Ingrebourne Cottages, RM14
Ingrebourne Cottages - the former Upminster workhouse - with Ivy House on the right (c. 1910)

In 1835 major changes to the poor laws came into effect which saw Upminster was grouped with many other neighbouring parishes to form the Romford Poor Law Union, and a new workhouse for the whole area was built at Oldchurch Road, Romford. The redundant Upminster parish workhouse was sold for �£356 to George Rowe (1794-1859), a local shoemaker.

Rowe converted the property into six terraced timber-framed cottages under a single tiled roof.

These still remain today, (Numbers 23-33 St Mary’s Lane).

Credit: User unknown/public domain
Ingrebourne Cottages on the north side of St Mary’s Road was the site of the local workhouse.

Ingrebourne Cottages are numbers 23-33 St Mary’s Lane.

Upminster Parish Workhouse was built in 1749/1750 by builders Edward Sumpner and John Badger. The workhouse was soon too small, and in 1786 it was extended east onto land granted by the Manor of Upminster Hall.

In 1835, Upminster was grouped with many other neighbouring parishes to form the Romford Poor Law Union. A new workhouse for the area was then built at Oldchurch Road, Romford.

The redundant Upminster parish workhouse was sold for £356 to local shoemaker George Rowe. Rowe converted the property into six terraced timber-framed cottages under a single tiled roof.

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