Caistor History
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History of the Caistor Workhouse courtesy of Roy Scofield at caistor.net
Acknowledgement is made to Rex Russell, Alan Frankish and Pat Frankish for their contributions to this document without whom it would probably never have been written. Rex Russell contibuted to the period 1802-1937, Alan Frankish contributed to the period 1937-1973 and his daughter Pat Frankish completed the document for the period 1973-1990. Issued in 1993 by Caistor Ltd. and reproduced here in it's entirety by the kind permission of Mr Alan Frankish (11th Jan 2000).
"This Asylum, which may properly be termed a School of Industry and Charity, will be found on due inquiry (Situation and Circumstances considered) inferior to few in the Kingdom; for restoring, to the unclean Poor, Cleanliness; to the drunken Poor, Sobriety; to the idle Poor, Industry; to the wicked Poor, Piety; and for giving to the ignorant Poor, instructions". In these proud terms, William Dixon proclaimed his faith in the institution which he had founded in the newly erected House of Industry. This forms the core of the complex of buildings which were until 1990, Caistor Hospital. His enthusiastic words appear in the Abstract of Returns relative to the expense and Maintenance of the Poor, published in 1803. For the whole of this long period, the House of Industry (1802-1836) and its successors on its site, first the Caistor Union Workhouse (1836-1937) and next the Caistor Hospital (1938-1990) had existed to provide care and attention for the poor, the temporarily unemployed, and the sick, from many parishes in North Lindsey. This chapter describes briefly, the aims and outlines the history of the successive institutions which have occupied the site and benefited from the charity and foresight of the founder of Caistor House of Industry, William Dixon of Holton-le-Moor.
These buildings were erected by The Society of Industry, established at Caistor under the leadership of William Dixon in 1800, "… for the Better Relief and Employment of the Poor, and to Save the Parish Money" . The Society described its objects as follows: "The object of the SOCIETY …. is, by constitutional means, to better the condition of the poor, by properly training up the children and adults to more settled habits of industry, economy, and piety; liberally to provide for the aged and impotent; truly to alleviate the heavy burdens on parishes; humbly to solicit the aims of charitable … persons, and prudently to appropriate them to the most profitable purposes; as a means of making mankind more contented and happy". One step towards the achievement of these laudable aims was the building of the House of Industry and its beginnings were described succinctly in the 1803 Abstract of Returns … already mentioned. "The Parish of Caistor is now united with … about Twenty other Parishes, in erecting a House of Industry, under Mr Gilbert’s Act, upon Nine Acres of Land, on Caistor Common Moor, given to the Union by the Lord of the Manor and by the Freeholders of Caistor. The united Parishes have already raised upwards of £2,500 towards erecting and furnishing the said House and Offices, and purchasing Utensils and Materials for employing the Poor. Although the Offices are not completed (1803), the House began to be occupied by a few, in May and June 1802, as it was judged more expedient to take a few at a time, that proper Rules, Orders and Instructions, might be more effectually inculcated amongst them. There are at present, Twenty-four Adults, and about Eighteen Children, from Five to Twelve years of Age, in the House. The Children begin to spin woollen yarn very well, and younger ones are taught to knit. The old are employed in such work as they are able to perform. The Guardians of the Poor are divided into Four Committees; the Five Guardians are appointed to attend the Visitor every Saturday, to enquire whether the Rules, Orders and Regulations, are properly observed and enforced by the Governor and Matron. Great attention appears to be paid to the Morals of the Poor in this House;..." When the House of Industry was first built and for at least a decade afterwards, it stood alone on Caistor Moor, well away from the town of Caistor. The Moor itself covered 2,132 acres of low-lying land of poor quality below the wold edge; it was an extensive area of rough permanent pasture shared by seven parishes which bordered on its bounds – Caistor, North and South Kelsey, Clixby, Grasby, Searby and Owmby. Not until after the enclosure of the Moor was completed in 1814 did other buildings, widely dispersed small farmsteads, end the complete isolation of the House of Industry; not until 1814 were adequate roads built across the Moor. In this isolation the purposes for which the Institution existed were pursued. What had been achieved by 1820 was summarised vividly in Reports of the Several Institutions of the SOCIETY OF INDUSTRY…, printed and sold by Caistor printer, J Whitham in 1821. The House of Industry itself was but one of several means adopted by the Society "…as a means of making mankind more contented and happy". Sunday Schools had been started and were flourishing; a Friendly Society "for the mutual support of its members in sickness and old age" , had been instituted. A savings