The Workhouse at Weobley was built in 1837 at White Hill, and the building still exists but became the home of the Council Offices and has now been converted into flats.
Workhouse Supplies
In 1842, an advertisement was placed in the Hereford Times as follows:
“Wanted, contracts for bread, meat, grocery, shoes, coffins etc. for a period of three months, commencing on 28th June.
BREAD – to be made of best seconds flour, in loaves of 4lb and 2lb weight respectively, and not less than 24 nor more than 48 hours old at time of delivery.
MEAT – Beef (without bone) ; mutton and suet, and best shins and cheeks.
GROCERY – Tea, sugar, rice, treacle, oatmeal, pepper, allspice, cheese, salt butter, yellow soap, candles, soda, starch and blue, and salt.
COALS – best Welsh.
SHOES – Men’s, women’s, boy’s and girl’s shoes in sizes.
COFFINS – of good elm boards, smoothed and hooped, with the initials of the name and the age of the deceased on the lid, and to include a suitable shroud, pillow etc. for each.
Sealed tenders with samples of grocery, to be delivered to the Workhouse.”
The contracts were always very short, and advertisements for tenders appeared on a regular basis.
Entertainment in the Workhouse
Some Masters and Matrons were of a kindlier disposition than others, and in 1899 Mr. and Mrs. Dion organised an evening of entertainment for the inmates of the Weobley Workhouse.
The dining hall was used for the occasion, and a stage was built at one end, where many acts took place, including some performed by the children. There were also some excellent waxworks, with Mr. Dion being showman.
James Bell, on behalf of the inmates, thanked everyone who had given them such a wonderful evening, and spoke in high terms of the kindness they had always received from the Master and Matron.
Weobley Union Workhouse Staff 1841
| James Anderton | 40 | Master |
| Margaret Anderton | 35 | Wife, Matron |
| George Baskerville | 40 | Porter |
Weobley Union Workhouse Staff 1851
| B.P. Evans | 50 | Master b. Barnstaple, Devon |
| Anna Evans | 49 | Wife, Matron b. Devon |
| Phillis K. Evans | 9 | Daughter b. Devon |
| George Griffiths | 21 | Porter and Baker b. Hereford |
Weobley Union Workhouse Staff 1861
| Thomas B. Venimore | 43 | Master b. Middlesex |
| Ann Lucy Venimore | 42 | Wife, Matron b. Middlesex |
| William Anderson | 19 | Porter b. Leominster, Herefordshire |
| Harriet Chivers | 26 | Nurse b. Pontypool, Monmouthshire |
Weobley Union Workhouse Staff 1871
| Joseph Pope | 41 | Master b. Droitwich, Worcestershire |
| Annie Pope | 48 | Matron b. Newent, Gloucestershire |
| Fanny Pope | 18 | Daughter, Assistant Matron, b. Dodderhill, Worcestershire |
| Amy Pope | 9 | Daughter, b. Brewood, Staffordshire |
| John Harpe | 20 | Porter b. Leominster, Herefordshire |
Weobley Union Workhouse Staff 1881
| Daniel Johnson | 39 | Master b. Bromsgrove, Worcestershire |
| Eliza Jane Johnson | 29 | Wife, Matron b. Coleford, Gloucestershire |
| Charles Weager | 30 | Schoolmaster b. Usk |
| Elizabeth Price | 40 | Nurse b. Kings Pyon, Herefordshire |
Weobley Union Workhouse Staff 1911
| George Ishmael Dion | 56 | Master b. Lincolnshire |
| Mary Ann Dion | 56 | Wife, Matron b. Coleford, Gloucestershire |
| Mary Johnson | 44 | Nurse b. Clodock, Herefordshire |