The Clifden Workhouse, (demolished in the mid 1970's), was designed by George Wilkinson and occupied a four acre site at the south side of the Galway Road where the GMT factory and Bryan Mahons Terrace now stand. Part of the original walls still remain, especially on the southern (Low Road) side. The workhouse played a prominent role throughout the Great Famine and into the early 20th century. The Clifden Poor Law Union was formed 24th August 1840 and managed an area of 296 square miles. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 12 in number, representing its 4 electoral divisions as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one): Ballindoon (2), Clifden (3), Renvyle (3), Roundstone (4). The Board also included 4 ex officio Guardians, making a total of 16. The Guardians met each week on Wednesday at noon. The population within the Union area at the 1831 census was 28,639 with divisions ranging in size from Ballindoon (population 4,793) to Roundstone (9,942). The new workhouse was designed by George Wilkinson and occupied a four acre site at the south side of the Galway Road, about a quarter of a mile to the east of Clifden. It cost UKP 3,600 to build plus UKP 900 for fixtures and fittings, and could accommodate 300. It was declared fit for the admission of paupers on 22nd December 1845, although the first inmates did not move in until 8th March 1847. The buildings followed Wilkinson s typical layout. An entrance and administrative block at the west contained a porter s room and waiting room at the centre with the Guardians board room on the first floor above. This was later extended at each side with a boys school at its south and a girls school at the north. The main accommodation block housed the Master s quarters at the centre, and male and female wings to each side. At the rear, a range of single-storey utility rooms such as bake house and washhouse connected through to the infirmary and idiots wards via a central spine containing the chapel and dining-hall. A fever hospital was subsequently erected at the east of the workhouse. A dispensary was located at the roadside at the north of the site. Clifden came under great pressure during the famine years of 1846-48, and the union effectively became bankrupt. The last recorded number of inmates in the workhouse, for the week ending 19th November 1921, was 60. Some years later, under a lease of 10th August 1927, part of the lands, comprising of 4 acres, 3 roods & 17 perches, were conveyed for 99 years to the Irish Sailors & Solders Land Trust (51 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2) at a rent of UKP 6 per annum. Six cottages were erected by the Trust for ex-soldiers and sailors. Former workhouse lands, still held by local authorities became vested in the Western Health Board on 1st April 1971, Apart from a few small fragments of wall, the workhouse buildings are now completely demolished and the site is occupied by a factory.