bank had been established as had schools for teaching psalmody; adult education had been attempted, but (in the words of the Report) "...yet verily much remains to be done; …" Here we are concerned only with the House of Industry but it is important to remember that the work of the Society of Industry was not confined to the isolated House on the Moor. Of the House, the 1821 reports state: "… a House of Industry has been erected, for the reception and accommodation of such parish paupers as are lame, old, blind, poor, or unable to work and keep themselves clean from filth, dirt etc and a convenient stock of wool, yarn, flax, thread etc is provided, with proper machinery, and persons competent for setting to work the children of all such within the respective parishes, as shall not be thought able to keep and maintain them; and also for setting to work all such persons, married or unmarried, having no means to maintain themselves, and using no trade to get their living by". By 1814 there were fifty-one parishes, spread widely over North Lincolnshire from Aylesby and Laceby in the east to West Rasen and Lissington in the west, united with the Society of Industry. Those parishes were:
Each individual parish was legally responsible for the relief of its own poor; the parish government in each parish (the Vestry) shouldered this responsibility and its decisions as regards the maintenance, relief, employment and welfare of its poor, sick and aged parishioners were implemented by annually elected officers, the Overseers of the Poor. It was the contention of the Society of Industry that these duties and obligations could be carried out both more efficiently and with greater financial economy if parishes united, in its own words "… for the Better Relief and Employment of the Poor, and to Save the Parish Money". Those adult paupers sent to the House of Industry by the united parishes were maintained within the House at the expense of each individual parish. "As soon as the agreement is made for uniting several parishes, the Guardians shall meet and consider what will be a proper weekly sum to be paid … for every person admitted into the Poor House … the probably expense of maintaining them…" In 1814 the weekly cost of maintaining a pauper in the House was three shillings. The inmates of the House worked; a proportion of the value of their earnings was paid to the parish from which the pauper had been admitted. The intention of the Society was to reform each pauper through regulated and supervised work and general care within the House; the hope was that a reformed pauper would cease to be a pauper, cease to be a financial burden on the parish. The House then, was to reform the paupers; its aim was to transform paupers into self-reliant employees. The other agencies set up by the Society of Industry were intended to diminish the numbers of future potential paupers. The Sunday Schools would train children not be become paupers. "These institutions properly managed are found to be the most effectual methods of cultivating the understandings of the Poor – of sowing the seeds of Religion early in their hearts - and cherishing a spirit of industry, economy and piety…". The instructions to teachers were unmistakably clear. They were to "… form the character of the children, so that they may rise into life an industrious, orderly and sober race". The Reports pointed out that "Much of the peace, comfort, and safety of the community, depend upon the character and habits of the poor"; The Sunday School teachers were exhorted to care for the children under their charge thus: "To tame the ferocity of their unsubdued passions – to repress the excessive rudeness of their manners – to chasten the disgusting and demoralising obscenity of their language – to subdue the stubborn rebellion of their wills – to render them honest, obedient, courteous, industrious, submissive, and orderly… it should be your ceaseless effort to reform the vices, to heal the disorders, and exalt the whole character of the lower classes of society…" The Friendly Societies, together with adult education, would lead members into self-reliance and mutual support, away from any future reliance on the parish. Before 1816 it had become clear that the financial bases of the House were insecure. The Guardians set up a Committee of four – the Reverends Samual Turner, George Holiwell and Rowlead Bowstead, together with William Dixon – to examine the expenditure and to recommend economies. This committee issued its printed report (dated 24 June 1816) promptly. They urged that parishes who sent paupers to the house should pay 3s 6d weekly for each of them; they wanted greater economy in the use of coal and soap; they were sure that too great a proportion of the paupers’ earnings from work in the House had been paid to the parishes, that this must be reduced. They found too that the Society was greatly in debt to William Dixon and two others. "…The fact is that ... William Dixon Esquire, the Visitor, has during the course of the last sixteen years, advanced considerable sums of money, in establishing the Institution, erecting various Buildings, and to make good the deficiencies arising on the victualling and establishment Accounts, and in consequence thereof, there is now a large debt due to him and others".
