A workhouse or what was known as a House of Correction was founded on the initiative of Provost Jaffrey from a patent granted by Charles I in 1636/7 for vagrants and delinquents, giving lodging and employment for those connected with the Cloth Trade.
The record of the Council decision, dated 8 February 1637 is as follows: “ …ane correctioun hous salbe erected within the same burghe, and the tred of making of bredcloath, carseyis, seyis, … for advancing the wertew and suppressing the vyce amongst the commons…” [3] The Council laid down a very detailed plan for the funding, the building of the poorhouse and drew a wide group of likely beneficiaries: “ …all vagabonds, strong and sturdie beggares, idle and maisterles persones strong in bodie and habill to work, servants disobedient to maisteris, children disobedient to parentis, leud leivars, pyikers, commoun scoldis, and wncorrigible harlottis, not amending be the discipline of the kirk, …” The work ethic was "srtrict Puritan" with: “…ane habill man to attend the saids prisoneris, and hald thame at wark, and to cans ane of his sei-vands evcrie Sabboth day reid jiraycris unto thame…”[4] The facility catered for 20 "…vagabonds, strong and sturdie beggares…(etc).." and 10 "obstinate sinners" set to "soul cleansing work".
From the account of the Council it would appear that the hospital/ poorhouse/ "prison" served a dual purpose: first, it provided some care of the poor and needy in a secure institution; second, it allowed merchants and tradesmen access to cheap labour.
The same day … Agnes Hay, guilty of fornication with William Ross, soldier, under promise of marriage, and bands proclaimed, was ordered to be carried to the correction-house, and, on Saturday next, to be taken to the cross, and set in the branks, having her head clipped; and to make her repentance on Sunday : and to be conveyed back to the correction-house, where she was to remain during the pleasure of the session……” It appears that Christian Charity may have been a secondary consideration in the setting up of this Poorhouse in the seventeenth century.
The men's accommodation was for " .. males of vicious or disorderly habits, idle strollers and vagabonds…" They were taught or required to rasp wood, dress hemp, flax, and pick oakum.
Patrick Barron is to make a bed, as a pattern, in the easiest manner he can, in order to compute the price of the bedsteads; and the Committee are of opinion that the vagabonds doe lye in the vaults on straw, with a covering of sacking.