Whitchurch Incorporation, Shropshire Poor Law Union

History
A parliamentary report of 1777 records a parish workhouse in operation at Whitchurch with accommodation for up to 40 people.

In 1784 the Shrewsbury Incorporation was copied locally and other Incorporations established included Atcham, Oswestry, Ellesmere, and Montgomery and Pool. Whitchurch was incorporated under a local Act in 1792. This enabled the building of a workhouse in 1794 at a site on Claypit Street. Whitchurch's Local Act status made it immune from many of the provisions of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act. However in 1854, a new Whitchurch Poor Law Union was created which took in parishes from Nantwich and other adjacent Unions.

The Claypit Street workhouse was enlarged to include an infirmary and subsequently a chapel was added.

In common with other workhouses after the First World war it became known as the Whitchurch Poor Law Institution. The former workhouse later became Deermoss hospital and the surviving buildings are part of Whitchurch Hospital which provides geriatric in patient beds..

Constituent Parishes
Ash, Shropshire includes Ash magna and Ash Parva Bickerton, Cheshire includes Duckington and Larkton Dodington, Shropshire Ightfield, Shropshire Iscoyd Malpas, Cheshire includes Agden, Bickley Bradley Chidlow Chorlton Cuddington Edge Hampton, Macefen, Marbury with Quoisley, Newton near Malpas, Oldcastle,Overton, Stockton, Tushingham with Grindley,Wichaugh and Wigland. Marbury, Cheshire includes Norbury near Nantwich Tilstock, Shropshire Whitchurch, Shropshire includes Alkington, Black Park, Broughall, Bubney, Budney, New Woodhouse, Edgeley, Grindley Brook, Grindleybrook, Hinton, Hollyhurst, and Chinnell.

Whitchurch, Cheshire includes Wirswall.

Later Addition: Threapwood, Cheshire(from 1894).

Records

 * Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 2AQ.

The surviving records contain gaps and are chiefly Guardian’s Minutes. Whitchurch Parish chest records, 1619-1864 Microfilm copy of original records in the Shropshire County Record Office, Shrewsbury. Shropshire Record Office no.: 3091/3/1-17; 3091/4/1-2, 7-8; 131/1-3 Churchwardens' accounts 1619-1641; 1688-1705 FHL BRITISH Film 1736422 Items 4-6 Churchwardens' accounts 1706-1770 FHL BRITISH Film 1736423 Churchwardens' accounts 1771-1819 FHL BRITISH Film 1736424 Churchwardens' accounts 1820-1845 FHL BRITISH Film 1736425 Churchwardens' accounts 1845-1864 Overseers' accounts 1697-1716 FHL BRITISH Film 1736426 Overseers' accounts 1697-1738 Overseers' accounts 1656-1669 Apprentice list 1735-1756 Casual poor relief book 1819-1825 FHL BRITISH Film 1736427 Items 1-7 Churchwardens' accounts 1641-1670 FHL BRITISH Film 1736428 Item 2 Another partial filming, 1994. Overseers' accounts 1656-1669 FHL BRITISH Film 1911806 Item 4