Ridgewood Community Centre: A Brief History...

Ridgewood Community Centre was built in 1840 to house paupers from twenty six local parishes. The Centre was then known as the ‘Spike’. It was called the spike after the spire on top of the dome of the roof. This could be seen from miles away and guided tramps to where they could get a bed for the night. The dome and spire together with a clock that was on the front of the dome were all destroyed in a roof fire in 1928, never to be replaced.

In 1927 the Vagrants wards where tramps had been allowed to stay, were closed. New accommodation for nurses was built on the site, and this forms part of the area now used by Ridgewood Community Centre. We also have use of other rooms in a much older part of the building originally used as the paupers Infirmary.

Patricia Alcock’s full research is available in a book entitled "Whispers from the Workhouse".

Written by Patricia Alcock - 1999