The Pauper's Graveyard Traditional Cache
This cache has been locked, but it is available for viewing.
A cache by [DELETED_USER]
Hidden
:
1/31/2010
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Armagh workhouse burial ground is found within the grounds of Tower Hill.
The Armagh workhouse, was built in 1840, and occupied a 7 acre site at the north-east of Armagh and could accommodate 1,000 inmates. It was declared fit for the admission of paupers on 14th December 1841, and admitted its first inmates on the 4th January 1842.
The workhouse was considered a place of last resort for people who were destitute. Men, women and children were completely segregated, families were split up, rules were harsh and food was plain and meagre.
Although Armagh workhouse was the biggest in Ulster, within a few years of its opening, it was unable to accommodate all those seeking help when in 1845 the potato crop failed and famine spread. Many died of contagion within the house, more than 500 from October 1846 to March 1847.
Many of those who died in the workhouse are buried on 2 areas of consecrated ground, known as the Pauper's graveyards, their graves unmarked. A memorial now stands at the entrance to the burial ground to the south of the site. A lone cross marks the graveyard to the west of the site and can be seen as you leave Tower Hill with St. Mark's Church of Ireland in the background as well as Armagh Royal School grounds.
The workhouses continued in Northern Ireland until 1948 when they were closed with the creation of modern health and welfare services.
Armagh workhouse later became Tower Hill Hospital, now a community hospital and today also acts as headquarters for the SH&SSB. The entrance block, main block and fever hospital survive, together with part of the much altered infirmary block.
The cache is a small tablock box. When placed it contained logbook and small swops. To get to the cache you must enter the hospital grounds using the one-way system. Please park at N54 21.038 W006 38.467. Please replace cache as you found it as a previous container went missing. Happy caching.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
tebhaq yriry ng onfr bs gerr
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures