1. The workhouse
The Poor Law of 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

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

3. What was life like in Romsey Workhouse?
c. 1905

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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…
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

8. 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.
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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 -
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

13. 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  
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 A chapel was located to the east of the main block. The expanded buildings are shown on the 1908 map below.