Workhouse Inmates
For many people the workhouse was the place of last resort. Reasons for going to the workhouse were chronic illness, disability, unemployment, pregnancy, debt and abandonment by parents or spouse. Whole families sometimes ended up in the workhouse, and some returned more than once.
As paupers arrived at the workhouse they were washed and their hair was cut short. All their belongings were taken away and they were given a workhouse uniform to wear. Families were separated, with men, women and children living in separate blocks.
This was probably not considered cruel, since it offered more privacy, and prevented abuses. All inmates had to do some kind of work.
Staff and Occupants of the Workhouse 1841
STAFF | ||||
Robert | PLATTEN | 45 | 1796 | Governor |
Matilda | PLATTEN | 40 | 1801 | Matron |
George | PLATTEN | 5 | 1836 | |
Mary | CHRISTMAS | 30 | 1811 | Schoolmistress |
George | HEWETT | 25 | 1816 | Schoolmaster |
John | SKIPPON | 25 | 1816 | Porter |
Lydia | SKIPPON | 25 | 1816 | Cook |
Elizabeth | DOYLE | 55 | 1786 | Nurse |
RESIDENTS | ||||
Sarah | OLLEY | 50 | 1791 | |
Benjamin | HALL | 12 | 1829 | |
Thomas | BOULTER | 76 | 1765 | |
Thomas | EVERETT | 70 | 1771 | |
William | BUNN | 65 | 1776 | Plasterer |
William | FARTHING | 15 | 1826 | |
Pool | COPLAND | 35 | 1806 | |
Henry | SPOONER | 15 | 1826 | |
William | HAGGARD | 26 | 1815 | Shoemaker |
Thomas | JORDIN | 9 | 1832 | |
Louisa | HENDERSON | 23 | 1818 | |
Louisa | HENDERSON | 2 | 1839 | |
Susannah | HENDERSON | 10 Months | 1840 | |
William | NARBOROUGH | 76 | 1765 | Mariner |
Elizabeth | DAW | 20 | 1821 | |
Thomas | TONGATE | 10 | 1831 | |
Maria | CHILVIS | 14 | 1827 | |
John | PARSONS | 10 | 1831 | |
Sarah | PARSONS | 6 | 1835 | |
Hannah | BUSHELL | 17 | 1824 | |
Phillip | LEECH | 60 | 1781 | |
Ann | MANN | 34 | 1807 | |
William | MANN | 12 | 1829 | |
Susannah | MANN | 10 | 1831 | |
Thomas | MANN | 6 | 1835 | |
Robert | MANN | 4 | 1837 | |
Harriett | MANN | 2 | 1839 | |
Ann | MANN | 1 | 1840 | |
Edward | CARRINGTON | 45 | 1796 | |
James | CARRINGTON | 12 | 1829 | |
Maria | LOADS | 6 | 1835 | |
Ann | BROWN | 28 | 1813 | |
Maria | SMITH | 24 | 1817 | |
William | COOK | 14 | 1827 | |
William | MECK | 67 | 1774 | |
Thomas | KNIGHTS | 12 | 1829 | |
Mary | KNIGHTS | 8 | 1833 | |
David | BOYCE | 88 | 1753 | |
William | PACK | 86 | 1755 | |
Barbary | BATTERBY | 56 | 1785 | |
Thomas | THAXTER | 80 | 1761 | |
Mary | BUNTING | 9 | 1832 | |
John | NEWTON | 69 | 1772 | Ag Lab |
William | NEWTON | 8 | 1833 | |
Sophia | NEWTON | 5 | 1836 | |
Elizabeth | SMITH | 39 | 1802 | |
Mary | SMITH | 11 | 1830 | |
Ann | SMITH | 1 | 1840 | |
William | WARNES | 72 | 1769 | Ag Lab |
Martha | TURNER | 41 | 1800 | |
John | WATERS | 9 | 1832 | |
James | WATERS | 7 | 1834 | |
Elizabeth | WATERS | 4 | 1837 | |
Elizabeth | NOBES | 10 | 1831 | |
John | RICHES | 61 | 1780 | Ag Lab |
William | GATES | 77 | 1764 | Wheelwright |
Elizabeth | MOORE | 57 | 1784 | |
Robert | CHATTEN | 77 | 1764 | |
Ann | LAWES | 57 | 1784 | |
Robert | DICKENS | 76 | 1765 | |
Hannah | FULLER | 30 | 1811 | |
Mary | FULLER | 11 | 1830 | |
Elizabeth | FULLER | 9 | 1832 | |
Susan | FULLER | 5 | 1836 | |
Susan | GANT | 24 | 1817 | |
James | HOWELL | 30 | 1811 | Ag Lab |
Ann | HALL | 81 | 1760 | |
John | WHIDBY | 36 | 1805 | Ag Lab |
Sarah | WHIDBY | 54 | 1787 | |
Richard | WOODROW | 75 | 1766 | Ag Lab |
Charlotte | MURRELL | 12 | 1829 | |
Robert | MURRELL | 8 | 1833 | |
Elizabeth | NOBES | 22 | 1819 | |