Tendring, Essex Poor Law Union

History
Harwich had a parish workhouse from 1669 on Cow Lane.

Early parish workhouses were recorded in 1777 at

Ardleigh for up to 40 Beaumont with Mose (14), Little Bentley (26), Bradfield (12), Great Bromley (30), Great Clacton (30), Harwich—Dover Court (8), Harwich—St Nicholas (60), Kirby (24), Lawford (22), Great Oakley (20), Ramsey (14), Tendring (20), Thorpe (50), and Wix (25).

Tendring Poor Law Union was formed on 16th November 1835. The new Union workhouse was built in 1837/1838 to a design by Scott and Moffat, who also designed many other workhouses including Bedminster, Windsor, and the nearby Billericay. The workhouse had a capacity of 300 was situated at Tending Heath.

In 1901 an infirmary was added.

The workhouse later became Heath Hospital for the Chronic Sick, and then Tendring Meadows Nursing and Residential Home. Since 2002 the buildings have formed Oaktree Manor Residential Care Home.

Constituent parishes
Alresford, Essex Ardleigh, Essex Beaumont with Moze, Essex Bradfield, Essex Brightlingsea, Essex Dovercourt, Essex Elmstead, Essex 1838-1925 Frating, Essex Frinton, Essex Great Bentley, Essex Great Bromley, Essex Great Clacton, Essex Great Holland, Essex Great Oakley, Essex Harwich St Nicholas, Essex 1838-1925 Kirby le Soken, Essex Lawford, Essex Little Bentley, Essex Little Bromley, Essex Little Clacton, Essex Little Oakley, Essex Manningtree, Essex Mistley, Essex Ramsey, Essex  St Osyth, Essex Tendring, Essex Thorington, Essex  Thorpe le Soken, Essex  Walton le Soken, Essex Weeley, Essex  Wix, Essex Wrabness, Essex

Later Additions: Brightlingsea, Essex (1838-1880), Dovercourt (1838-1925), Harwich (1925-1930), Harwich St Nicholas (1838-1925).

Records
Essex Record Office, Wharf Road Chelmsford CM2 6YT. Records include: Births (1839-1930); Baptisms (1907-30); Deaths (1839-1930); Creed registers (1889-1930)

The Heath Hospital Previous name(s) Tendring Public Assistance Institute 1930 - 1948 Tendring Union Workhouse c1837 - 1930 Address Tendring Clacton-on-Sea Foundation Year c1837 Closure year c1991 Births 1839 - 1951 Deaths 1839 - 1950 Creeds 1889 - 1959 Maternity Cases 1938 - 1947 Guardians Minutes and Ledgers 1835 - 1930 in G/T Series Pre 1948 Poor Law, Local Authority Post 1948 National Health Service

Websites
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Tendring/Tendring.shtml

http://unlockingessex.essexcc.gov.uk/custom_pages/monument_detail.asp?kids=1&amp; monument_id=1035020 Seax Archealogy website with images and history of the Tendring heath site.