IT is 70 years since the Bury Union Workhouse closed its doors for the last time, but the fear inspired by the institution still echoes down the generations.

Now the history of the workhouse is to be brought to life as part of a new exhibition at the St John the Baptist (Bircle Church), opening this weekend.

The Bury Union Workhouse, also known as the Jericho Workhouse, opened its doors on January 21, 1857, with space for around 400 inmates and an additional 60-bed hospital at a total cost of £20,481 ­— equivalent to over £2 million today.

Despite being Bury's largest workhouse, the Jericho site was not the first, with provisions existing in the borough from the 1730s, and township workhouses in Bury, Radcliffe, Heywood, Heap, Tottington Lower End and Pilkington.

Over the 20 years after its inception, numerous additions were made to the Jericho Workhouse, including accommodation for infants in 1862, for the insane in 1868, and a 32-bed infectious hospital, nurses' home and mortuary in 1876.

Jericho Workhouse was also near unique for its burial ground, which is believed to have functioned until around 1916, by which time an estimated 4,000 inmates had been inhumed there.

The practice differed from most workhouses, where unclaimed bodies were usually buried in an unmarked grave in a local church yard.

By the first decade of the 20th century the workhouse also boasted a 126-bed infirmary and grew to become home to over 700 inmates, including 83 children and vagrants.

From 1904, the address of those born at the workhouse was recorded as 1, Broad Oak Lane, Bury, to avoid disadvantaging inmates in later life.

At the outbreak of the First World War the site was turned over to a military hospital before becoming the Bury Union Institute, and later the Jericho Institute.

During the Second World War it was used as a decontamination centre, and in 1940 a bomb fell into the grounds but did not cause any significant damage or injuries.

The site of the workhouse is now home to Fairfield Hospital and most of the old blocks have been replaced by modern buildings.

The history of the workhouse will now be retold during a series of heritage open days.

The days will take place a Bircle Church, in Castle Hill Road, from 10am and 4.30pm on September 8 to 15, boasting an exhibition featuring photographs and displays on the workhouse as well as refreshments and hot drinks.

On September 8 there will also be a free guided "Ainsworth Revisited" walk from 11am.

An illustrated talk, entitled Gruelling Experiences, will be led by Peter Higginbotham, A consultant and star of the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are, Mr Higginbotham, who has also authored several books on the subject; telling the remarkable story of the workhouse, at 7pm on September 13.

Sue Whitehead, who has helped to organise the event said: "We have delved back into the archives and it's an interesting topic to look back on.

"I think it's important for people to remember. Before workhouses if you were poor or ill you had nothing to look after you.

"We are hoping to encourage people to have more of a pride in their local history and get to know more about it."

Tickets for the illustrated talk are priced £10 and include a buffet supper.

For more information or to book call 07910204716 or email sue.lynnwhitehead@yahoo.co.uk.