#southwellworkhouse hashtag - Bluesky

9 months ago

A picture of a descriptive board in Southwell Workhouse detailing what happened to new arrivals to the workhouse. It states "How did it work? If a pauper had no choice but to enter the workhouse, they would go to the gate and ask to be admitted. New arrivals were searched by the master or matron according to their sex. Their clothes and any personal items were removed and kept aside. They had to take a bath and were then given a numbered set of workhouse clothing. They were held in a receiving ward, awaiting assessment by the medical officer, who checked them for disease or vermin before allocating them to a class, according to their age, intellect and state of health. The able-bodied were expected to work, the aged and infirm were not. They joined their ward and clotted into the daily routine. A pauper was allowed to go out to look for work, or could ask to leave for good, giving just a few hours notice. If they came with family members, all had to leave at the same time. Their own clothing was returned.

Further descriptive board at Southwell Workhouse. It states "Inmates by choice. This was not a prison. Paupers were not sent to the workhouse. If people asked for help they were offered the workhouse - and then chose to submit themselves for entry. They could also ask to leave at any time. On the other hand the new system cut out-relief - the giving of food and money. The workhouse was provided as the only option. But the systems were inconsistently implemented. Many people, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and children, had no prospect of supporting themselves. This meant they were forced into a system designed as a deterrent to others.

When you realise the government has learnt nothing in the last 200 years. #southwellworkhouse #welfarereform