Vagrant Cells - Melton Mowbray
November 2015
A Union workhouse was built in 1836 at the east side of Thorpe Road in Melton Mowbray. It was designed by Charles Dyer and adopted an elongated H-plan layout, rather than one of radial layouts more popular at the time. A vagrants' block was located at the south of the workhouse. It contained work cells for stone-breaking at the southern side. The cell walls contained outlet grids (now bricked up) through which were placed the small pieces of broken stone.
The nearby vagrant cells were for vagrants, or tramps, passing through the town. At the time it was illegal to sleep on the streets so the vagrants either had to rent a room somewhere in the town or, if they had no money, sleep in the cells.
Melton Civic Society vice-president and local historian Jenny Allsop suggested one way to save the piece of history would be to move the vagrant cells brick by brick to another location. She said: "The vagrant cells are an important part of the town's heritage. It's not a very nice part of our history but a part we can't ignore... It wouldn't look good if they destroy something which could be so easily rescued. It's only a small building and I'm sure it could be removed by experts. Perhaps it could be moved to somewhere in Melton and used for educational purposes."
Civic society secretary Dinah Rudman added: "The cells are exactly as they were when the last vagrant walked out of the door. They're very interesting and we feel they're a very important part of Melton's history."
As reported in the Melton Times in 2001 Government officials rejected pleas to have both buildings listed. Officials said the buildings didn't meet standards set out by English Heritage guidelines. The Melton Times asked the Leicestershire County and Rutland Primary Care Trust what its plans were for the two buildings.
A spokesman replied: "As part of the community services strategy we will be developing a plan for the Melton Mowbray Hospital site over coming months. No decisions have been made yet."
The vagrant cells are set to feature in a forthcoming programme on BBC4's Edwardians season.
A Union workhouse was built in 1836 at the east side of Thorpe Road in Melton Mowbray. It was designed by Charles Dyer and adopted an elongated H-plan layout, rather than one of radial layouts more popular at the time. A vagrants' block was located at the south of the workhouse. It contained work cells for stone-breaking at the southern side. The cell walls contained outlet grids (now bricked up) through which were placed the small pieces of broken stone.
The nearby vagrant cells were for vagrants, or tramps, passing through the town. At the time it was illegal to sleep on the streets so the vagrants either had to rent a room somewhere in the town or, if they had no money, sleep in the cells.
Melton Civic Society vice-president and local historian Jenny Allsop suggested one way to save the piece of history would be to move the vagrant cells brick by brick to another location. She said: "The vagrant cells are an important part of the town's heritage. It's not a very nice part of our history but a part we can't ignore... It wouldn't look good if they destroy something which could be so easily rescued. It's only a small building and I'm sure it could be removed by experts. Perhaps it could be moved to somewhere in Melton and used for educational purposes."
Civic society secretary Dinah Rudman added: "The cells are exactly as they were when the last vagrant walked out of the door. They're very interesting and we feel they're a very important part of Melton's history."
As reported in the Melton Times in 2001 Government officials rejected pleas to have both buildings listed. Officials said the buildings didn't meet standards set out by English Heritage guidelines. The Melton Times asked the Leicestershire County and Rutland Primary Care Trust what its plans were for the two buildings.
A spokesman replied: "As part of the community services strategy we will be developing a plan for the Melton Mowbray Hospital site over coming months. No decisions have been made yet."
The vagrant cells are set to feature in a forthcoming programme on BBC4's Edwardians season.
