Old, and Some New, Photographs of Woodbridge & Melton
Most of the buildings lining New Street in 1560 would have been timber framed. The building with the earliest recorded history is now called the Bridewell and a 1950s photograph of it is shown on the right.
In 1587 the building was called a House of Correction. By 1641 it was also being used as a Hospital or Workhouse for the deserving poor of the town. After the battle of Sole Bay in 1670 the great number of Dutch prisoners who had to be accommodated in the building forced the townspeople to establish a new workhouse on Theatre Street. The New Street building remained as a House of Correction until 1804 when it was converted into a Hospital where the frail poor could live in rent free apartments.
In 1908 seven almshouses were built in the yard of The Hospital. These almshouses were a bequest from John & William Andrews in memory of their father Jonathon Andrews of London “A former resident, well-known for his good works in his old town." Each almshouse comprised a bed sitting room, a scullery and an external earth closet. They were let to the deserving poor for sixpence a week.
The Town Council eventually sold The Hospital and it became a private residence.
Since 1960 the Almshouses have been managed by the Poor's Houses Charity. This Charity was endowed with various buildings and properties which had been given to the town to help care for the poor. The proceeds from the sale of these assets were used to modernise the almshouse. They now consist of two units having a single bedroom and a unit, with two bedrooms, which is fully wheelchair accessible. One of the original external earth closets has been conserved for historical interest.
