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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cheshire => Topic started by: jo1962 on Friday 25 January 08 22:44 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
I've just recieved a death cert for one of my ancestors who died in 1933 at ' The Infirmary, Bexton Road, Knutsford'. The informant of the death was the 'Acting Chief Resident Officer, The Institution Knutsford'.
I'm not very familiar with Knutsford, what I do know is there use to be a prison there. does anybody know when the prison closed? Did it become a hospital? I'm a bit confused because my ancestor came from a large family and I'm wondering why one of them didn't register the death? The word 'institution' makes me wonder if this was a hospital?
Any help very much appreciated :)
Jo
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1729 Workhouse was built Lloyd St Knutsford
1870 former workhouse building was replaced with new building on Bexton Rd
WW1 building used as a Military Hospital
1930 Cheshire C C took it over and it became Bucklow Instituiton
later it became Cranford Lodge Hospital
for information and pics
just Google Altrincham Poor law Union & Workhouse
(sorry deleted link as it seems to take you to someone's family history page)
Suz
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Hi Jo
Cranford Lodge Hospital Bexton Road, Knutsford is a really nice old building. I had my daughter there in 1968. As well as being a maternity hospital part of it was also a hospital for aged people.
Kind regards
Su
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Thankyou both for your replies.
Regards Jo :)
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Hello Jo,
In the book 'Troubled Times' Macclesfield 1790 - 1870 (Keith Austin) ISBN 1-897949-71-5 , there are a number of references to Knutsford House of Correction.
regards
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Hi Jo
Have just been to Chester Archives looking up my ancestor Frank Eastwood, Master of Knutsford Workhouse 1915 - 1932. It was variously known as Knutsford Workhouse or The Institution and also Bucklow Institution. They had the Masters Log Book for the 1920's including all the names of all residents their behaviour and misdemeanors etc. Can look in the log again if needed if the date fits.
Cheers
David
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Hi David,
The person who died was Peter Singleton; he was from the Ashton on Mersey area so I'm not sure why he ended up in Knutsford. I would be very grateful for any help you can give.
Many thanks
Jo
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Hello
This may be a complete red herring.
I was born in Ashton on Mersey (1949) and my birth certificate was issued by Bucklow RDC (Rural District Council). Bucklow is a lot closer to Knutsford than Ashton on Mersey. The RDC was disbanded in the 70s but if you google it the RDC Town Hall was in Bexton Lane, Knutsford.
I have no idea what a RDC did but maybe if you fell on hard times anywhere in the RDC you would be sent to their institution.
As I said, may be a red herring.
Regards
Suds
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RDC = Rural District Council (as opposed to UDC or Urban District Council)
They were the lowest rung of bureaucracy and had limited local powers - one of which would be running the Workhouse for the area
By the 1930's the Workhouse would have been renamed into a more friendlier-sounding institution but it would still be the Council-run Old People's Home
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Good morning, we moved to knutsford from Salford in 1960,I was 3, my middle sister was born in cranford lodge in the mid 60s, I loved growing up as a kid in knutsgors and I still go back there for work and social visits, its a great place, there was also an army barracks in knutsford at Parkgate
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In case anyone’s interested/doesn’t know, the references to “Cranford” stem from Elizabeth Gaskell’s book and subsequent television series “Cranford” which was based on the town of Knutsford. What’s left of the prison is opposite the station.
Most of my rellies came from Mobberley just down the road.
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My sister was born in cranford lodge but I can't remember much about it, anybody who has the chance should visit knutsford, its a beautiful place
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Hi - anyone wants to know anything about Knutsford, maybe I can help. :)
In relation to previous questions
1: Knutsford Workhouse became Cranford Lodge Hospital and is now a clinic
2: Knutsford Prison built around 1820, housed over 500 convicts (men, women and juveniles), demolished in the mid 1930s. Later known as Stanley Park with tennis courts, then a bus station, now the site of Booth's supermarket. In 1916 it housed over 500 Irish prisoners following the Easter Uprising in Dublin, and, around the same time, a number of WW1 Conscientious Objectors. It took over as Cheshire's execution place in the late 19th century from Chester, and several murderers were hanged there.
3: Knutsford's original police station was opposite the workhouse in Bexton Road.
4: Knutsford Sessions House, fronting the prison, was built in 1820 and had two courtooms for Cheshire Quarter Sessions sittings, one of which was also used for the Knutsford Magistrates Court. It is now a restaurant/hotel.
If anyone is interested in Knutsford, I can supply more detail and a list of recommended reading.