Sheppey, Kent Poor Law Union

History
The land and the money for Minster's first poorhouse was apparently donated to the people of Minster in a charitable trust by Sir John Hayward in the 17th century.

The thatch of Minster Workhouse caught fire and the whole building was burnt down in 1789. It was rebuilt at Minster and later a Gilbert Union of Minster in Sheppey, Kent and Eastchurch, Kent was formed. Later Queenborough, Kent and Sheerness, Kent parishes joined.

The Sheppey Poor Law Union was created on 25 March 1835 and expanded the Minster site. In 1889 a fire damaged Minster Workhouse.

1938. The Workhouse Union buildings were re-opened as Minster Hospital later called Sheppey Hospital. The Hospital has now closed and plans for development as residential housing have still to be concluded.

For more information on the history of the workhouse, see Peter Higginbotham's web site: www.workhouses.org.uk

Constituent Parishes
Eastchurch, Kent Elmley, Kent Harty, Kent Leysdown, Kent Minster in Sheppey, Kent Queenborough, Kent Sheerness, Kent Warden, Kent