St James Workhouse

The St James Workhouse opened in 1725 on Poland Street in the Soho area of London, England, in what was then the parish of Westminster St James, and continued well into the nineteenth century. The infirmary at St James Workhouse was contemporaneous with the advent of the song "The Unfortunate Rake", the basis of the song "St. James Infirmary Blues", although it is uncertain as to whether it refers to the workhouse infirmary.

The site of the workhouse is now the Q Park parking garage occupying the space between Poland Street and Marshall Street.