The Committee were convinced that there had been no great mismanagement of the House. "We are also of opinion that since the commencement of the Institution, there has bot been in the internal management of the House, that inconsiderate profusion, or other gross abuses, which some have imagined". All could be expected to progress satisfactorily if the Guardians fulfilled their duties conscientiously. "… And in order that the Guardians may be enabled to judge of the benefit resulting to their respective parishes, we recommend a much more regular attendance from them, that they may inspect the internal management of the House, and that it may be subjected to a much stricter examination of the part of the Guardians, than for many years past it had undergone…" For a further twenty years after this Committee’s report the House of Industry continued in operation. Public notices in the county newspaper, the Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, together with occasional reports and letters in this same source provide glimses of the management of the house. When the large and valuable Dixon papers recently deposited in the Lincolnshire Archives Offices have been worked upon in detail (and in all interested in this topic look forward to the results of Mr Richard Olney's work on these sources) a full picture of the History of the Caistor House of Industry will be presented. Here we can but quote from a few sources to indicate both some aspects of the work of the House and some criticisms of its management. In December 1816, the House advertised in the county newspaper as follows: " WANTED, at Easter 1817, a person to undertake the Management of the Poor in the … House of Industry, from Easter, 1817, to Easter, 1818. The person applying … must produce a character as to his steadiness and sobriety. He must also understand Manufacturing business, and he will be required to find a competent surety for the due performance of his contract ..." (Stamford Mercury, 20.11.1816). A second notice in the Mercury (17.1.1817) called a meeting of the Guardians for the 10 February … " for the purpose of receiving proposals (in writing) sealed up, from any person or persons, who will enter into contract for the Management of the Poor in the said House of Industry… (and) to enter into an agreement with such person…". Another such public notice, issued six years earlier, reveals one limitation to the Christian benevolence and charity of the then Guardians. This notice (Stamford Mercury, 8.3.1811) reads in full: HOUSE OF INDUSTRY, CAISTOR To the United Parishes, We, the Guardians and Committee this day present, having taken into consideration what persons may be sent into the House, are clearly of the opinion that women illegitimately pregnant are not included in section XXIX of the Act 22d. George the 3d, Chap 83d; we do therefore order, that no women in a state of unlawful pregnancy shall in future be admitted. And we do further order, that the above resolution be inserted once in the Stamford Mercury. Saml Turner Chris Dinsdale J H Swan J Ferraby Robt Peacock Twelve years before the House of Industry was taken over by the newly-established Board of Guardians of the Caistor Poor Law Union, the founder of the Society of Industry died. William Dixon’s death was reported in the Stamford Mercury: "… He was universally respected by all who knew him, and a great part of his life was spent in bettering the condition of the labouring classes", (Mercury 17.12.1824). His son, James Green Dixon, continues his father’s work. There are hints that the House did not meet the high expectations of its founder, but it would have been miraculous had the House of Industry succeeded in his lofty aim of "making mankind more contented and happy". In September, 1833, the Caistor Vestry resolved "that as soon as the Managers of the House of Industry shall have put that House on a better footing which they trust will be done before next Easter, the Parish will give no relief except in the House of Industry". This resolution contains implied criticism of the House. Another form of criticism of the House was that expressed in direct action by a few of the inmates. One such pauper was Joseph Cammock.. He expressed his disapproval by absconding from the House. We know of this since the guardian of the poor for Cammock’s parish (Bishop Norton) put this notice in the Stamford Mercury dated 20.5.1836. "ABSCONDED from the House of Industry at Caistor, on the 2 May instant, JOSEPH CAMMOCK, a pauper, leaving his wife and family chargeable to the parish of Bishop Norton. He is 34 years of age, very much pock-marked, with light hair, rather stout made, and stands about 5 feet 6 inches high; had on a long smock and fustian frock, and a pair of moderate cord small-clothes. Whoever will give information of the said Joseph Cammock to the Guardian of the Poor of Bishop Norton so that he may be apprehended, or lodge him in any of his Majesty’s gaols, shall receive a reward of One Guinea, and every other reasonable expense, from the Guardian of the Poor of the parish of Bishop