Former Workhouse, Yarmouth Road, Heckingham, Norfolk
This building was originally Heckingham House of Industry. It was built in 1765 at a cost of £8,300 and could accommodate 400 inmates. The building included an infirmary and a prison. In 1766, a pest house (isolation block) for 20 inmates was built to treat small pox and infectious diseases. Male inmates at the workhouse were required to cultivate adjoining land whilst women were employed in washing and nursing among other tasks. In 1835 an inspection led to a highly critical report of the workhouse. Major additions and alterations were carried out including the building of new walls for the segregation of inmates. However this caused anger among inmates, which led to riots and part of the workhouse was set on fire. In 1836 a new Loddon and Clavering Poor Law Union was formed, which took over the workhouse. It was renamed the Loddon and Clavering Union Workhouse and major repairs were carried out to the building. In 1927, the workhouse closed and the building was converted into a psychiatric hospital. After 1930, it was renamed Heckingham Institution. After the creation of the National Health Service in 1948, it was renamed Hales Hospital. It closed in around 1990.
