Chorley Poor Law Union, Lancashire

History
There are descriptions of early workhouses at Brindle (60) and within Chorley (from circa 1788) itself on the east side of Eaves Lane. Chorley also had used places at Westhoughton and Hoghton and Leyland. The Chorley Poor Law Union was formed on 26th January 1837 and began to close the older sites, but was criticized for it’s provision by the inspections of the Poor law commission.

In 1870-2, a new Union workhouse for 320 inmates was erected on Eaves Lane at a cost of £25,000. It was designed by JJ Bradshaw. The site later became Eaves Lane Hospital (Psychiatric) but was demolished and private housing now occupies the site.

Constituent parishes within the Union: Adlington, Lancashire, Anderton, Anglezark, Brindle, Lancashire, Charnock Heath, Charnock Richard, Chorley Chorley St Laurence, Lancashire ,  Chorley St George, Lancashire, Chorley St Peter, Lancashire ,Clayton-le-Woods, Coppul Coppull, Lancashire,  Croston, Lancashire, Cuerden, Duxbury,  Eccleston, Lancashire,  Euxton, Lancashire,  Heapey, Lancashire, Heskin,  Hoghton, Lancashire, Leyland, Lancashire, Mawdesley Mawdesley with Bispham, Lancashire,  Rivington, Lancashire, Ulves Walton, Welsh Whittle, Wheelton, Whittle le Woods, Lancashire, Withnell Withnell, Lancashire. Later Addition: Bretherton, Lancashire.

Records
• Lancashire Record Office, Bow Lane, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2RE. Holdings include: Board of Guardians' minutes (1861-2, 1901-30; Admissions and discharges (1926-52); Lists of paupers (1899-1900); Punishment records (1872-1948); Register of mechanical restraint (1901-48); etc.

Websites
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Chorley/Chorley.shtml Peter Higginbotham website includes history, maps of the Union sites.