| Summary : Porstsea Island Union Workhouse was built between 1843 and 1845 to designs by Thomas Ellis Owen. It was converted to a hospital in the 20th century. The main workhouse building is of two storeys and is built of red brick with stone dressings. By the time of a survey by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, it had been converted into flats. The development of the workhouse is not clear but by 1860 a third storey had been added to the centre and a wing had been added to the east side. In 1896 a new infirmary block, designed by Bevis, had been added. This was extended in 1907-8, by the addition of two ward block and a maternity block, designed by Rake and Cogswell. By 1904, the two storey wards had been converted to tuberculosus wards by the addition of French windows and ironwork verandahs (this work is no longer visible). The Eastern and Western ward blocks were designed by G E Smith and were added in 1911. In 1999, the building was known as St Mary's House. |