Norton". More serious criticism of the management of the House, in one aspect of their management, came from Sir Culling Eardley Smith. Sir Culling was owner of much of Nettleton Parish, an active reforming Whig concerned with the condition of the poor in the Caistor area; his main estate was in Hertfordshire, he became Chairman of the Board of Guardians of the Hereford Union and was instrumental in helping to persuade the Guardians of the Caistor House of Industry to dissolve their old corporation in order that Caistor might become the centre of the Caistor Poor Law Union at the close of 1836. The issue of the Stamford Mercury dated 23.10.1835 printed a long letter which Sir Culling had sent to the Caistor solicitors, Marris & Smith, together with a letter from Edwin Chadwick, Secretary to the Poor Law Commission, to Sir Culling. In his letter, Sir Culling Eardley Smith expressed criticism of the treatment of lunatic paupers in the Caistor House of Industry: he was supported by Edwin Chadwick. Space forbids the quotation of more than a part of Sir Culling’s letter. (The Stamford Mercury, 13.11.1835, printed also J G Dixon’s reply to Sir Culling, together with copies of two letters from Edwin Chadwick to James Green Dixon). Sir Culling writes "As a Magistrate residing close to the workhouse": his criticism was as follows: "I have more than once visited the Asylum. It contains three female Lunatics, confined in separate cells on the ground. The Master of the House of Industry, with I believe a conscientious desire to do his duty both to the Lunatics and the other Paupers, has no experience in the best system of management of the former unfortunate class. Gentleness with firmness, without either violence or menace, are the characteristics of this system. It is inconsistent with this system to coerce Lunatics by threatening to strike them: but this I have seen done in the Caistor Asylum. One of the women has, or had, an iron collar round her neck, to which was fastened a chain, the other end being attached to the bedstead; and thus tethered, she could just reach the door of the diminutive yard… between her cell and the outer wall of the Asylum. Another of these poor creatures has been so long confined to her bed that some of her joints are contracted and powerless; this has happened since she came to the House: but her powers, though paralysed in one direction are in full exercise in another, for with her teeth and hands she tears her clothes to pieces, and each time I have seen her she has been absolutely naked… I appeal then, to the humanity of the Board whether this state of things should continue. These poor creatures, who cannot protect themselves, have the more need of the protection and commiseration of others. Their situation, and that of others who may require admission, cannot be improved without a considerable alteration of the building, the erection of a spacious yard, the regular attendance of a Medical Man versed in this peculiar branch of disease, and the appointment of a keeper accustomed to the care of mad persons. And how much more simple a course than this would it be to remove these persons to a proper Lunatic Asylum, instead of endeavouring to save a few shillings a week by keeping them where they are… …I trust the Board will believe that I make this appeal to them influenced alone by a strong sense of duty…". At this date the Board had only a little more than a year’s continued existence ahead of them. Before dealing with the end of the Board’s life and with the close of the first period in the history of these premises of the Society of Industry, it is pleasing to be able to quote from one report of festivity at the House. Once again this report is from the Stamford Mercury (10.7.1835). "Caistor House of Industry… At this very excellent and well-regulated establishment on Tuesday last… according to annual custom, a liberal supply of plum pudding, roast beef and beef-steak pies, and afterwards cakes and tea, provided by Mr Robert Whitham (the Master of the House), and of the very best quality, were partaken of by every poor inmate of the House. "At 2 o’clock, upwards of 40 persons of both sexes, neatly attired, arranged themselves in the most orderly manner at the table in the large dining room, when the smoking viands being placed thereon, after ‘grace before meat’ every guest immediately served by proper assistants… and the intended comfort of all was thereby insured … the partakers of all the good things appeared to receive them with uncommon satisfaction and thankful hearts. "At the welcome repast of tea, they became seated as at dinner, and many persons from Caistor attended to view the interesting spectacle; some… visited the apartments of the whole house, and their report was confirmatory of the proverbial cleanliness and neat state there of under the good management of the Master and Mistress, through whose humane attention comfort is secured to every individual…. "The Caistor amateur band of music marched down to the House about 5 o’clock, preceded by two banners and playing such merry tunes as gladdened