Following the AGM, of the Stewartry U3A on 28 November, Professor Don Cowell gave a fascinating insight into the history of the Kirkcudbright Poor House which opened in 1850 and only closed in 1953.
Prior to 1845 the Parish was responsible for providing poor relief for those who could not work mainly by voluntary funding from the Kirk and local heritors. However the Poor Laws of 1845 set up Parochial Boards to raise funds by way of taxes as a securer way of looking after the poor. In Kirkcudbright it was decided to establish a poor house for not only those from the town but also from Borgue, Twynholm and Tongland. But due to local pressure the poor house had to be built half a mile outside the town and the first governor, a former army Sargent, and matron were appointed in 1850 when the poor house opened.
In 1853 over 20 other parishes agreed to combine with the Kirkcudbright poor house, agreeing to contribute towards the costs and it became known as the Kirkcudbright Combination Poor House. The building had a side for males and another for females, meaning that even married couples were split up, and was originally designed for 250 but there was rarely more than 70 to 80 in the house. Food was based mainly on porridge and only those who were working were given any meat. There were strict rules and regulations and even a punishment room where people could be kept in solitary confinement.
The local Inspector of the Poor was an important local official and he was responsible for deciding whether someone was eligible to go into the Poor House. The Board of Supervision in Edinburgh gave guidance but became more controlling and was responsible for regular inspections of Poor Houses.
Don said that some of the Inspectors’ records survive and are a wonderful source of information about the operation of the Poor House. From these records, Poor House records and Census records he had found that in early years many children, orphans or abandoned, were in the Poor House, there were also elderly people and some women came in while having a baby. Some people were in for short periods of weeks or months but others were there for 30 to 40 years.
Don said that he had found that there had been a local scandal in 1869 when a woman in the Poor House complained to the Inspector about various matters in the house including that she had been assaulted by the Governor. The complaints were investigated and the Governor decided to resign.
In 1920 the building was renamed Burnside House and became the responsibility of the County Council in 1930. In 1946 the building was abandoned and the Poor Law was abolished in 1948.
Finally Don said that he had been pleased to get information about the Poor House from Raymond Finnie, son of the last Governor and that Raymond was in the audience at the meeting.