These vagrancy cells are situated next to a Workhouse that was built in 1839 with a budget of £3,200, the cells were built sometime after. In 1930 the workhouse was reused as a Public Assistance Institution, and in 1954 became a home for the elderly housing up to 68 residents.
In 1894 the British Medical Journal conducted site visits to around 50 workhouses in England and Wales as part of a campaign to improve the nursing and medical facilities in the workhouse infirmaries. This workhouse was assessed and it was found to only have two members of staff: a master and matron, both had to nurse the sick, run the house, overlook any able-bodied residents, care for the children and admit the tramps. The sick were housed in cramped quarters within the workhouse and there was a lack of toilet and washing facilities. In the report the author also mentioned seeing an imbecile sitting by the fire and the fact a “harmless lunatic” danced up to the master to profess her great friendship for him.
I found a census of the inmates held in 1881. The list has a handicap column in which patients were described idiots, lunatics, blind, deaf and dumb. The youngest inmate I saw was 1 year old and the oldest was 86.
Unfortunately the workhouse itself is alarmed – we tried!
Thanks for looking,
Rubex
In 1894 the British Medical Journal conducted site visits to around 50 workhouses in England and Wales as part of a campaign to improve the nursing and medical facilities in the workhouse infirmaries. This workhouse was assessed and it was found to only have two members of staff: a master and matron, both had to nurse the sick, run the house, overlook any able-bodied residents, care for the children and admit the tramps. The sick were housed in cramped quarters within the workhouse and there was a lack of toilet and washing facilities. In the report the author also mentioned seeing an imbecile sitting by the fire and the fact a “harmless lunatic” danced up to the master to profess her great friendship for him.
I found a census of the inmates held in 1881. The list has a handicap column in which patients were described idiots, lunatics, blind, deaf and dumb. The youngest inmate I saw was 1 year old and the oldest was 86.
Unfortunately the workhouse itself is alarmed – we tried!
Thanks for looking,
Rubex