the hearts of the whole party. They afterwards seated themselves in the dining room, and performed in grand style several popular airs, during which the poor inmates caught the inspiring strains, and danced in a way that communicated their own happiness to the visiting party …" In 1834 the ‘New’ Poor Law had been passed. The Poor Law Commissioners quickly began their task of reorganisation, grouping parishes compulsorily together into Poor Law Unions. In 1835 Assistant Commissioners commenced reorganisation in Lincolnshire, starting at Stamford. To Mr Edward Gulson fell the duty of attempting to persuade the guardians of the House of Industry at Caistor to dissolve their old ‘union’ so that Caistor could become the head of one of the new Unions (see J A H Brocklebank: The New Poor Law in Lincolnshire… in the Lincolnshire Historian, Vol 2, No 9 1962). Gulson came to Caistor on 2 August 1836; here, at a meeting at the Red Lion Inn, which was attended by the Visitor (James Green Dixon) and Guardians of the Caistor Incorporation, together with a large body of Magistrates, Clergy, Gentry and Landed Proprietors, this Assistant Poor-Law Commissioner (helped by Sir Culling Eardley Smith) persuaded the guardians to dissolve the incorporation. The Stamford Mercury (19.8.1836) reported this meeting at length. "Mr Gulson… he was anxious to bear full testimony to the exertions of those by whose care and influence the Caistor Incorporation had hitherto been the means of preventing the growth of evils, the extent of which in other parts of the country had rendered it necessary to frame the Poor Law Amendment Act… the practice of the Guardians in the incorporated parishes plainly indicated that they were agreed in the wisdom of enforcing it". Gulson stressed the fact that, at Caistor, the guardians had in several respects anticipated the provisions of the new Act. "… they had based their proceedings in a great measure upon that one broad principle… that the condition of him who lives upon the exertions of others, should be made somewhat less desirable than that of the independent labourer, who maintains himself and family by his own industry. Hitherto the idle, the dissolute, and the worthless had profited by their bad characters: their very worthlessness had enabled them to live a life of greater ease and comfort, not only than those who had succeeded in keeping off the rate, but he feared … better than some who had contributed to the poor-rate, and consequently to their support… If this had been the case … and who there could deny it? … how necessary it was … how important it became, that they (the Guardians) should adopt that system by which the industrious man might profit by his industry, and the worthless be brought to learn that a bad character should no longer be a passport to a life of ease …". Mr Gulson’s prejudice and ideas were clearly shared by many present. He answered some queries, stilled some doubts, and clinched his case by asserting that there would be financial advantages resulting from the dissolution of the existing union and the operation of the New Union: "… pecuniary, as regarded the pockets of the ratepayers, the balance would be found to preponderate greatly in favour of the New Union". Sir Culling Eardley Smith (speaking as Chairman of the new Union at Hertford) supported Gulson. He "... could bear full testimony to the efficiency of that system in the attainment of a two-fold object – the reduction of the poor’s rate, and the amelioration of the condition of the labouring poor … When it was proved, however, that the adoption of the new system had corrected the habits of the disorderly, at the same time as it afforded protection to the deserving poor, and that in the labouring classes it had generated habits of foresight, economy, and industry,… when the improvement of the moral condition of the large bulk of the people was found to pace with the pecuniary saving of the plan, he was sure that such a system would meet their cordial undivided support". There is a close correspondence between Sir Culling’s views (the improvement of the moral condition of the poor keeping pace with the financial savings of the new plan) and those which the Society of Industry had expressed thirty-six years earlier ( "… for the Better Relief and Employment of the Poor, and to Save to Parish Money"). The chairman, James Green Dixon, stated that Gulson’s plan had his full support, Sir Culling moved a vote of thanks to Mr Dixon"… who with his much lamented father had been the means of instituting a society which had proved so beneficial to the district, and approached so near plan which it was now found necessary to adopt throughout the kingdom". The Mercury report ends: "This vote having passed unanimously, the Guardians present signed their consent for the dissolution of the old incorporation, in order that a new Union might be formed by the Assistant Poor-Law Commissioner". On the 18 December 1836, the Caistor Poor Law Union was officially formed. It embraced 76 parishes; the old incorporation at its death had 52 parishes within it.
