Gilbert Scott’s South Northants Connections

Towcester Workhouse

Towcester Workhouse

Towcester Workhouse

Sir Gilbert Scott is known as the architect of many public buildings, monuments and churches, including the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, Martyrs’ Memorial on St Giles in Oxford and the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras Station in London.

However, he also designed over 40 workhouses, including two in South Northamptonshire, at Brackley and Towcester.

Brackley Workhouse was built in the south west of the town in 1836/7 to accommodate 250 people at a cost of £5,500. It was demolished in the 1930s unlike Towcester workhouse, which still stands. It too was built in 1936/37 and cost over £5,000. It held up to 208 inmates. You can still see the building today, although it has been converted into residential apartments.

Further information about the architecture of South Northants can be found in a new ‘Heritage’ guide published by South Northants Council.

To download a copy, click on the image: