Workhouses

Plymouth workhouse A workhouse in Essex

When and why were workhouses built? Poor Law Amendment Act (1834) implied the building of many workhouses to accommodate poor people. They were intended to be so harsh and hostile that only the truly destitute (without money, food, a home or possessions) would seek refuge in them Even if England at this time was a thriving industrial centre in the population there were thousands of people living in poverty.

How were poor people considered in Victorian England? It was hoped that the workhouses would solve the problem of poverty as many rich people believed people were poor because they were lazy. They called them the "undeserving poor". Especially the old and sick were so poor they were classed as paupers. Pauperism was a term used to describe people who had no means to support themselves. Poverty was not caused by laziness as wealthier people thought but by unemployment, and high food prices.

How did people live in workhouses? Hunger, disease and squalor were a part of everyday life. Here is atypical timetable Rise at 5:45am Breakfast at 6:30am - 7am Work 7am till 12 noon Lunch from 12 to 1pm Work from 1pm – 6pm Supper and wash 6pm - 6:30pm Bed at 8pm

What kind of work did the inmates do? Gardening, sewing, corn milling (to crush grain into flour or another substance into powder: sack making, stone crushing (for road building) and oakum picking (stoppa) were all typical jobs done within the workhouse. However it was typically cooking that was the main job performed.The aged and infirm were expected to care for and teach the children.

The inmates were very unhealthy and in a poor state of health because of the poor diet or lack nutrition. Food in the workhouse was kept as boring and tasteless as possible. It was rationed which meant the poor were always hungry. The diet consisted mainly of gruel and bread and cheese.

What was life like in a workhouse? Discipline was used to control inmates who were often noisy and violent. Fighting was common, especially in the women’s yard. Punishment was used regularly - even for the smallest of offences. Whipping was a very common form of punishment. It was done publicly as a lesson to other inmates. Men could be punished for trying to talk to their wives and even children were scolded for playing.