|
Pages: [1] 2
|
 |
|
Author
|
Topic: The Union Workhouse Walsall foreign (Read 1609 times)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
willow154
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 3157
Mum - Such love
|
Hi Jill,
I recently went on a visit to The Southwell Workhouse, near Nottingham, and found it really interesting.
Here, the old and infirm were separated from the able-bodied - even the recreation areas were separate. I gather that the old and infirm were felt to have a right to care, if they needed it, or their family could not provide it. And, I suppose there might be many reasons a family could not help.
Apparently the old and infirm were referred to as 'blameless' or deserving' poor!
Mainly people who could no longer work due to age-related disabilities, although they might have worked all their lives. Some would have lived in cottages 'tied' to their job and so lost their home with their iincome. Many of the blameless poor were those without families to support them. Althought couples might be admitted, it was more common for an elderly person to find they needed help after their spouse had died, so there were many unattached people in workhouses.
I didn't realise until I went on the visit that they had to apply to go in, and to leave!!!
Hope you find it interesting - I did!
Paulene 
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
stroud
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 18
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
|
Hello Jill, try an email to Walsall Archives, they are very helpful, and traced a burial for one of my relatives. Burials around that period were usually interned in Queen Street Cemetery, close to the Manor Road Workhouse. The Workhouse is now part of the Manor Hospital,Walsall...Mick
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
willow154
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 3157
Mum - Such love
|
Hi Jill,
Sorry it's taken me a while to get back to you - I've been searching for some sites for another thread.
Anyway, here is an excerpt from a really good book, which is worth a read:
In 1900 about 30% of the population over the age of 70 were in the workhouse. Indeed the older the individual was, the more likely it was that he or she would be cared for by the Poor Law authorities................Elderly men and women entered the workhouse mainly because they could no longer look after themselves, were not respectable enough to secure election to a charity-run almshouse or had nobody either willing or able to care for them.
He also says that a few old people went in voluntarily and paid towards their stay - some because they didn't want to be a burden on their family(and he quote an example of one man - 'because he could not stand the noise made by his grandchildren and wanted peace and quiet'.)
In case you'd like to buy/borrow a copy of the book it is:
Workhouse by Simon Fowler
ISBN 978-1-905615-03-2
Paulene
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
oldtimer
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 2883
Happy Days
|
Hi Jill
There are a couple of modern photos of the workhouse on the site I posted earlier.
Also, if you google St Matthew's Church Walsall, then click on images, there are lots of photos of the church available 
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pages: [1] 2
|
|
|
|
|
or would his family put him there or disowned him