In contrast to the social opulence displayed by Winslow Hall, at the opposite end of the town, and at the opposite end of the social spectrum, once stood an equally commodious premises, the workhouse. However, as Sir Christopher Wren had designed Winslow Hall, so another architect of national renown had been responsible for the appearance of the workhouse. He was Sir George Gilbert Scott, and his 19th century influence was especially evident in the extensive programme of church building, which intended to halt the increasing growth of non conformism, and even atheism. George Gilbert Scott was born at the parsonage of Gawcott on July 13th 1811, and having as curate of the village been responsible for the design of the local church, his father, Thomas, encouraged his son to become an architect. Thus heeding this wish, by assisting his friend Sampson Kempthorne, architect to the Poor Law Commissioners, following the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 George gained an early experience with the designs for the new Union Workhouses. In 1601 the foundation of a national scheme of poor relief had been laid by the Elizabethan Poor Law, whereby overseers from each parish were required to raise money, by taxation, to fund the welfare of the unemployed, the relief of the aged and infirm poor, the apprenticing of pauper children and the building of poor houses. However, although welcome this system was somewhat inadequate, and indeed much abused, but nevertheless the basic principle would continue until 1834 when, by the Poor Law Amendment Act, parishes became grouped together under elected ‘boards of guardians.’ Whilst each parish continued to be responsible for the finance of their own poor, the able bodied could now only receive relief if they moved into the Union workhouse, and, since these became notorious for their dirty and disease ridden state, this was often a dreaded step. Yet this reflected no discredit on the commendable motives behind the Act, and after 1834 the necessary building programme began. Following the death of his father, during 1835 George then set up in private practice and, by ‘strenuous canvas’ of the Guardians in his home area, duly received commissions for the workhouses of Buckingham, Towcester and Winslow, where at the latter the sale of the old poorhouse, plus a few parish owned cottages, raised a part of the £5,250 necessary to finance the construction. With the Master’s quarters situated in a rectangular central block, in radiating wings the inmates, segregated by gender, would be housed, and in fact some 280 persons could thus be accommodated, plus, as a temporary measure, several of the labourers who were employed during the construction of the local railway. Yet despite being undoubtedly grim, life in the workhouse could still be enlivened by the occasional unexpected incident, such as in July 1908 when, having sought a personal audience with the guardians, James Rhodes, a 60 year old inmate, proceeded to ask for a black coat, waistcoat, light trousers, bowler hat, pair of boots and a trowel. These he supposedly needed to find work, when health permitted, as a jobbing gardener, but perhaps there was also an ulterior motive, for in a cottage near to the workhouse lived an eligible female. Being sympathetic to Jim’s ‘needs’, although they could do nothing officially the guardians duly raised the necessary sum, and thereby looking suitably respectable he won the affection of the lady. With the beginnings of the Welfare State the last of the local workhouses closed in 1925, and that of Winslow then became a hospital. In 1983 this was then acquired by the Social Services who, having demolished most of the premises, built Swan House on the site, to accommodate ‘those not otherwise catered for within the objective of community care.’