were responsible for the welfare of poor parishioners and this took the form of relief for them in their homes or in specially built facilities. The book "An Historical Atlas of Norfolk" has a parish workhouse marked in Trunch between 1776 and 1803 and William Rees (a rector) recorded that in Trunch there were two tenements under one roof called the Town House which was kept in repair at the expense of the parish and occupied by paupers placed there by parish officers. He said that it was not known how the parish became possessed of this property. The building was destroyed by fire in the early 19th. Century and the school was built on the site. The Trunch "poor houses" were also mentioned in the Workhouse Minute books.
In 1782 the Gilbert's Act allowed parishes to join together and run a workhouse for the old, the sick and the infirm. In 1805, the parishes of Gimingham, Knapton, Mundesley, Overstrand, North Repps, South Repps, Sidestrand, Trimingham, and Trunch formed a Gilbert union and erected a House of Industry at Gimingham.
2. Location
It was situated near Gimingham Pound, to the South of the Mundesley Road, East of the modern bungalow. It is clearly shown on the 1839 Tithe map as a rough square of buildings around a central quad. There is nothing left today – see below.
It was situated near Gimingham Pound, to the South of the Mundesley Road, East of the modern bungalow. It is clearly shown on the 1839 Tithe map as a rough square of buildings around a central quad. There is nothing left today – see below.
3. 1836-1850
After 1836, a workhouse at Sheringham was used for aged and infirm paupers, with 100 others being accommodated at Gimingham. However, these old workhouses proved unsatisfactory and a new Erpingham Union workhouse was erected in 1848-51 at West Beckham. In 1848 the Sheringham inmates were either returned to their parishes on out-relief or sent to Gimingham.
After 1836, a workhouse at Sheringham was used for aged and infirm paupers, with 100 others being accommodated at Gimingham. However, these old workhouses proved unsatisfactory and a new Erpingham Union workhouse was erected in 1848-51 at West Beckham. In 1848 the Sheringham inmates were either returned to their parishes on out-relief or sent to Gimingham.
4. 1841 Census
The 1841 Gimingham census records all of those living in the workhouse at that time. The master and mistress were John and Mary King, aged about 45, the schoolmistress was Mary Sidney, aged about 20, the schoolmaster Samuel Amis aged about 60 and the porter, Robert Empson aged 35. There were 33 females and 30 males living there but it is not possible to say which ones came from Trunch. All of the residents were under 45 with several small children and family groups.
The 1841 Gimingham census records all of those living in the workhouse at that time. The master and mistress were John and Mary King, aged about 45, the schoolmistress was Mary Sidney, aged about 20, the schoolmaster Samuel Amis aged about 60 and the porter, Robert Empson aged 35. There were 33 females and 30 males living there but it is not possible to say which ones came from Trunch. All of the residents were under 45 with several small children and family groups.
5. After closure in 1850
Gimingham Workhouse was sold and converted to cottages in 1850, later known as Brunswick Terrace. The 1851 census still records the Workhouse with Robert Bond living there with his family as the Relieving Officer. It is shown complete on the 1st. Edition of the OS map, drawn between 1879 and 1886. By this time a clear drive to the Mundesley Road is shown. The field to the North of the workhouse either side of the drive is divided into 2 strips on each side. South of the workhouse the field is divided into 7 long narrow strips, probably gardens for the cottages. The buildings are still intact on the 1946 aerial photograph. By 1988 the aerial photograph shows that most of the buildings have gone but there is possibly one still there in the centre of the site. By 2011 all that can be seen on the OS map is the entrance lane (to the west of a pond) which now turns east at the end towards some long sheds. I have been unable to find any photographs of the Workhouse or Brunswick Terrace but would be happy to put any on here if you have one. Click here for contact
Gimingham Workhouse was sold and converted to cottages in 1850, later known as Brunswick Terrace. The 1851 census still records the Workhouse with Robert Bond living there with his family as the Relieving Officer. It is shown complete on the 1st. Edition of the OS map, drawn between 1879 and 1886. By this time a clear drive to the Mundesley Road is shown. The field to the North of the workhouse either side of the drive is divided into 2 strips on each side. South of the workhouse the field is divided into 7 long narrow strips, probably gardens for the cottages. The buildings are still intact on the 1946 aerial photograph. By 1988 the aerial photograph shows that most of the buildings have gone but there is possibly one still there in the centre of the site. By 2011 all that can be seen on the OS map is the entrance lane (to the west of a pond) which now turns east at the end towards some long sheds. I have been unable to find any photographs of the Workhouse or Brunswick Terrace but would be happy to put any on here if you have one. Click here for contact
6. Trunch Workhouse Residents after 1850
After the Gimingham Workhouse closed in 1850, Trunch residents who were destitute or infirm had to go to the Erpingham Union Workhouse at West Beckham. More details and photographs of this workhouse are available - click here - West Beckham Union Workhouse
The 1851 census records 10 inmates who were born in Trunch
James Watts orphan 13
Mary Watts orphan 12
Thomas Watts orphan 10
Sarah Watts orphan 9
William Wegg unmarried 17 fisherman
Elizabeth Alison unmarried 21 servant
James Tooly unmarried 38 agricultural labourer
William Alison unmarried 16 agricultural labourer
Mary Ann Tooly 6
Ann Elizabeth Tooly 2
and possibly
Elizabeth Tooly unmarried 24 servant Clench Worton Lincs.
