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.

Printed drawing showing plan and elevation of timber structure of dormer window, front and side elevations of finished exterior of dormer windows, plans of window above and below transom, half- and full-size details. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevation, section and plan, with notes, for washing trays in laundry. This drawing is from the documents relating to Mallow Workhouse. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed front elevation and section for sliding iron vents in walls. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed drawing for two and three light windows above the ground floor. Inside and outside elevations with full-size details. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevation, section and plan of door, with 'observations'. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevation and plan of door. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevation, section and plans of upper (glazed) and lower (panelled) areas of door, with full-size section of glazing bar in upper area. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevation showing 'Pattern of Gable Boards (to be in one width) for Infirmary Building'. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevations and plans showing 'manner of construction' of 'Privies between Idiots Yards and Men and Women's Yards', 'Privies at rere of the Infirmary buildings', 'Cesspool under Dead House' and 'Cesspools in Boys and Girls Yards'. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed drawing showing plan, plan of roof, section and elevation on one sheet of ventilation turrets over main staircases. Includes whether vane to be made of 'strong copper'. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevations showing 'Pattern for Gable Boards to Entrance Front Building' and 'Pattern for Gable Boards over Windows of Board Room'. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed drawing showing inside elevation, plan and section with full-size hinge detail, for ground floor rear windows to main block. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevation showing 'Pattern for Gable Boards to Wings of the Main Building'. Information on centering is proved with the observation 'The Boards to be all in one width without join'. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed drawing showing plan above and below sills, with section. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Drawing submitted by F.A. Cushing Smith to the town plan for Dublin international competition organised by the Civics Institute of Ireland in 1914. Cushing Smith was the sole US entrant and also one of only two single-person entrants. His address at the time of the competition was the University Club, Urbana, Illinois. To ensure anonymity during the adjudication process his entry was give the designation 'B'. Aside from the winners, the adjudicators were unanimous in giving Honourable Mention to four entries including Cushing Smith's. This drawing includes plans and elevations for various types of housing and a block plan of suburban house arrangements.

Printed section through central section of main block. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

"Drawing shewing general construction of the window frames and cast Iron lights. The Windows which are of different sizes to the one shewn are to have the construction similar, the lights to be calculated for size". Printed drawing with inside and outside elevations of window, plans above and below transom, section and full size details. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

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.

Hand-drawn sections through dining hall/chapel. Castleblayney Union Workhouse is now part of St. Mary's Hospital.

Hand-drawn sections through laundry. Castleblayney Union Workhouse is now part of St. Mary's Hospital.

Hand-drawn sections through dining hall/chapel (GH) and laundry (IK). Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Full-size profile of bricks for string course and label molding over door and windows at front entrance.

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.