St. Leonards Poor House
The St. Leonards poor-house served as a residence for the parish's impoverished residents, offering them basic shelter and, in some cases, provisions. Before its establishment, the parish of St. Leonards, similar to St. Mary Magdalen, managed the care of its poor through a system of arrangements with individuals in nearby parishes. This involved paying these individuals to house, and sometimes feed, those requiring aid.
The St. Leonards poor-house, described as a modest structure consisting of one or two thatched cottages with a rood of land, highlights the relatively small pauper population in the parish compared to others despite its larger size. Located near the site of Tileworth, above St. Matthew's Church, the poor-house, along with similar facilities in other parishes, became redundant with the introduction of the Union Workhouse in Cackle Street.
While the exact date of the poor-house's closure isn't specified, records indicate that it was officially sold in 1837, following the establishment of the Union Workhouse.
Acquisition Costs for the St. Leonards Poor-house
The St. Leonards poor-house, along with a rood of land, was purchased for a total of £60. This purchase was made a few years before the passing of the Poor-law in 1834, which led to the formation of Union Workhouses and the subsequent abolishment of individual parish poor-houses.
The acquisition costs were broken down as follows:-
- £20 was paid to the Earl of Chichester for the property.
- £40 was paid to the executors of John Taylor for relinquishing possession.
The property was conveyed to Edward Farncomb, one of the Overseers at the time, who held it in trust for the parish. The sources note that the relatively low purchase price was likely due to the Earl of Chichester's generosity.
