And now, unusually, a blog which has nothing to do with housing. In this article I am going to tackle poverty, homelessness, disability and how this was a major problem in our community. It will refer to ‘previous governments’ but on this occasion though the timescale is 1881 in the Union of Catherington (prior to the Parish of Horndean).
William Gladstone (right) was the Prime Minister of a Liberal Government in the reign of Queen Victoria. Topically as we have just had the Scotland Independence referendum, it is wroth noting that in 1881 the United Kingdom government of the day decided to create an act of law preventing the sale of Alcohol in Wales on Sundays. Nowhere else, just Wales. Imagine David Cameron PM laying down legislation to do this in Glasgow tomorrow for the health and good of the population. Alex Salmond would burst with fury. Godalming was the first town to have electric street lighting installed and we were in the middle of the First Boer War.
1881 was a census year, so the records are very good. They show that Clanfield had a population of 219 (now 4,637) and Catherington itself 944 (now Horndean with 12,942) Old records show that spending on the poor was Β£1.8s.8d per head (One Pound, 8 Shillings and 8 Pence). Such was the extent of financial hardship that workhouses were built extensively for the poor. A new workhouse was built in Catherington in 1835 to accommodate 80 inmates and the Poor Law Commissioners authorised a sum of Β£1,050 on its construction. (Photo below taken in 1977)
From the map below you can see the T Shaped building was opposite ‘The Good Intent’ on London Road. I wonder how ironic the naming of the public house was with a workhouse opposite…
The 1881 census has a separate listing for the occupants of the workhouse, and at that time there were just 30. This included the Master and Matron of Union House (James and Letitia Westbrooke) with their son George as a teacher, and the inmate residents. If you know anyone on the list then please comment on the article to share any knowledge you might have!
Current day figures are from the 2011 census.
Source data from:
Catherington Workhouse
Catherington Workhouse Census 1881
A Modern Day Update.
A few months ago you may have seen a homeless man under the Motorway bridge between Hornean and Clanfield. His name is Nigel and he was there for 3 nights having also spent some weeks on the streets in Portsmouth, Southsea, Havant and then Horndean. During the 3 nights in Horndean he was given food, non alcoholic drinks, money, blankets, pillows and a sleeping bag, all by Horndean residents who took the time to stop and speak to him.
On the third day he was taken to ASDA by a Horndean resident for new clothes, toiletries and other essentials while other residents contacted homeless charities, hotels and hostels to ensure he came off the streets that night, even if it were in a hotel until proper support could be found. While accommodation was being organised he bathed, shaved and dressed in new clothes. The local authority you have lived in and paid Council tax in has the legal responsibility to house you in emergency, so this was Portsmouth and Southsea. A homeless shelter in Portsmouth had one space free and took him in that night. He was driven there by Horndean residents and given some money to support himself over the next few days. The shelter took him to the right council officers to get the right support the next morning.
We have since heard from Nigel, about 6 weeks on. He is grateful to the people of Horndean for the compassion, support and generosity they gave him when in other areas like Southsea he was spat on and had rubbish thrown at him by youths. He was immediately housed in a shared home where he is getting the support he needs for finding work and rebuilding his life and feels very optimistic about the future.
He has not been on the streets since.
I am proud to live in Horndean.
I question your decision to include your names as inmates of Horndean workhouse.
A little self humility never hurt! Guy.
Trouble-maker and Lunatic, eh? π
Apparently so Sue! You couldn’t be sane and do this role!
In reply
I notice that Lucy Piper is listed as resident in the workhouse in Horndean (Catherigton as it was then) and she is, in an obscure way a relative of mine.
The workhouse became Sexton and Cassey later to be Blendwrth Fabrics and was an indoor swimming pool until it’s demolition.
Lucy was born on the 18 February 1866 to Joseph and Mary Ann Piper. Joseph married Mary Budden from Chalton on 25 July 1840 in the Chapel of Idsworth. I have no further knowledge of this family other than details of their children. Lucy she was the youngest of eleven children.
The family lived for a while at White Dirt Farm but I guess there just wasn’t enough money to go round and poor Lucy ended up in the workhouse.
Hope this little bit of history is useful.
Sara Schillemore
A couple of names look a tad familiar! When I was little that building was still there and had a swimming pool housed in it! It was very dark and scary but at least it was local.
Did the lunatics end up taking over the asylum Guy?! I have to say, that made me laugh π
Glad you liked it. Guy.
Some people may not recognise “The Good Intent” as it has adopted a number of different names in recent years as a “Schooner Inn” and “Berni Inn” – for about the last 7 or eight years it has been known as “The Colonial Bar”.
Hi Guy….
One quick question? with all the polls regarding housing and with Yes or No options, I feel that there should be a choice for NO housing in the area at all, as i believe it is fast becoming over developed in all the communities surrounding Horndean. and this is the real thoughts of all residents involved, but as a worst case, they always state there are better areas that could be built on, giving the feeling that they don’t mind at all to building, as long as its not on their door step.
Hi Vincent, thank you for the email. East Hants has prepared a SHMA (Strategic Housing Market Assessment). This works out the changes in our own population, how many young people there are who will need homes in 5, 10 years, the life span of our retired population and when houses will be freed up. With 1) people living longer, 2) fewer people living in each house and 3) families having more than 2 children our population is growing, and has been growing faster than we have ever built before. The 1160 homes between 2011 and 2028 is a 1.5% increase each year. About the same rate of increase as our population growth. With the current developments about 400 are identified. Land East Of Horndean could be the best answer for the rest.
I could do a poll on do we need housing or not, but there is strong data to show what our needs will be. I would in effect be giving hope for something that was not an option, and would also become a problem for our own community in the future.
If you search the blog for ‘Horndean housing’ there are a few articles from the past that give more detail.
I hope this helps with a useful explanation?
What we need to do next is channel this housing to the ‘least worst place’ and do everything we can to ensure that caps it there.
Best wishes,
Guy.
Hi Vincent,
This link covers a bit about the SHMA too. I hope it gives a bit more information.
https://horndeanmatters.com/2013/08/04/horndean-housing-to-2028-2/
Guy.