The Banbridge Poor Law Union was officially declared in 1839. The Workhouse was opened in 1842 at a cost of £7,580. It was built to house a maximum capacity of 800 inmates. The Banbridge Workhouse was built to accomodate people from the areas of Annaclone, Ardtanagh, Balloolymore, Ballybrick, Ballyward, Banbridge, Crosgar Dromore, Garvaghy, Glaskermore, Leitrim, Loughbrickland, Magerally, Moneyslane, Quilly, Scarva, Skeagh, Tirkelly, and Tullyish in Co. Down, and Ballyshiel, Mullaghbrack, Mullahead, and Tanderagee in Co. Armagh.
During the worst years of the Great Famine, extensions were put in place to accomodate an additional 120 inmates.
The Banbridge Workhouse was closed in 1932 and the buildings were repurposed as a community hospital. The site has since been redeveloped for housing with all of the original buildings being demolished in the process.
References
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For more information see here | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE |
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Public Records of Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland. Great Britain. | VIEW SOURCE |