William Tooly 4 Overstrand
After the Gimingham Workhouse closed in 1850, Trunch residents who were destitute or infirm had to go to the Erpingham Union Workhouse at West Beckham. More details and photographs of this workhouse are available - click here - West Beckham Union Workhouse
The 1851 census records 10 inmates who were born in Trunch
James Watts orphan 13
Mary Watts orphan 12
Thomas Watts orphan 10
Sarah Watts orphan 9
William Wegg unmarried 17 fisherman
Elizabeth Alison unmarried 21 servant
James Tooly unmarried 38 agricultural labourer
William Alison unmarried 16 agricultural labourer
Mary Ann Tooly 6
Ann Elizabeth Tooly 2
and possibly
Elizabeth Tooly unmarried 24 servant Clench Worton Lincs.
William Tooly 4 Overstrand
In 1861 none of the residents were born in Trunch.
In 1871 there was one family with children who had been born in Trunch.
Maria Buttle mother widow 39 East Ruston
Margaret Buttle daughter 12 scholar Trunch
Sabina Buttle daughter 11 scholar Trunch
Alice Buttle daughter 9 scholar Trunch
George Buttle son illegitimate 2 West Beckham
Click here to see what happened to this family - BUTTLE
In 1881 there were 117 residents and one family from Trunch
Harriet Allard married 41 Trunch
Lucy Allard daughter 16 Southrepps
John Allard son 12 scholar Worstead
Emma Allard daughter 8 scholar Worstead
Frederick Allard son 4 scholar Trunch
In 1891 there was one inmate from Trunch
Ezra Duncan single 56 shoemaker Trunch
In 1901 there were no Trunch born residents
In 1911 there were no Trunch born residents
Between 1850 and 1891 the parish records show the residents of the Beckham Union Workhouse who were sent home to Trunch to be buried. There are 23 which specifically state that they are from the workhouse and 6 more which just say from Beckham. Most of these people were elderly but there were also some children. Click here for the list - Workhouse burials
In 1871 there was one family with children who had been born in Trunch.
Maria Buttle mother widow 39 East Ruston
Margaret Buttle daughter 12 scholar Trunch
Sabina Buttle daughter 11 scholar Trunch
Alice Buttle daughter 9 scholar Trunch
George Buttle son illegitimate 2 West Beckham
Click here to see what happened to this family - BUTTLE
In 1881 there were 117 residents and one family from Trunch
Harriet Allard married 41 Trunch
Lucy Allard daughter 16 Southrepps
John Allard son 12 scholar Worstead
Emma Allard daughter 8 scholar Worstead
Frederick Allard son 4 scholar Trunch
In 1891 there was one inmate from Trunch
Ezra Duncan single 56 shoemaker Trunch
In 1901 there were no Trunch born residents
In 1911 there were no Trunch born residents
Between 1850 and 1891 the parish records show the residents of the Beckham Union Workhouse who were sent home to Trunch to be buried. There are 23 which specifically state that they are from the workhouse and 6 more which just say from Beckham. Most of these people were elderly but there were also some children. Click here for the list - Workhouse burials
7. Break-in at the Workhouse
On April 2nd. 1829 The Times reported a case that had been held at Thetford Assizes on March 31st. Robert Ribbans, 19 and John Rogers, 27 were indicted for breaking and entering the room of the Governor of the Poor House in the parish of Gimingham and stealing 10 sovereigns, a piece of cord and diverse other articles, the property of Thomas Rockham, governor. Rogers lodged with Frances Pilch of Trunch. He said the governor had given him the cord to repair the loom he was working on. The jury found them guilty and they were sentenced to death but spared on terms of being sent from this country for ever i.e. transported to Australia.
On April 2nd. 1829 The Times reported a case that had been held at Thetford Assizes on March 31st. Robert Ribbans, 19 and John Rogers, 27 were indicted for breaking and entering the room of the Governor of the Poor House in the parish of Gimingham and stealing 10 sovereigns, a piece of cord and diverse other articles, the property of Thomas Rockham, governor. Rogers lodged with Frances Pilch of Trunch. He said the governor had given him the cord to repair the loom he was working on. The jury found them guilty and they were sentenced to death but spared on terms of being sent from this country for ever i.e. transported to Australia.
