| THE WORK HOUSE. |
| Shipley parish workhouse in 1793 was where all the poor, infirm and elderly were placed if there was no one of their own that could support them. The first one is believed to have been at Renches Farm House near Dragons Green which was until 1795 named the Old Work House. Sometime in the 19th century it was moved to White Heart Cottages near the the toll Gate and the main Billingshurst to Cowfold Road. it had 53 inmates during 1821 and 45 in 1882 even though they believed they had room for 80. |
| In the early days Cloth was manufactured at the workhouse but later on the inmates were Farmed Out and used to maintain the roads and help on the farms. The parish Officers leased a farm in 1830, 320 acres from the New buildings Estate where a single man could earn 25p a week and a married one 30p. |
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