Westbury has suffered times of poverty and unemployment. The first recorded (that I can find) was caused by a depression in the cloth export industry in the first quarter of the 17th century. This was accentuated by an outbreak of the plague in Westbury in 1603/4. Weavers and spinners were amongst the hardest hit. Arrangements had to be made for the collection of corn for the town from local markets in order to avoid a disaster. Westbury struggled to recover from its effects until after the Civil War (1642-49). in the 1650's, Westbury began to expand its manufacture of patterned (medley) cloths and abandoned its old white-cloth export industry. This eased the problem of poverty in Westbury, but didn't eradicate it.

In 1652, the Vicar of Westbury was excused the payment of rates. In return he provided three houses in the churchyard for use by the poor (Alms Houses).

In 1687, a poorhouse was made available in Westbury Leigh. In the same year, the vestry ordered that those receiving alms should wear the badge of the parish on their shoulders, and that alms in kind should be distributed monthly from the parish church (All Saints).

Vestry records for 1732 show a decision to buy a house at Westbury Leigh to act as a workhouse. Approval was also given to employ a master and mistress. It isn't clear to me that this workhouse ever came into existence, but in 1769 a site was purchased at Gooze Land (Goose Land) on what is now called Eden Vale road (previously just Eden Vale). A parliamentary report in 1777 recorded a parish workhouse in operation in Westbury which could accommodate up to 100 inmates. This could, theoretically, be referring to either site, but I feel that it is more likely to be Goose Land. I can find no evidence (factual or anecdotal) that a workhouse ever actually existed in Westbury Leigh. A building that can be a home to 100 people doesn't go unnoticed!

In the late 17th, and throughout the 18th century, the vestry was dominated by a few wealthy inhabitants. They held office as churchwardens or overseers, but never did any of the actual work. Instead, they appointed deputies to do the day to day work for them. Statutory powers were obtained in 1786 for the appointment of a salaried additional overseer. The churchwardens and overseers were to continue to make and collect rates, but all money was to be passed to this additional overseer, who was to have full authority for the care of the poor. The first appointment was not made until 1801, when a committee was also set up to investigate the state of the poor and the management of the workhouse. This benign system of relief was practised until 1834. Most of the original building was demolished and rebuilt in 1819 in order to cater for the increased demand.

The 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act allowed the running of workhouses to be handed over to a contractor (Westbury and Whorwellsdown Poor Law Union). For an agreed price, he (they) agreed to feed and house the poor. They would also 'provide' the inmates with work, and  pocket all the money generated. This system was known as 'farming' the poor. It allowed wealthy locals to become even more wealthy by exploiting the desperate and destitute, running what we now call a 'sweatshop' and even getting paid (by the 'council' of the time) for doing it - Nice work if you can get it!

The Westbury & Whorwellsdown Poor Law Union formally came into being on 14th November 1835. Its operation was overseen by an elected board of 17 guardians. It isn't clear who did the electing, but my guess is that it wasn't the users of the workhouse! The board members represented the ten local parishes within  the Westbury and Whorwellsdown area, (the workhouses catchment area). They were Steeple Ashton, West Ashton, North Bradley, Bulkington, East Coulston, Edington, Great Hinton, Keevil, Southwick and Westbury. Later additions were Bratton, Dilton Marsh and Heywood. The Union initially set up shop in the vestries old workhouse. The buildings were then substantially altered and enlarged during 1836-7. This work cost the Commissioners £3,849. The completed building housed 340 inmates (over three times the size of the original). The site location and layout are shown here on the 1924 OS map (above (or right, depending on how big your monitor is)).

In 1886 William Henry Laverton, had a group of 39 recently built houses, called Prospect Buildings (now Prospect Place), placed in trust. The estate was built along three sides of a square in Bratton Road, with gardens to the front, forming a communal area/allotment, and smaller private gardens to the rear. The 7 houses at the south-east end of the quadrangle were given to the community as almshouses. These houses were maintained from the rents of other 32 houses. At the beginning of the 20th century the alms people, who could be either married couples or single persons. Many of the beneficiaries were former employees at the Laverton Mills, receiving a weekly pension of 5s. Two of the almshouses had five rooms, the remaining five had four rooms. In 1923 pensions and maintenance expenses amounted to more than £150. The buildings still make a striking view, with a design and layout unlike anything else in the town. (information partially sourced from 'A History of the County of Wiltshire': Volume VIII, © R.B. Pugh1965).

In 1890 Mary Brown, daughter of Stafford Brown, Vicar of Westbury 1845-7, conveyed into trust 14 cottages adjoining the Warminster road near its junction with Edward Street. Four of the cottages which fronted the Warminster road were to be let and their rents used to maintain the entire property. The remaining ten cottages, known as Stafford Brown Almshouses, Ivy Court, were to be almshouses for poor parishioners who were members of the Church of England. The charity was to be managed by the vicar and churchwardens. In 1903 rents from the four cottages totalled £24 and the alms people paid 6d. a year for their cottages. These formed a double row of two-roomed dwellings in a small court extending back from the Warminster road frontage. In 1937 the cottages facing the Warminster road had been converted into a house and shop and produced a rent of £25. The almshouses behind were dilapidated and plans were considered for pulling them down. Nothing was done until 1955 when the site with the disused almshouses on it was sold for £560. A scheme was then drawn up for the administration of the charity to provide pensions to persons who would have been qualified for admission to an almshouse (information sourced from 'A History of the County of Wiltshire': Volume VIII, © R.B. Pugh1965).

The Goose Land workhouse appears to have been closed soon after 1930. By 1936, maps, that I don't have permission to reproduce here, show that most of the outbuildings had already been demolished, leaving only the main block. From the 1960's, the site was being used as the offices and yard of the building firm of T Holdoway and Sons. None of the original workhouse is distinguishable. The roadside wing of the refurbished/rebuilt building (1819 and 1836/7) is still standing today, and very much in use - but not as a workhouse! It has recently been refurbished and converted into flats (they're apparently 'very nice' - the frontage is certainly impressive, when I find a willing resident, I'll get you an 'insiders view').

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