In dedicating the new memorial erected near the former burial ground at St Mary’s Hospital the Venerable Peter Sutton the Archdeacon of the Isle Of Wight paid tribute to all those who had died in the House Of Industry (Workhouse).
Designed by Brian Marriott
This new monument designed by Islander Brian Marriott uses seven steel formers, the former cladding of the hospital. When new they formed part of the outer shell of the building in the 1980s and were made at British Steel.
When the heli-pad was being constructed a large Macrocarpa had to be felled and local carver Paul Sivell has formed two wooden seats from the trunk of this tree. Carved wooden seats are also part of the area.
The brainchild of Guy Eades of Healing Arts
Work was carried out on the steel panels by Island blacksmith Will Stay who worked with Brian Marriot to bring the project to fruition. Guy Eades of Healing Arts had instigated the project and the monument is situated next to the heli-Pad where the burial ground was situated.
In addition to the main steel structure, three steel uprights topped by press tools, now brightly coloured in red yellow and blue, form a memorial to children. This area, Brian Marriott explained, pays tribute to the numbers of children who had died whilst in the workhouse some only one day old but others who lived their lives at the House of Industry including going to school there.
Dedication service
As part of the dedication service Peter Sutton said he had looked at the words Work and House. Both were very strong words on their own with each one forming a part of a person’s life, but together they conjured up new thoughts.
Introducing the ceremony the Rev. Kelvin Burke (Trust Chaplain) welcomed those present as well as giving a reading. Guy Eades selected to read the names of all those who had died in 1820 to represent the 3,223 names of those who there were records of being buried on the site.
However as some records have been lost over the years it is thought that over 5,000 are buried in the area. Most of the recorded names are in the Parish Records of St. Mary’s Church, Carisbrooke as this part of Newport was in the parish of Carisbrooke at that time.
Some never left the workhouse
Some parts of the workhouse still remain but the site, when in full use, housed up to 700 men, women and children at any one time. Dating from 1774 there were a number of changes to the regime over the years as well a number of changes of name and changes of management.
Some people were born there and never left whilst others were there for just months whilst out of work. The regime continued until the 1930s.
Of the 3,223 names it is interesting to see many of the local surnames still in use today. These include Attrill, Bull, Cass, Dyer, Mew and Westmore.
