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| SOLIHULL WORKHOUSE |
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The UNION SCHOOL SOLIHULL, Feb.1844.
A very rare gift sampler in the form of a letter to the Rev.nd Sir thanking him for there education. It must be remembered that the primary role of the workhouse was to provide an assistance to life, in that a person was provided food and lodging, but for work; they were not in any way a pleasant place. For those in charge it was about keeping costs down and education cost money , most preferred the children working in mills etc.
The parishes of Solihull, Tanworth-in-Arden and Yardley already each had their own parish workhouse but the Guardians decided that none of these was suitable and the decision was taken to build a new workhouse to serve the whole of the new Poor Law Union. This would be situated in Solihull, described as the “central parish” of the Poor Law Union.
On 20th April 1837, the Board of Guardians of the Solihull Union issued an invitation to builders interested in securing the contract for the erection of the new workhouse at Solihull to inspect the plans and submit a tender by 23rd May 1837.
On 10th July 1837, Aris’s Birmingham Gazette carried an appeal for a loan to build the new workhouse:
TO CAPITALISTS
The Guardians of the Solihull Union are desirous of borrowing the Sum of about £2000 at 4½ per cent for the purpose of building a Union Workhouse, to be secured upon the Rates under the Poor Law Amendment Act. For particulars apply to Mr George Joseph Harding, of Solihull, Clerk to the Solihull Union
It would appear from records at Warwickshire County Record Office (ref.: CR1596/box 137/2/1/7) that the builder was James Benjamin Harper of Henley-in-Arden with Richard Gibbs a farmer of Blackford Mill, Wootton Wawen and William Gibbs, a farmer of Songar, Claverdon, Warwickshire providing the sureties.
The workhouse was erected on land off Warwick Road, Solihull, which was purchased from Rev. Archer Clive, Rector of Solihull.
Presumably, the work was completed around the target date of Midsummer 1838 as Aris’s Birmingham Gazette – of 2nd July 1838 carried an advertisement for the “Building hitherto occupied as the Solihull Workhouse, with Outbuildings, together with a good Garden containing half an acre.” The building was advertised to be let from Michaelmas (29th September) next.
The first Governor
The post of Governor (often referred to as Master) of the Workhouse was advertised in January 1838, with the stipulation that the Governor’s wife would act as Matron. The couple would receive a joint salary of £70 per annum.
SOLIHULL UNION
WANTED, a Man and his Wife as GOVERNOR and MATRON for the WORKHOUSE of the above UNION; united Salary £70 per Annum.
Tenders, with testimonials of character and competency, must be forwarded to me (post-paid) on or before Tuesday, the 20th Day of February Next, and the Candidates will be expected to appear at the TOWN HALL, SOLIHULL, at 11 o’Clock on the following Morning.- Security will be required.
G. J. HARDING
Clerk to the Guardians
Solihull, January 1838
Leamington Spa Courier, 3rd February 1838
The successful candidates were Job Genders (c.1794-1855) and his second wife, Alice (née Newman, formerly Dixon) (c.1804-1845), who had married in Aston on 12th February 1838. Job Genders was born in Birmingham and had served in the Army for 28 years. He was Troop Sergeant Major with the 7th Dragoon Guards for almost 11 years of his service, having previously been Corporal (July 1822-May 1827) and Private (March 1809-July 1822). |
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