Destruction of historic workhouse would be vandalism

Published: 5 November, 2010

• FURTHER to Max Neufeld’s letter on behalf of the Charlotte Street Association (October 29) concerning the proposed destruction of the Strand Union Workhouse in Cleveland Street, nobody would want to attack the record of the association.  

As Mr Neufeld explains, it has done much to stop destruction of our Fitzrovia heritage.  

All the more curious and incomprehensible therefore, in defiance of English Heritage and the Georgian Society to name but two, is its adamant support favouring the destruction of the workhouse, a building quite unique in the area. 

It is true the workhouse is no gem of the Georgian architectural era and was doubtless never intended as such. It is a working building of the era and worthy of protection on those grounds alone. This proposed act of vandalism must be stopped. 

My own proposal would be for a part of the building to become a museum of the workhouse. 

RICHARD DD WOOLLEY 
Warren Street, W1