Vagrants Ward. Salford Union Workhouse. Eccles New Road. Salford

In April 1880, the new casual wards were opened These adopted the then new "cellular" design, as reported in the Local Government Chronicle:

NEW CASUAL WARDS AT SALFORD WORKHOUSE.  -    New casual wards, on the cellular system, have been opened this week at the above union workhouse, from designs by Mr. H. Pinchbeck, King Street, Manchester. These wards are the fourth built on the cellular system, and are each fitted with a wood bed, well lighted and ventilated. The doors are strong, and secured with a double lock on the outside. Food doors are inserted, and inspection slides, which enable the attendant to see every portion of the cell without opening the door. To each is fixed a label apparatus, and by turning a handle from the inside a label is thrown out, and the gong placed in the corridor of the administrative department is struck, calling the attention of the attendant, and indicating the cell where he is required. On one side of the building, running the full length, are three rooms, in which mills will be placed for grinding corn, with connecting rods and handles fixed inside the cells, which the vagrants will have to turn and grind a given quantity of corn before leaving the building. On the first floor are the women's cells, eighteen in number, seven being double, for women with children, approached by a wide flight of stone steps, with waiting, bath, and storerooms, and fitted in every respect like the male wards. All the cells throughout are lighted by windows and by gas brackets made purposely, fixed in the corridor, apertures being left in the walls, covered with fine wire, through which the gaslight is admitted. All the cell windows have been designed to open and close simultaneously from the corridor by the attend ant, and under his control only. All the floors, except in the administrative department, are laid with cement concrete. Great care has been taken in thoroughly ventilating the cells and other parts of the building, and the whole building is heated by hot water. The contract price for the whole of the works being 4,840. The building stands on a sloping site, and advantage is taken of this to arrange the basement above the outside ground line. This contains heating cellar, coal cellar, stone rooms, cooking kitchen, disinfecting room, and three workrooms under the cells, each 45 feet long and 24 feet wide. There are three entrances, that in the centre being for the attendant in charge of the building. The entrance on the left is for male and that on the right for female vagrants. The male vagrants enter a spacious corridor, and pass into a waiting room 21 feet long and 14 feet wide, thence to the bathrooms, which are directly opposite. There are two, each containing two baths, and fitted with washbasins, supplied with hot and cold water. Adjoining the waiting rooms and opposite the bathroom is a large storeroom, where rugs and clothing will be kept. On leaving the bathrooms, the vagrants pass into the cells. There are 36 for males, which are arranged on each side of a corridor 125 feet in length. The building has been designed with a certain degree of taste. The front and side elevations of the administrative department are faced with bright red stocks, relieved with ornamental bands, and the doors, windows, and porches have stone dressings.

SALFORD - The Guardians of the Salford Union are, this week, taking possession of the new vagrant wards and workshops now completed and built on a plot of land adjoining the workhouse fronting Regent-road. The front and side elevations of the administrative department are faced with bright red stocks relieved with ornamental bands, and other ornamental brickwork, and the doors, windows, and porches have stone dressings. The basement is nearly all above the outside ground line, owing to the rapid tall oi the land, and contains heating-cellar, coal-cellar, storerooms, cooking-kitchen, disinfecting-rooms, and three workrooms, under the cells, each forty-five feet long, and twenty-four feet wide. On the ground-floor in the front part of the building is the administrative department. All the floors, except in the administrative department, are laid with cement concrete. The whole building is heated by hot water. Messrs. Armstrong and Dow are the general contractors for the whole of the works, the contract being £4,840. The works have been executed from the designs of Mr. Henry Pinchbeck, architect, 8, King-street, Manchester, and under his supervision. [Building News 26 March 1880 page 385]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 22 March 1879 (Contracts)
Reference    Building News 26 March 1880 page 385
Reference    Local Government Chronicle