Work House

[pcoups]

Can anyone tell me what the Union Workhouse in Whitehaven was all about . In the 1851 Census I 've found a possible relative aged 8 with no parents. Could this have been a place orphans were sent to? Where can I get more info about the work house? Thanks
Lynn

[Boongie Pam]

Hiya Lynn,

This is a good site about the workhouse.

http://users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/Whitehaven/Whitehaven.shtml

as  is

http://www.institutions.org.uk/workhouses/england/cumb/whitehaven_workhouse.htm

A small history here as well...

http://www.whitehaven.org.uk/information-historical.html

There are many more hits through Google.  I think there could be many reasons why a child may end up in a workhouse I have seen 2 reletives of mine appear on a census in a workhouse but return to their parents by the next census.

Pam