The Guildford Spike

In 1905, building work began to construct a purpose built Casuals’ Ward to separate the ‘undesirable’ vagrants and their disruptive influence from the structured routine of the main Workhouse and its inmates.

With their filthy clothes, crude language and coarse behaviour, they live a lonely, miserable existence, but for a vagrant in 1906, it’s a way of life………

The Spike is a unique example of an Edwardian casual ward. Built to house vagrants and casual workers, it was once part of the larger Guildford Union Workhouse site.

Come and meet our Tramp Master and experience the sights, sounds and smells of a casual ward in 1906. Discover a working cell and what a vagrant had to do to earn his keep. Explore the lives of the Spike inmates and the type of people who would have stayed here. Learn about the treatment of homeless people, past and present.

Opening Times

Restrictions apply. Please see our website for details.

Location details

The Guildford Spike
Warren Road,
Guildford,
SURREY
GU1 3JH

01483 598420

Facilities

toilets

accessible toilets

accessible site

accessible parking

audio assistance

visual assistance

train nearby

bus nearby

space for hire

guided tour

Go to museum site

Children & Families

Discover a working cell and what a vagrant had to do to earn his keep.
Explore the lives of the Spike inmates and ‘types’ that stayed here.
Learn about the treatment of the homeless, past and present.
Experience the sights, sounds and smells of a Casual’s Ward.

Individuals, Families and Small Groups
For individuals, families and small groups less than 10, we are open
every Tuesday and Saturday between 10:00 and 16:00 The last tour starts at 15:00.

No need to book, just turn up.If we can’t fit you on a tour immediately then you can enjoy the Exhibition Room until a guide becomes available.

What to Wear and Bring
The Spike is an historic building and is dark and damp in places.
In winter it can get quite chilly inside the building.
We recommend that visitors dress in appropriate warm clothing and practical shoes.

Schools & Teachers

We have well tested lesson plans to cover KS1 and KS2 subjects.
Guided tours of the Spike present a unique opportunity for primary school learning.

The Spike offers so much more than History. It is great core material for so many other curriculum subjects; write about it, test your maths with traditional units of measure and currency – and don’t forget Social History.

A Typical School Day
A typical school day at the Spike starts at 10:00
On arrival,students are divided into smaller groups with each group having a tour of the Spike. This includes a short video as well as two tasks (lessons).

Popular with KS2 visitors are Crime and Punishment, Inmates Tasks of Work, and Wants and Needs.

Or why not go off curriculum and select a task involving traditional games such as Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Marbles, Pick up Sticks or Snakes and Ladders?

Students & Young People

We welcome students to the Spike either to aid them in their understanding and
research on a Poor Law subject or, more valuably, to volunteer by helping us to run the Spike or take part in the research we carry out.

The Spike is a great place to gain experience of heritage and tourism during those long summer breaks and of course great on your CV.
Please call us to discuss any needs or interests.

Adult & Community

For adult groups we can offer private extended tours usually preceded or
followed by refreshments where you can fully discuss what you have discovered during your visit.
To make the day more special we can offer a very good cream tea or, for the evening tours, why not consider wine and nibbles?

Your tour can be booked for any day of year except during August and at any time of day. The midnight tours add real atmosphere.
We are also open on Christmas Day morning where your tour will be followed by mince pies and mulled wine!

There is a minimum charge for private tours and, for groups larger than 20, we offer tours staggered to 15 minutes apart.

Tour time from entry to exit is typically two hours.
Please call us to book yours.