The Ross Poor Law Union was formed on the 12th April 1836. It was overseen by a Board of 34 Guardians from 29 different parishes.

The Union Workhouse was built quite late in about 1872, to the south of the town. The entrance was off Alton Street and had an infirmary and fever wards to the east and administrative and receiving wards (where people waited to be allowed admission to the workhouse.) to the west.

The main block of the Workhouse was of a corridor plan and three storeys high. The Workhouse Master's accommodation was at the centre of this block, with male accommodation to the north and female to the south.

To the west of the main building was a block which contained the dining hall, kitchen and laundry. To the north lay the sleeping and labour cells. The Workhouse also had a schoolroom and a children's playground.

The Workhouse later became Ross Poor Law Institution and then Dean Hill Hospital. Nearly all of the original workhouse buildings were demolished to build Ross Community Hospital in 1997.