There is no attempt here to summarise the history of the Caistor Union. The New Poor Law was, deservedly and by intention, unpopular with the poor and this dislike and fear of the ‘Union’ did not endear the complex of buildings on Caistor Moor to those who lived their lives within the wide jurisdiction of the Board(s) of Guardians. Of the 76 parishes which (before the formation of Grimsby Union) were within the Caistor Union, 45 had belonged to the old incorporation: some former member parishes of the old incorporation now found themselves within other Unions – Cadney, Elsham, Ulceby and Barnetby within Glanford Brigg Union, Wickenby in Lincoln Union and West Torrington within Horncastle Union. The biggest parishes (in terms of population) joined in 1836 to the Caistor Union were Grimsby and Market Rasen. The complacent (and erroneous) accounts of the abuses of the old poor law contracted with the enormous "benefits" brought about by the introduction of the new, which appear repeatedly in the nineteenth century Directories, cannot be accepted at their face value. They reflect the hopes and wishes of the age in which they appeared (and, as such, are useful); they are not acceptable as factual accounts. For example, this passage from White’s Directory of 1842… which is repeated almost verbatim in White’s 1856… is wishful thinking. "The new poor law is said to have raised whole counties from the condition of pauper bondage to that of independent labour, and to have diverted two millions of money per annum from the degrading channel of parish pay to that of wages of labour. The increased wages now paid by the farmers, are compensated by great reduction of the poor rates, and the master and man have now resumed their natural connexion, and their natural feelings of sympathy and interest". A brief and relevant comment must suffice: deliberate incendiarism, stack firing, did NOT cease after the introduction of the new Poor Law. What happened at the complex of buildings on Caistor Moor as a result of the New Poor Law? Much went on as before, Mr Robert Witham who had acted as Master before the change retained his office until after 1856. The pauper children who had received some education in the Old House of Industry (a schoolmaster appears on the establishment at least as early as 1814) continued to get instruction in the House under the New Poor Law. Indeed, it was only pauper children who were compelled to attend school at this time and for decades afterwards. The Guardians of the Caistor Union advertised in the Stamford Mercury for teachers: one such advertisement runs: "Their duties (amongst others prescribed by the Poor Law Commissioners) will be to instruct the Boys and Girls in the House in Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Principles of the Christian Religion, and to impart such other instructions as shall fit them for service, and train them to habits of usefulness, industry and virtue. Salary of the Schoolmaster £25, of the Schoolmistress £15 per annum, with Residence in the House and Rations…" (Mercury, 2.2.1844). These extracts from the reports of Her Majesty’s Inspector, Mr H G Bowyer, on Caistor Workhouse schools are revealing: 1848-49-50 Instruction: "No improvement. Scriptural knowledge very limited. Reading average. Writing average. Arithmetic confined to the first class, and imperfect. Notation much neglected. Unable to write 1004 from Dictation. Geography entirely neglected". Observations: "The boys have here been always employed in the cultivation of the land belonging to the workhouse". 1850-51-52 Instruction: "Improved since last visit…" Observations: "The boys cultivate three acres of land under the direction of the schoolmaster. The girls learn, besides the usual needlework, washing and ironing in a separate laundry, under the … schoolmistress. She is inefficient as a teacher, but a good industrial trainer". 1856-57 "A School of average merit, which has varied very little since I have known it, the boys are employed on the land belonging to the Union, and the girls wash and iron, besides sewing and knitting". (Above reports from the Annual Minutes and Reports of the Committee of Council on Education). The additional area which comprised the new Union necessitated some alterations and enlargements to the House. White’s Directory of 1842 reveals that some alterations had been made by that date, and before 1856 the workhouse could accommodate 260 inmates. This figure appears in White’s 1856 Directory and reappears in the White’s Directories for 1882 and 1892. Kelly’s Directory for 1861 mentions that "detached fever wards" existed by that date: White’s in 1882 records: "New schools, with master’s house attached, were built in 1863-64 at a cost of £350; and a chapel was erected in 1866 at an expense of £340". In fact, the Chapel was built and opened in 1865 for the county newspaper carried these two news items: "A chapel is being erected at Caistor Union-house. Divine service has hitherto been conducted in the dining room, which was considered very unseemly and inconvenient". (Stamford Mercury 12.5.1865).
