Romford Union workhouse was erected in 1838, and now forms a part of Oldchurch Hospital.

On 22th September 2000 the Romford Recorder published an article in which local historian Brian Evans revealed that Havering Hospitals NHS Trust want to demolish the cruciform buildings in order to erect a "single storey building for the relocation and enhancement of clinical services".¹  A campaign was hastily organised, and at the Regulatory Services sub-committee meeting on Thursday, 12th October,² the planning application was rejected.

Unfortunately, although this was great news, it was just a temporary reprieve.   The workhouse buildings have no statutory heritage protection, and therefore "no planning permissions or consents are needed for the cruciform building's demolition.  The Trust notified the Council separately of their intended demolition...agreeing...[an] extended notice [which] expired at the end of October."²

The planning application was due to be discussed again at a Regulatory Services sub-committee meeting on Friday, 3rd November.  Since the previous meeting on 12th October, English Heritage had added its support to calls for the old workhouse buildings to be retained, but sadly the NHS Trust had decided to stand by the original proposals.³   They did, however, "offer to have the building recorded by photographic or other appropriate means" (as if this would make the retention of the building itself unnecessary) as well as confirming "that they will not demolish the cruciform building until the scheme requiring its demolition is committed".³  Then, late on the afternoon of the meeting, English Heritage announced that they would be inspecting the site with a view to listing, and it was therefore decided to defer consideration of the application.

Sadly, having considered the evidence, English Heritage concluded that building was too altered to merit listing.  The council staff again recommended approval of the application, noting that "although of local interest, an up to date definitive position has been reached regarding the non listable quality of the cruciform building."⁴ 

The Regulatory Services sub-committee met again on Thursday 23rd November, and this time, despite all the local opposition, the application was approved.  And so one of the town's few remaining historic buildings - which has stood for over 160 years - is to be demolished in order to erect a building with an expected life of around 5 years (itself to be demolished when the hospital relocates to Oldchurch Park).

There are photos and a short history of Romford Union workhouse on the excellent History of the Workhouse website.   A detailed history of the workhouse is provided by the book Oldchurch: The Workhouse Story.

¹ Regulatory Services sub-committee agenda, 21st September 2000
² Regulatory Services sub-committee agenda, 12th October 2000
³ Regulatory Services sub-committee agenda, 3rd November 2000
⁴ Regulatory Services sub-committee agenda, 23rd November 2000