As with many local hospitals, South Shields' workhouse has been transformed into the town infirmary. Parts of it are still extant and are incorporated into the hospital.

This is the second formal Union Workhouse in South Shields. The first was at German Street, now Ocean Road, located adjacent to North Marine Park. This one was opened in 1837 and designed by friends of NEHL John & Benjamin Green. It was to accommodate 205 inmates, but as South Shields rapidly grew through industry, so did the demand.

The Harton Moor Workhouse, then on the absolute fringes of South Shields, was constructed in the latter half of the 1870s. The architect of the complex was Joseph Hall Morton, the man behind the iteration at Gateshead and Hunslett in West Yorkshire. He also designed a number of seamens missions and churches in the region and was posted to Tyne Dock to design the domestic housing in the area.

It cost £43361 for the buildings and a further £12000 for the original 17 acres from the church commissioners. Paupers were first admitted into the half built site in 1878 but was completed in 1880. In total there were 700 "inmates" into the complex comprising of schools, hospital and the main workhouse site.

It's worthy of note Jobling's widow died here in 1891. Despite him being hanged and gibbeted in 1832, she lived in the area for the next 60 years and was admitted into the workhouse in 1885 at 90 years of age. She died here at 96. A supposed "giant" also resided here named James Allender who was 7ft 6 and weighed 27 stone. He was from Derry/Londonderry, and resided here due to illness and died a few days later.

There were various additions made, most notably in 1910 when it was extended for 1200 inmates, including a seperate block for the mentally unstable. It was here where Catherine Cookson obtained a job working in the laundry.

In 1930, the workhouse became the Harton Instution & General Hospital. The east & west pavilions, administration block, laundry & workshops remain from the workhouse days.