"The new chapel of ease at Union-house was formally opened for divine worship on the 17 th by the Ven Archdeacon Kaye, who delivered a suitable and impressive discourse. Prayers were read by the Vicar, and the collection for the requisite fittings amounted to about £5.10s, the chapel is a plain substantial structure, erected at the cost of the Union, to seat comfortably 200 persons, and situated between the house and the cemetery. The inmates were treated with tea on the occasion, and the usual indulgences". There was room for 260 inmates before 1856, but did such numbers ever in fact reside in the House? It appears totally unlikely, but no full search of the evidence has been made. Some specimen figures, from the Census Returns of 1851 and 1861, from Kelly’s and White’s Directories, and from the Quarterly Abstracts printed for the Union are as follows:
The population included within the 76 parishes of the Caistor Union at first grew and then declined; decline had set in as people migrated to the towns and emigrated to USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, before the formation of Grimsby Union in 1890, when 25 parishes were withdrawn from the Caistor Union. The following table reveals this rise and decline:
As the total population of the Caistor Union area fell, the number of inmates from Caistor Union itself (as we have seen) declined. There was room in the house for boarders from other Unions and we have noticed such from both Leicester and Grimsby. By 1937 a new function for the complex of buildings on Caistor Moor had been found. Kelly’s Directory of 1937 reports: "The former Institution, now a certified institution for the reception of mental defectives … it had accommodation for 120 patients". A third phase in the history of the Old House of Industry was about to begin.
In May 1937 all the patients were transferred to the Institution at Holbeach (part of the group of Institutions for the Mentally Defective covering the whole of Lincolnshire) to enable major improvements to be carried out - these included the building of a new boiler house, with Steam, Heating and Hot Water Boilers and Plant, installation of Laundry Machinery, modernisation and new equipment in the Kitchen. Central Heating was installed throughout the Institution. In January 1938 the Institution was re-opened, with the Board of Control Certificate allowing 20 male patients under the age of 16, and 110 female patients over the age of 16. The initial intake was by return from Holbeach of female patients and by June 1938 the number in residence was 115. At this time Caistor formed part of the Lincolnshire Joint Board for the Mentally Defectives, with its headquarters and medical staff at Harmston Hall Hospital, with ancillary units at Holbeach and Bourne. The Medical Superintendent was Dr S J Laverty and his progressive, friendly and considerate approach set the pattern for a long period of improving conditions in the lives of all the residents in the various Institutions. For those who were able, employment was found in the various services departments within the Institution, an occupational therapy unit was started and the traditional rug-making, knitting, embroidery, basket making etc were enjoyed by the less able patients. Great strides too were made to find suitable employers in the district to take patients on licence, this being a first step towards eventual discharge. The Institution was subject to annual inspection by the Board of Control Inspectors, who, whilst expressing satisfaction with the running of the unit, were able also to offer suggestions for further improvements. The intervention of the second world war prevented large scale progress, maintenance of the buildings etc was somewhat restricted, but generally life continued in a pleasant manner, in spite of ‘black-out’ procedures, refuge room exercises etc. In 1948 the passing of the National Health Act brought the title of ‘Hospital’ into being and from then on, progress has gradually accelerated. As part of the National Health Service the hospital has enjoyed a period of expansion, both in buildings and particularly in regard to a wider interpretation of ‘care’, treatment and rehabilitation for the residents. The first additional accommodation was provided in 1953 when a 40 bed single storey block was build for low grade male children. In conjunction with this, two pairs of staff houses were built as a means of attracting male staff for the new unit. In 1963 the Sheffield Regional Board provided a recreation hall to fulfil a long felt requirement for patients’ entertainment. It was in constant use for dances, film shows, concerts, visiting, social evenings, shoe fairs, fashion shows etc – probably the most important single addition to affect the ‘community life’ of the patients. From 1960 the amount of finance available from the Regional Board and the Hospital Management Committee enabled extensive upgrading, improvements and additions to be carried out in all areas of the Hospital. Both external and internal decorations were brought up to a bright modern standard, sun verandas were added or enclosed where existing, repairs to fabric and renewal of services provided etc. For the first time since 1937 fifteen adult male patients were admitted in 1966. Apart from other considerations the influence at the patients dances etc was considerable. To relieve overcrowding, and to reduce problems in case of fire, a 30 bed single storey unit was built in 1971, providing light, airy and