The workhouse The Poor Law of 1834 meant that those who were unable to work or support themselves would have to go to the Workhouse….. Charles Dickens character, Oliver Twist begins life in a workhouse for the poor

Starter: What 5 theories can you make about the Workhouse from these images?

What was life like in Romsey Workhouse? c. 1905

Learning objectives To form inferences about what life was like inside Romsey Workhouse To use historical evidence to prove or disprove some of these theories To explain why there are different interpretations of life in the workhouse To gather information for a local study Workhouse located on the north side of Winchester road

Local History competition Warner competition A Trust set up by Mr Warner before he passed away. He left money in a Trust and asked his wife to award it to pupils who are enthusiastic and write about local history

History Enrichment Portfolio SELECT ACTIVITY… 1 2 3 Name & TG: Teacher & class: Mid-review date: Due date: Habits of Mind Stamp

Pictures speak a thousand words… Activity 1 Tell me a story… Activity 3 Write it in a letter… Success criteria: -Write your FULL NAME on your work -Create an original piece of work, individually -Use historical evidence to support and explain points using PEEL -Write by hand or use a word processor -Good scope here for use of imagination Activity 2 Pictures speak a thousand words… Useful Links: REFLECTION -You will need to draw well & choose the key points carefully What Went Well… Even Better If… http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Romsey/ http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Romsey/Romsey1881.shtml http://www.romseynet.org.uk/genealogy/the-gardens-workhouse.pdf http://www.ltvas.org.uk/workhouse-management Teacher Pupil ABC: Local Warner Competition Write a story or an article, with illustrations, about life in the Romsey Workhouse during the time period Write a collection of letters or diary entries, about life in the Romsey Workhouse during the time period Prizes to be won Remember the 5Ws Collate a series of photos and/or drawings and annotate them about life in the Romsey Workhouse during the time period

Theory 1 sources Jackets, trousers, striped shirts, cloth cap and shoes for men made from stout woollen cloth or linen. Women wore petticoats, gingham dresses, stockings and slippers. In some workhouses the practice of marking out certain categories of inmate by clothing of a particular style or colour. At Bristol in the 1830s prostitutes wore a yellow dress, while unmarried mothers wore a red one. This was designed to shame the women, to label their behaviour as unsociable. http://www.workhouses.org.uk/life/uniform.shtml A modern day historian “The men and boys wear fustian (thick, rough cloth) jackets and waistcoats, and corduroy (a type of material) trousers. The women and girls gowns and upper petticoats; and all classes have a sufficient supply of warm under clothing of all sorts. The able men break stones; the aged and infirm are employed in gardening, and the women in household work, washing and making and mending linen.” Extracts from the report of a Poor Law inspector in 1866

Senior Research Fellow, National University of Singapore Theory 2 sources “There are two schools in the workhouse, one for boys, the other for girls; but the children are not separated from the adult inmates further than having day rooms and dormitories exclusively appropriated to them.  This workhouse has been always conducted in a satisfactory manner, but it is defective, in having no separate yards for the children and aged inmates of both sexes — a defect which requires to be remedied — and separate sick wards for the children should be provided, and a paid nurse appointed.” Extracts from the report of a Poor Law inspector in 1866 One of the harshest elements of the 1834 Poor Law was the practise of splitting up families as a deliberate policy. Keeping husbands and wives apart prevented them from "breeding" Keeping children separated from their parents was supposed to turn the children into useful human beings — which, it was thought, their parents were not: otherwise they would not have entered the workhouse in the first place. Each category of inmate was assigned its own day room, dormitory and exercise yard. People in the same family might see each other during meals or in the chapel but they were not allowed to speak to each other. Senior Research Fellow, National University of Singapore

Theory 3 sources Breakfast Dinner Supper 7 2 5 .. 1 ½ Bacon 4 Bread oz. Gruel pints Meat & veg Soup Cheese Sunday Men 7 2 5 .. Women 1 ½ Monday Bacon Tuesday 4 Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Theory 4 sources While residing in a workhouse, paupers were not allowed out without permission. Short-term absence could be granted for various reasons, such as to visit a sick or dying relative. Able-bodied inmates could also be allowed out to seek work. Although there was often little to physically prevent a pauper from walking out of the workhouse, to do so without permission would result in a charge of the theft of union property — his workhouse uniform. Any pauper could, however, on giving "reasonable notice" — typically three hours — discharge himself from the workhouse. His clothes would then be fetched from the store and…paperwork would need to be completed. In the case of a man with a family, the whole family would have to leave if he left. - Workhouse.org.uk

Theory 5 sources “Life inside the workhouse was intended to be as off-putting as possible. Men, women, children, the infirm, and the able-bodied were housed separately and given very basic and monotonous food such as watery porridge called gruel, or bread and cheese. All inmates had to wear the rough workhouse uniform and sleep in shared dormitories. Supervised baths were given once a week. The able-bodied were given hard work such as stone-breaking or picking apart old ropes.“ - Workhouse.org.uk Worst Jobs in History the Victorian Workhouse - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blyYxpNbgeU Men did crippling jobs such as stone breaking or rope picking which severed the skin on their fingers. Women mostly performed domestic jobs Men making shoes Workhouse laundry

Theory 6 sources ”The site is in all respects a good one, and there is a large garden attached to the workhouse. The house is an old one, enlarged and improved, and has sufficient accommodation for the inmates of all classes, in all ordinary demands on its capacity. There is a detached ward for infectious cases, containing two rooms, which have up to the present time been found sufficient for the purpose. There are no separate sick wards for children. The ventilation, light, drainage and water supply are all good, and the sanitary state of the house is excellent.  The beds are stuffed with flock (waste wool or cotton) and straw, and troughs are attached to the pumps for washing.” - Extracts from the report of a Poor Law inspector in 1866   In 1870, a separate infirmary (hospital) was added on the male side, to the west of the main building. In 1890, a new female ward was added, followed by a separate female infirmary in 1900. A chapel was located to the east of the main block. The expanded buildings are shown on the 1908 map below. http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Romsey/