Genealogy Chat

Hi Susan Here's a useful link: http://users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/

Thanks Nell Some of them were inmates but it did not say anything next to my ancestor. Poor thing!! I wonder why his family did not help him? Poor aswell I suppose. He had quite a few children. Sue

You may even find the one your ancestor was in. Hitchin's Union workhouse is now a hospital for elderly folk. nell

Hi The workhouse was part of the poor law act 1834, those who were poor were sent to the workhouse. conditions were very harsh. the idea was to stop begging, and lazy people, it was beleived it would encourage people to help themselves. sadly that is what they thought back then. Those who entered the workhouse were called inmates. If you google "worhouse" you should be able to find out lots of info on the subject. Julie

Sue Union workhouses were set up under the 1834 poor law. The "union" was between 2 or more parishes, who shared the workhouse between them. It was where people were sent if they were unemployed and lacked any financial support. Often there was an infirmary (hospital) attached. I believe people could go there daily for a soup kitchen handout of food, but poor elderly folk often died there and it was also where illegitimate babies were born if their fathers didn't support the mother [think of Oliver Twist]. nell

I have found my GGGgrandfather Aged 83 on the 1901 census in a Union Workhouse. I have googled but cannot work out, is it a place for someone homeless or an inmate? Thanks for any replies Sue