pleasant accommodation for older, infirm patients. A further similar unit was commissioned during 1974. As a further extension of treatment a physiotherapy pool was installed in 1973 - spastic children were receiving much assistance. A domestic social training unit providing accommodation for rehabilitation training, play therapy, recreation, physiotherapy, for those who may be discharged, or to provide independence for residents came into use in early 1974. Although records show that for many, many years the various organisations in the surrounding district visited the hospital to provide entertainment for the patients, the formation in 1956 of a League of Friends of Caistor Hospital provided a most valuable link with the community. Members provided personal service to the patients by visits, attendance at social functions, transport to churches, Christmas and birthday cards etc. In addition the League acted as a co-ordinating body for the many organisations in the area – entertainments were regularly provided and gifts included colour television sets, record players, tents, umbrella canopies, washing machines, curtains, bird aviary and birds, tennis court surrounds, pictures, recreation hall, stage and stage lighting etc, etc, holidays and outings. We can see that the physical care and accommodation of patients continued to improve. All the buildings were modernised and as comfortable as practically possible. All the residents had their own personal clothing. The more responsible people also had personal lockers, belongings and money. The standard of catering was very good and care was taken to provide appetising menus. All normal facilities for physical care were available to everyone. These included dental treatment and regular visits by the chiropodist and the hairdresser. In addition physiotherapy and psychology services were available regularly. The basic needs were supplied by a team of nurses and domestic workers who between them, ensured that everything ran smoothly and that other services were consulted when necessary. More and more emphasis was put on improving the quality of life for these people. The social training unit played a big part in this venture. The aim was to encourage everyone to think for themselves as much as they were able and where possible to arouse their imagination and curiosity in life as it went on around them. This would enable them to become more active members of the community whether they be discharged or remained within the hospital. In fact, it would seem that the vision, now of life for the mentally subnormal, is very similar to William Dixon’s original vision of life for the poor – "to make mankind more contented and happy". The 1971 Education Act stated that all children were "educable" and saw to the introduction of a school to the Hospital. A teacher and teacher’s assistant were employed and all children under 16 received some education. At about the same time, the Department of Health decided that no child under 7 should be in hospital and there were no more young children admitted for short or long-term care after 1975. Major changes in local government and health authority boundaries occurred over the 1970’s and 1980’s, leading to new alliances. The Care in the Community initiatives, started in the late 1970’s gathered momentum as more evidence became available to demonstrate that hospitals were not necessarily the right place for people with a mental handicap to live out their lives. The population of Caistor Hospital began to reduce as people moved into Social Services hostels in Brigg and Grimsby. 1984 saw a change in the administration of the Hospital, at local and senior level. On the ground, Mr H A Frankish, who had managed the institution throughout 46 years of development and change, retired. At the other level, the management of the Hospital passed from Lincolnshire Health to Grimsby Health, and was immediately designated for closure. A Project Officer was appointed and the process began with negotiations to ensure that the people who were still there were the responsibility of the new County of Humberside or could be "swapped" with people from Lincolnshire. Some people moved to Harmston Hall, also due for closure, and others moved from Harmston to Caistor. Over the next few years people, now described as people with learning disabilities, were resettled to a variety of settings. Negotiations with Humberside Social Services led to the Farnhurst Project, which provided a halfway house to ordinary housing for all people over 50, before taking on a more permanent role as a short-stay unit for people with multiple handicaps and challenging behaviours; the Cleethorpes project, which offered permanent housing for 14 people in 3 houses; a joint project with Mencap for 12 people; a number of projects with the private sector to provide permanent small group homes; and individual packages of care to elderly persons homes or family care. In addition, a new Day Services Resource Centre was built in Cromwell Road, Grimsby, and a Community Support team became established. In the summer of 1990, 190 years from its inception, the doors finally closed and Caistor lost a community, a major employer and the regular sight of people walking up and down to the town. No-one was resettled into Caistor town itself. Text & Picture (C) Roy Scofield caistor.net page updated 06 August 2007 by ROSSBRET Copyright © Rossbret 1999-2008. All rights reserved.
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