Problems with Contractors

Once the location of the workhouse had been decided, building could begin. The building of the workhouses was perhaps the most contentious issue faced by the boards and the Donegal boards were no exception to this. Many disagreements occurred between the boards of guardians and the poor law commissioners, the boards and the contractors. In Milford union problems occurred in relation to the dampness of the workhouse and disagreements with the clerk of works, Mr. Duggan.

State of the workhouse, Minutes (a)

Letter quoted in minutes of Milford board of guardians from George Wilkinson, Poor Law Architect. Letter deals with the condition of the workhouse building and Wilkinson states that only plaster and dash could stop the damp. He believed the cost of the plaster would be no more than £100.

Copyright of Donegal County Archives. No reproduction without permission

State of the workhouse, Minutes (a)
Copyright of Donegal County Archives. No reproduction without permission

State of the workhouse, Minutes (a)

Letter quoted in minutes of Milford board of guardians from George Wilkinson, Poor Law Architect. Letter deals with the condition of the workhouse building and Wilkinson states that only plaster and dash could stop the damp. He believed the cost of the plaster would be no more than £100.

Copyright of Donegal County Archives. No reproduction without permission

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Duggan was frequently absent from the workhouse site and on many occasions had neglected to make the inspections that he was required to carry out. The board informed Mr. Senior, the assistant commissioner, of this and he lodged a complaint against Duggan with the poor law commissioners. Duggan was called before the commissioners and interviewed but no action was taken against him. This angered the guardians of the union but when they requested an explanation, the commissioners informed them that to remove Duggan and appoint a new clerk of works at so late a stage in the building of the workhouse would have been too costly as travelling expenses would have to be paid to him. The commissioners felt that this was unnecessary as Duggan would only be required for a few more weeks by which time the building would be completed.

Milford workhouse was declared fit for the reception of the destitute poor on 24 December 1845 but it remained closed until Monday, 6 April 1846. The delay was caused by the board's refusal to take control of the workhouse until the poor law architect or one of his assistants inspected it to decide whether or not the drip coming through the walls and ceiling would affect the admission of paupers and if steps should be taken to make the contractor remedy the situation.

Wilkinson replied in February, stating that due to the exposed nature of the site the only remedy would be to plaster and dash all the external walls. He reminded the board that he had warned them at an earlier stage of the possibility of dampness if this course was not followed but they had objected as they viewed the dashing as an unnecessary expense. Wilkinson informed them that the cost of plastering would be less than £100 and suggested that they employ a local contractor in the spring. The board agreed with these measures and decided to open the workhouse when the plaster and dash had been completed on 6 April 1846.

The images featured on this page are taken from a letter from George Wilkinson, Architect, Poor Law Commission, outlining his belief that the workhouse needed to be plastered to prevent damp. (BG/119/1/1, 16 February 1846)

Click here for a transcribed version of these images.