A newly unveiled plaque at Watford General Hospital honours the lives of the inhabitants of the Watford Union Workhouse which was located on the hospital site.
The plaque was made possible by a donation from patient Mrs J Ellis and today’s ceremony was attended by her son, Simon Ellis along with representatives from the Trust including Toby Hyde, Chief Strategy Officer and Alison Rosen, CEO, West Herts Hospitals Charity.
Located by the wall which once surrounded the exercise yard used by male inmates, the plaque refers to engraved bricks in the courtyard which are marked with the names and dates of death of some of the workhouse’s residents. West Watford History Group have matched these names to the Workhouse death and census records and have a Book of Remembrance held in their archives.
Other bricks in the courtyard are engraved with graffiti including one of a horse and a train.
The plaque reads: ‘In memory of the inhabitants of the Watford Union Workhouse which was located here from 1838 to 1930. The bricks in the courtyard are engraved with the names and year of death of some of the residents. This memorial plaque was kindly funded by Mrs. J Ellis and West Herts Hospitals Charity in 2026.’
Mrs Ellis a long-standing patient of the hospital, and it was her interest in local history that led to her wanting to commemorate the workhouse and its inhabitants, which has resulted in the plaque. She hopes that drawing attention to this important memorial will be of interest to Watford residents.
Toby Hyde, Chief Strategy Officer said “The memorial plaque reflects a shared commitment to remembering the people who lived and died in the Watford Union Workhouse and we are grateful for Mrs Ellis’ kind donation.”
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History of Watford Union Workhouse
- Spring 1837 - construction of the building began.
- January 1838 – first date of occupation. Paupers from Aldenham’s workhouse were moved to Watford. They were joined by paupers from Watford’s old Parish Workhouse at the end of January.
- 1930 – The Board of Guardians, who ran the Watford Workhouse, was replaced by Herts County Council. The Workhouse was renamed Shrodells Public Assistance Institution at this time. Care of the elderly, infirm, needy or destitute continued in a similar fashion.
- 1948 - Shrodells became Watford General Hospital with the birth of the NHS.