2-913-708 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Union Workhouse, at King's Lynn, 1854. Collapse of a building in Norfolk. 'This ancient building, which fell to the ground on the morning of Sunday...(by which two lives were lost), was a structure of considerable archaeological interest...As many as thirty years ago a settlement was observed, and it was then recommended that this portion of the Workhouse should be rebuilt. No steps, however, were taken to carry this into effect...The edifice was formerly a church...built in or about the thirteenth century...In 1568 "it was agreed that the Duke of Norfolk his Grace shall have twenty loads of freestone from the chapel of St. James, gratis". In 1597, the plague being prevalent, the chapel was converted into an hospital...In the twelfth year of William IV. it was assigned to the guardians of the poor of St Margaret's, for the parish workhouse...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854.