Workhouse Farm

SD 73 SE SIMONSTONE BLACKBURN ROAD

3/55 Workhouse Farm - - II

Workhouse and associated farmhouse, probably early C19, altered, now (1984) mostly unoccupied. Sandstone rubble, stone slate roofs, the farmhouse having a ridge chimney and gable chimneys, the barn attached to it gable coping with a finial at the north end, the former workhouse range a single chimney cowl on the ridge. L-shaped complex, the farmhouse gable to road on north-south axis with linking cartshed and barn in the same range, and the former workhouse range joined at a right angle to the west side of the barn. Single-depth low 2-storey workhouse of random rubble in 5 bays in length, with a single-storey lean-to at the west end, the partitioned 5th bay lofted with a flight of external steps to a raised doorway and another doorway below; the remainder has rectangular windows, some with glazing bars and others variously altered or damaged, and adjoined under the same roof at the east end is a projecting porch with wagon doors to the barn. The interior of the workhouse has been gutted, but a small fireplace remains at 1st floor level of the partition wall to the 4th/5th bays. The barn at the south end of the east range is 3 bays and 2 higher storeys, its formerly colonnaded left corner now filled in. Linking the left gable wall of the barn to the farmhouse is a small set back 2-storey cartshed with open segmental arch spanning the full width and a window at 1st floor; the farmhouse is 3 bays and 2 storeys with 2 plain doorways and 3 windows on each floor, mostly sashed but damaged except coupled 4-pane sashes in the centre of the ground floor; rear has four 4-pane sashes on each floor. History: unusual survival of parish workhouse pre-dating Poor Law Amendment Act 1834.

Listing NGR: SD7800933385