The Spike, the vagrant’s and casual workers ward attached to the Guildford Union Workhouse, was built as part of a programme of extensive development of the workhouse site in the early 20th Century. It is one of the few remaining buildings from the eight acres or so that originally formed the Guildford Union. More significantly, the Spike is one of the few casual wards left in the country, and certainly the most intact example. In all, five to six hundred such buildings were built between 1834 and 1929, the number remaining is not easily determined but is unlikely to be more than 20, most were pulled down after the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 was repealed in 1929. The Guildford Spike will be one of only two in the United Kingdom that will be open to the public.
Over the ensuing decades, some of the larger workhouse buildings were adopted by hospitals, others were converted for residential us, so many of these larger buildings survive today. Southwell Workhouse, owned by the National Trust, is a fine example of one of the very first Union Workhouses that predates the Poor Law Amendment Act having been built in 1824, a design of the Rev. J.T.Becher.
Casual Wards however, were awkward buildings that offered little useful space. Most were pulled down, but the Guildford Spike was lucky, it continued to be used as an hostel for vagrants into the 1960's and was then adopted by the Health Service and had multiple uses including the storage of records and maintenance workshops. This meant that it survived the 20th century reasonably intact, becoming Grade II listed in November 1999.
In 2002 the Spike was deteriorating fast and under imminent threat of unsympathetic conversion to residential use. Had the Charlotteville Jubilee Trust not stepped in, the building would have lost many of its historic features, all its distinctive atmosphere and would have had little opportunity for public access. In acquiring the Spike, the Trust has affirmed its commitment to this exciting and imaginative initiative. However this on its own would not have been sufficient to save the building, and it is only with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Guildford Borough Council that this has been made possible.The Main Contract started in July 2006 and the community centre was completed by the end of July 2007. A six month fitting out period resulted in a grand opening at the end of January 2008.
The Spike is now a very well used community, with the heritage centre due to open to visitors in June 2008. For schools there will be two different tours of the heritage area available, both will integrate with the National Curriculum.
