The Search for a Site

The poor law commissioners had initially hoped that existing buildings in the areas would be suitable for conversion into workhouses but this was not the case in Milford and there were a number of problems in finding a suitable location for the workhouse. The problem of obtaining a site did not stem from the unwillingness of members of the public to sell or let a portion of their land, it was more to do with legal obstacles, "the difficulty in making a good title, owing to the way in which real property is generally tied up in settlements, or charged with other incumbrances in Ireland" and the lack of good level sites with their own water supply.

A site for Milford Workhouse

Minutes of the board of guardians of Milford Union relating to the search for a site for the workhouse. This extract gives letter stating that it is unlikely that the board of Trinity College will agree to the terms on which Lord Leitrim offered a site for the workhouse.

Copyright of Donegal County Archives. No reproduction without permission.

A site for Milford Workhouse
Copyright of Donegal County Archives. No reproduction without permission.

A site for Milford Workhouse

Minutes of the board of guardians of Milford Union relating to the search for a site for the workhouse. This extract gives letter stating that it is unlikely that the board of Trinity College will agree to the terms on which Lord Leitrim offered a site for the workhouse.

Copyright of Donegal County Archives. No reproduction without permission.

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The problem caused by legal difficulties was clearly seen in Milford, where in December 1841 Mr. Doolan, assistant architect, visited several sites that had been offered to the board of Milford union and decided that the three best were; (1) on the Kilmacrennan Road (2) on Quay Road (3) on the Ramelton Road. For some reason, not stated, none of these sites were chosen and in April 1842 Mr. Otway informed the board of guardians that arrangements had been made to lease a site of six acres from Lord Leitrim at Drumbarn for a rent of £12 per annum. The board were happy to accept this; however the board of Trinity College Dublin (of whom Lord Leitrim was a tenant) refused to agree to the terms. Discussions ensued between the poor law commissioners and the College without agreement and due to the inconvenience that would have arisen from any further delay it was resolved that a new site be looked for and suggested to the poor law commissioners.

The board of guardians appointed a committee from among its members to select a suitable new site. Three new sites were then proposed, a six acre site in Glenkeen belonging to Nathanial Stewart Esq., situated within a mile of the town; and two sites belonging to Babtist Barton Esq., one at Lag a, few perches further from the town than Mr. Stewart's, which could be leased or purchased; and the other in Rubleshenny, occupied by Peter Patterson, half a mile from the town of Milford. Later Barton informed the guardians that his tenants in possession of the proposed sites had objected to giving up possession of them and then offered a site higher up and a little further from the town but the committee decided that this site was unsuitable. The poor law architect agreed with this and the site offered by Mr. Stewart was accepted at the cost of £2 per statute acre and twenty-five years purchase at that rate.

Right : Extract from the minutes of Milford board of guardians, discussing the fact that Trinity College Dublin are unlikely to agree to the terms on which Lord Leitrim offered a site for the workhouse. (BG/119/1/1, 13 June 1842)

Below:

Extract from the above meeting in which other possible sites for the workhouse in Milford are proposed. (BG/119/1/1, 13 June 1842)

Map of Milford in 1905, showing the location of the workhouse in relation to the town. (The workhouse is visible in the bottom righthand corner of the image).

Click here for a transcribed version of these images.