This page last updated on: Wednesday 18 June, 2003

Census 1881
The 1881 Census of the Caxton and Arrington Union Workhouse, Cambridgeshire.
Reference: Ref. 1341395 RG11/1654 (with acknowledgement to the Public Record Office)

My thanks and acknowedgements to the 'census team' who provided the documentation and who typed and checked the various page transcripts. Particular thanks to Mike Giddings, Susan Giddings, Alexandra Morton and John Parkins for all their help, assistance and encouragement.

[Information, notes and comments additional to the 1881 Census are shown within square brackets]

Census Pages

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Arrington	Wimpole	Orwell	Local
1881 Census 1891 Census 1901 Census	1881 Census 1891 Census 1901 Census	1881 Census 1891 Census 1901 Census	1881 Workhouse

This site is linked to a local search engine that has catalogued the whole of the Arrington, Orwell and Wimpole group of websites. Just type in the name or subject you are interested in and press the 'Search' button. If searching a surname, ensure you check all known variations of spelling (use the alphabetical listings at Wimpole Names).

Note that each search covers the whole of the three sites, irrespective of which site
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The Caxton and Arrington Union Workhouse (1836-c1932)

The Caxton and Arrington Poor Law Union covered the parishes of Arrington, Bourn, Caldecote, Caxton, Croxton, Croydon, East Hatley, Elsworth, Eltisley, Gamlingay, Great Eversden, Hardwick, Hatley St George, Kingston, Knapwell, Little Eversden, Little Gransden, Longstow, Orwell, Papworth Everard, Papworth St Agnes, Tadlow, Toft, Wimpole, Great Gransden and Yelling.

Caxton and Arrington Union Workhouse. 1902 Map showing the Workhouse building.

The Caxton and Arrington Union Workhouse (the 'Union') was built in 1836-7 to a design by William T Nash. It was situated on the eastern side of what is now the A1198 road at the northern end of Caxton village. It was intended to accommodate 160 people and the building cost around £5,400. Its design was a single quadrangle divided into four segments by partition walls radiating from a projecting bay at the rear of the front block. Its layout be seen on the ground floor plan below.

Caxton and Arrington Union Workhouse. Sketch plan of the Caxton and Arrington Union Workhouse. Click the image for full screen resolution (includes a numerical key to rooms and scale in feet). Use the back button on your browser to return to this page.

The Workhouse was administered by a Board of Guardians together with a Chaplain, a resident Master and Matron, and a doctor from each of the Caxton and Arrington administrative divisions.

Although the word "workhouse" conjures up a cold and forbidding image, the lives of the inmates were brightened by the efforts of local people. Every Christmas, Mr Harry Payne (of Manor Farm and later Firs Farm, Caxton) organised a concert for them by the villagers. Others helped in other ways - Rev William Kelsey, the Baptist Minister, organised craft classes and there were visits by friends and relations.

The workhouse also gave overnight accommodation to passing tramps (or "travellers" as they liked to be known). Perhaps the Victorians were not as cold-hearted in their charity as we are sometimes led to believe.

But the age of the workhouse finally passed and this particular one fell into decline and was demolished in the early 1930's, although the court and police station building next door (see photographs below) still exist as a visual reference point.

See also: Caxton Workhouse and site The Workhouse for background information.

Census Pages

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