Although in use before this date (can anyone tell me what for?), from 1834 this building was used as the Union Poor House, and I've taken the liberty of including it as the poor from Portland would have been placed here after 1834, with the introduction of the Poor Law Amendment Act of the same year. Prior to this date the poor of Portland would have been put in one of two Poor Houses on Portland, one at what is now known as Victoria Square, Underhill, and the other at Weston Street, Tophill. I understand that neither building remains - the one in Victoria Square having been sold soon after the Poor Law Amendment Act was introduced in 1834 - the disposal of the other one remaining a mystery.

Poor Law records for Portland and Weymouth are somewhat scanty, although it would appear, from J.H. Bettey's "The Island and Royal Manor of Portland" that some records exist for the Portland poor houses ie prior to 1834, as he gives some quite detailed samples of expenditure incurred in providing accommodation for the family of Benjamin JAMES. However, I've been advised that the Poor Law records for Weymouth (and by default Portland after 1834) were pulped during the paper shortage of World War II.

The Poor House subsequently became the maternity hospital for the Weymouth area and following its closure the building and land surrounding it were transformed into the social housing estate we see today. One could say the wheel turns full circle !

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