Leigh, Lancashire Poor Law Union

History
Early cottage style workhouses operated at Culcheth, Atherton, Pennington, Tydesley and Lowton.

The Leigh Poor Law Union was formed on 15th February 1837

The following constituent parishes formed the union: Astley, Lancashire Atherton, Lancashire Bedford Leigh, Lancashire Golborne, Lancashire from 1850 Leigh, Lancashire Lowton, Lancashire Tydesley cum Shakerley, Lancashire Westleigh St Paul, Lancashire Additional parishes were added -, Newchurch Kenyon (from 1845).

In its early years, the Leigh Union continued to use existing local workhouses at Culcheth and Lowton. A new union workhouse was eventually erected in Leigh on a site at the east side of Leigh Road in 1850-1 at a cost of £8,000. It was later described as a "fine gothic building" and accommodating 400 inmates.

In 1885 an infirmary for 122 beds was added and other additions were made. The 1948 National Health Act brought the buildings into life as Atherleigh Hospital. When this closed the site was redeveloped to form local housing.

Records
Wigan Archive Service, Town Hall, Leigh WN7 2DY. Relatively few records survive — holdings include: Guardians' minutes (1837-1930); Asylum reception orders (1879-1940); etc.

Web Sites
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Leigh/Leigh.shtml for maps and images of the Union workhouse