LIFE in the workhouse was the subject of a talk given to members of the Royston & District Local History Society. More than 100 members learned from speaker Ian Waller about the setting-up of the Poor Law and its progress through the centuries up to the 1

LIFE in the workhouse was the subject of a talk given to members of the Royston & District Local History Society.

More than 100 members learned from speaker Ian Waller about the setting-up of the Poor Law and its progress through the centuries up to the 19th century when the Royston Poor Law Union came into being.

This led to the erection in the mid-1830s of Heath Lodge, which replaced Royston's parish workhouse.

The workhouse system ended in 1930 when the control of the Royston site passed to the local authority.

The building was demolished in 1972 and the site re-developed as Downlands.

At next month's meeting, Ann-Marie Parker will give a talk on Literary Hertfordshire, in which she will speak on writers associated with the county.