New lease of life for former workhouse
7:45pm Monday 20th December 2010
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A GEORGIAN workhouse is set to be transformed into homes.
Planning bosses have approved a proposal to build flats and houses at the St Albright’s site, in London Road, Stanway.
The Grade II listed building dates back to 1837 and includes a chapel, a laundry room and a mortuary.
It was originally used as a workhouse and more recently as offices.
Developers have been granted permission to build 64 homes on the site.
The master’s house will be turned into three flats and the rest of the development will be built from scratch.
“The development will involve restoring part of it to its former glory.
“There have been break-ins and fires on the site recently and, although it is not yet on the at risk register, it is not far off.”
The planning application was approved by Colchester Council’s planning committee.
Knight Developments and St Albright’s Property Company expect work to get under way in the New Year.
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Your Say YourColchester
<!–Taj, Colchester says… //–>
Taj, Colchester says…
9:51pm Mon 20 Dec 10
Workhouse ,former glory ?
Where does this planner get his ideas from ?
It was a horrendous place and wasnt much better when older people lived there just a few years ago.
<!–snoswad, colchester says… //–>
snoswad, colchester says…
10:01am Tue 21 Dec 10
surely it could have been turned back into a place for the homeless.it’s much bigger than the little pimple they are going to re vamp down the street.
it would have been like “coming hometo our victorian values”i’m sure we could find enough well heeled burgers in the borough to set up trust or charity.instead of oakham they could unpick old mobile phones and computers.
<!–Boris, Colchester says… //–>
Boris, Colchester says…
11:13am Tue 21 Dec 10
“It is an attractive building with a story to tell”. Yes, it is attractive, for it was built to last. But the story it has to tell is extremely grim. If they are going to put up display boards outlining the history of St Albright’s, they should tell the true story, not a Disneyfied whitewash job.
(And an 1837 building is not Georgian.)
Google “workhouse” for several excellent accounts of these horrible places.
<!–totallyfootball, Colchester says… //–>
totallyfootball, Colchester says…
11:20am Tue 21 Dec 10
It always amuses me when people try to bury history if it does not suit the project and expect people to forget. the very description workhouse will make sure that the memories will never be lost and former glory is a poor taste in the world of descriptions but the developers will say anything to get planning permission. More brown envelopes please
<!–Red Tape, Colchester says… //–>
Red Tape, Colchester says…
11:39am Tue 21 Dec 10
Wonder if the building’s resident ghost is going to be happy with this development 🙂
<!–Taj, Colchester says… //–>
Taj, Colchester says…
3:14pm Tue 21 Dec 10
[quote][p][bold]Red Tape[/bold] wrote:
Wonder if the building’s resident ghost is going to be happy with this development :-)[/p][/quote]Red Tape
I had forgotten about the haunting ,I remember the former manager of the place telling many stories of strange happenings in that place and when it was used for asylum seekers some had been scared by something in one of the wings.
<!–6079 Smith W, Colchester says… //–>
6079 Smith W, Colchester says…
7:49pm Tue 21 Dec 10
Thanks to all on this thread for making every comment very interesting to read. I’ve nothing to add other than seasonal greetings to you all.
<!–Red Tape, Colchester says… //–>
Red Tape, Colchester says…
9:12pm Tue 21 Dec 10
I know the former caretaker and he spoke of lots of odd things happening there and areas where he hated going. Don’t think I’d fancy living there!
<!–G.Speel, Colchester says… //–>
G.Speel, Colchester says…
9:03am Wed 22 Dec 10
Just to set the records straight – an 1837 building, although built in the short reign of King William IV, is often historically included as being in the Georgian period (I don’t know why but it is).
I believe the use of the words ‘former glory’ were a very bad choice by the CBC planning officer. I know he meant it in terms of the architecture but they make it sound as if workhouses were a wonderful place to be but they were not – just the opposite in fact. People would do almost anything to stay out of them as conditions in there were atrocious, families were split up and unable to see each other, they had to work hard for long hours to get their meagre ration of food whilst the people who ran it did quite nicely thank you very much.
It’s a pity that this building and its’ grounds were sold to a developer as it would have been better to restore it as a museum dedicated to times gone by to show people how hard life really used to be before handouts, freebies and benefits came along!
<!–snoswad, colchester says… //–>
snoswad, colchester says…
9:33am Wed 22 Dec 10
yes but what about the homeless people?
we have great swaths of area’s in the town waiting to be or being developed for profit.
what about a descent place for families
to be given a leg up in these hard times.
<!–Boris, Colchester says… //–>
Boris, Colchester says…
12:33pm Wed 22 Dec 10
Yes, a decent place snoswad, but not a place to pick oakum or its modern equivalent, as you were suggesting earlier. I agree with you that we need housing for poor people, not so-called “affordable” homes which are only affordable for people with a regular income and a clean credit record.
G. Speel, thanks for your clarification about King William IV, whose reign was too short for him to be associated with a distinctive architectural style.
Since Queen Victoria acceded to the throne in June 1837, St Albright’s might even qualify as Victorian, even though it was designed and mostly built under William IV. But just looking at it, it looks more Victorian than Georgian to me.
Your sayYour Colchester
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