The Magherafelt Poor Law Union was officially declared in 1839. The Workhouse was opened in 1842 at a cost of £8,060. It was built to house a maximum capacity of 900 inmates. The Magherafelt Workhouse was built to accomodate people from the areas of Ballymoghan, Ballyronan, Bellaghy, Brackagh, Slievegallion, Brancran, Carnamoney, Castle Dawson, Clady, Desertmartin, Draperstown, Gulladuff, Inniscarn, Lissan Upper, The Loop, Maghera, Magherafelt, Moneyhan, Moneymore, Rocktown, Salstertown, The Six Towns, Springhill, Tobermore, and Tullykeeran.
During the worst years of the Great Famine, extensions were put in place at the Magheraflet Workhouse to increase the capacity by 160 inmates.
The Magherafelt Workhouse closed in 1940 and was repurposed as a hospital. Today the Magherafelt Workhouse site is occupied by the Mid-Ulster Hospital. A number of the original buildings are still standing.
References
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For more information see here | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE |
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Public Records of Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland. Great Britain. | VIEW SOURCE |
