Workhouse Drawings Collection


The Workhouse Drawings collection contains a representative sample of drawings, plans, and documents drawn from the Irish Architectural Archive's Workhouse Collection. The Workhouse Collection (reference 85/138) in the Irish Architectural Archive includes surviving drawings for workhouses built in Ireland to provide relief for the poor. Built between 1839 and 1847, the workhouses were designed in a Tudor domestic idiom by architect George Wilkinson. Occasionally drawings are accompanied by other documents including the standard printed specification or, more rarely, items of correspondence. Many are in extremely poor condition and their extreme fragility precludes public access. This online collection provides access to drawings and documents relating to the Mallow, Castleblayney, Lismore, and Gorey workhouses. The drawings for Mallow Workhouse may be considered a representative set of the surviving drawings for the Tudor style workhouses built by Wilkinson. The majority of the drawings were produced mechanically (engraved and printed). The inclusion of drawings from Castleblayney, Lismore, and Gorey, in addition to those of Mallow, ensures that this online collection includes samples of each printed drawing.

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Mallow Union Workhouse: plan of drains


Block plan of workhouse with drains, cesspits, and tanks. Some specifications are included on the drawing. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

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Mallow Union Workhouse: ground plan


Ground plan of full workhouse including external walls, yards, and entrance, main, dining/chapel and infirmary blocks. Locations of cesspits and tanks are noted. Drawings added later (see related item). Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

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Mallow Union Workhouse: one pair plan


First floor plan of two-storey elements (entrance, main block and infirmary) with roof-timber and roof plans of single storey elements (dining block/chapel and wings to infirmary). Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

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Mallow Union Workhouse: two pair plan


Plan of roof timbers and roof over entrance, plan of second floor of end wings of main block and plan of roof timber and roof over central section of main block. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

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