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Surrey / Re: Epsom Workhouse "Middle House" in 1941
« on: Tuesday 07 December 10 18:55 GMT (UK) »
Thank you so much for posting this original post, because it confirms my suspicion that my grandfather's wife and 4 children ended up in the Epsom workhouse in 1914, when they returned from his army service in India.
It seems incredible but: my grandfather was serving with an Irish regiment in India (1911-1914) and his family went out there with him; my uncle Len was born out there. When WW1 was imminent, my grandfather's battalion was recalled, only to be sent out as part of the expeditionary force to France in 1914.
As far as I can make out, on a private's wage, his family weren't terribly well off. But it seems that they ended up in the Epsom workhouse during the WW1 years. My late aunt Betty was born in Middle House in 1919, when grandad had obviously returned from the war. He is listed, at her birth, as living at 'Press Forward Lodge, Leatherhead'.
Something I'm really interested in is: what were the conditions of living in the workhouse at this time (ie early 20th century) and also how were workhouse inmates regarded?
It seems incredible but: my grandfather was serving with an Irish regiment in India (1911-1914) and his family went out there with him; my uncle Len was born out there. When WW1 was imminent, my grandfather's battalion was recalled, only to be sent out as part of the expeditionary force to France in 1914.
As far as I can make out, on a private's wage, his family weren't terribly well off. But it seems that they ended up in the Epsom workhouse during the WW1 years. My late aunt Betty was born in Middle House in 1919, when grandad had obviously returned from the war. He is listed, at her birth, as living at 'Press Forward Lodge, Leatherhead'.
Something I'm really interested in is: what were the conditions of living in the workhouse at this time (ie early 20th century) and also how were workhouse inmates regarded?