What
The Spike Heritage and Community Centre is on the site of the Guildford Union Workhouse, which was established in 1838.
“The site continued to grow for more than 100 years and evolved into St Luke’s Hospital, one of the town’s two main NHS hospitals,” says John Redpath, chairman of the Charlotteville Jubilee Trust, which runs the centre.
The Spike is in an Edwardian ward that was built in 1906 as a night hostel for homeless people and casual workers. “Authors George Orwell and Jack London both graphically describe nights of cold comfort they spent in such places,” says Redpath.
Opened
2007.
Collection
“We are very much a heritage centre rather than a museum, but the building itself is a treasure, with its unique stone-breaking cells and imposing cellular casual ward,” Redpath says.
“We continue to build our collection of practical artefacts such as workhouse pennies and threepences, 19th-century stone-breaking goggles, workhouse-issue boots and a stoneware bath.”
Help at hand
About 40-50 volunteers. There is one part-time employee working on a project about the hospital, an initiative that is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Highlights
“We have a pair of spittoons that we found at the Spike when we cleared it out for refurbishment and, as such, are our only truly inherited possession,” says Redpath.
“They are a reminder of how wretched life was over 100 years ago with filthy air, filthy work and poor living standards taking their toll on the health of the working classes.”
Budget
Income comes from the community centre, heritage centre and rental fees. The trust has raised £1.6m to refurbish the building with nearly £1.2m of this coming from the HLF. Adult admission charge is £4.50.
Visitors
4,500 a year. The centre is popular for schools studying Victorian history.
Sticky moment
“10 February 2009 was a very cold winter’s day and the Duke of Kent was visiting,” says Redpath. “Arriving early to meet the Royal Protection Squad officer, it was alarming to see two British Gas workmen digging up the road right outside the entrance gate. Even a flash of the shoulder holster from the officer didn’t stop their enthusiasm to dig up the road.
"Ten minutes later, the hammering stopped, expletives were heard and a very strong smell of gas hung in the air. Our gas had to be disconnected, resulting in the entire royal visit being carried out without heating. Wrapped in a cashmere coat, the duke took these real workhouse conditions in good spirit.”
Survival tip
“Don’t relax for a moment in maintaining and improving what you offer, plan for all eventualities and never let the dust settle,” says Redpath.
Future plans
“The Hospital Project exhibition will open on 17 March. It will tell the story of St Luke’s Hospital from its roots in the workhouse infirmary, its life as Guildford War Hospital in the first world war, the deprivations of the 20s and 30s and the huge expansion during the second world war,” says Redpath.
“The narrative of this permanent exhibition is one typical of the hundreds of NHS hospitals that emerged out of the nation’s workhouses.”
www.hospitalproject.co.uk
The Spike Heritage and Community Centre is on the site of the Guildford Union Workhouse, which was established in 1838.
“The site continued to grow for more than 100 years and evolved into St Luke’s Hospital, one of the town’s two main NHS hospitals,” says John Redpath, chairman of the Charlotteville Jubilee Trust, which runs the centre.
The Spike is in an Edwardian ward that was built in 1906 as a night hostel for homeless people and casual workers. “Authors George Orwell and Jack London both graphically describe nights of cold comfort they spent in such places,” says Redpath.
Opened
2007.
Collection
“We are very much a heritage centre rather than a museum, but the building itself is a treasure, with its unique stone-breaking cells and imposing cellular casual ward,” Redpath says.
“We continue to build our collection of practical artefacts such as workhouse pennies and threepences, 19th-century stone-breaking goggles, workhouse-issue boots and a stoneware bath.”
Help at hand
About 40-50 volunteers. There is one part-time employee working on a project about the hospital, an initiative that is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Highlights
“We have a pair of spittoons that we found at the Spike when we cleared it out for refurbishment and, as such, are our only truly inherited possession,” says Redpath.
“They are a reminder of how wretched life was over 100 years ago with filthy air, filthy work and poor living standards taking their toll on the health of the working classes.”
Budget
Income comes from the community centre, heritage centre and rental fees. The trust has raised £1.6m to refurbish the building with nearly £1.2m of this coming from the HLF. Adult admission charge is £4.50.
Visitors
4,500 a year. The centre is popular for schools studying Victorian history.
Sticky moment
“10 February 2009 was a very cold winter’s day and the Duke of Kent was visiting,” says Redpath. “Arriving early to meet the Royal Protection Squad officer, it was alarming to see two British Gas workmen digging up the road right outside the entrance gate. Even a flash of the shoulder holster from the officer didn’t stop their enthusiasm to dig up the road.
"Ten minutes later, the hammering stopped, expletives were heard and a very strong smell of gas hung in the air. Our gas had to be disconnected, resulting in the entire royal visit being carried out without heating. Wrapped in a cashmere coat, the duke took these real workhouse conditions in good spirit.”
Survival tip
“Don’t relax for a moment in maintaining and improving what you offer, plan for all eventualities and never let the dust settle,” says Redpath.
Future plans
“The Hospital Project exhibition will open on 17 March. It will tell the story of St Luke’s Hospital from its roots in the workhouse infirmary, its life as Guildford War Hospital in the first world war, the deprivations of the 20s and 30s and the huge expansion during the second world war,” says Redpath.
“The narrative of this permanent exhibition is one typical of the hundreds of NHS hospitals that emerged out of the nation’s workhouses.”
www.hospitalproject.co.uk