Other Institutions GAZ Brampton

Other Institutions: Almshouses known as Brampton Hospital were erected, at the expense of the 2nd Earl of Carlisle in 1685, payments were made and hospitallers were in residence until c 1718. It is not known when the Parish Workhouse commenced but it seems to have existed in 1780. In 1837 the Brampton Union was established and the Workhouse repaired and enlarged. In 1870 planning for a new Workhouse on a different site began. This was completed in 1877 and the old building was advertised for sale.

Retirement homes, known as Wilson Homes after Isaac Wilson the benefactor who funded their construction, built adjacent to the Sands, were opened in 1930.

Brampton also boasts a cottage hospital, Brampton & District War Memorial Cottage Hospital opened on 6th September 1923 and still in 2012 serving the inhabitants.

 Among Friendly Societies were branches of the Oddfellows and the Foresters c1847-1880s. There was a Mechanics Institution and Reading Room c1850-1870s which in 1860 had 150 members, and a library of 800 volumes. The Working Men’s Club and Reading Room established c1858 continued into the early 1900s.

The Temperance Movement was very active in Brampton through the Brampton Total Abstinence Society c1883. A number of licensed premises were converted into temperance establishments through the influence of Rosalind Lady Carlisle who had signed the pledge in 1881.

 Public halls included St Martin’s built 1895 adjacent to the Church, Central Hall the old Presbyterian Church, and in the redundant Tweed Mill, New Hall, subsequently a cinema, but completely destroyed by fire in 1960.

 A Bowling Club, still active, was founded in 1761 with a green off Market Place. Other sporting associations during the 19th and 20th centuries included Athletic, Cricket and Football clubs, also a Coursing Club c1844 and Brampton Harriers.

Talking Tarn, a small lake, not far from Brampton was and still is a home to the Rowing Club, and the venue for their regatta from 1850s. There were bathing houses at the Tarn and on adjacent ground a wrestling ring.