We visited the old Workhouse (museum) in Southwell, UK that is now run by the National Trust. It was built in 1824 and was seen as a last resort for the poor who couldn’t work and for people suffering from unemployment. All of the rooms were set up to represent how they would have looked at the time.
Walking around the Workhouse you got a sense that even though people had a roof over their heads and food in their bellies, it was a very harsh life and quite brutal at times, with food being withdrawn as punishment.
People were expected to work for their food and lodgings. The men, would do hard labour such as stonebreaking and hole digging.
The women would do domestic duties such as sewing and laundry.
The food was usually gruel, broth, meat and potatoes with a few more vegetables from the garden.
Men, women, children and disabled people were all kept separately. These were the dormitories.
People's memories have been written on bed sheets, pillows and clothes. It was really interesting although very sad. These thoughts are from a 1970s care assistant.
The mortuary was aptly named the "dead room".
The workhouse stayed open until the early 1990s, being used to provide a place for mothers and children. It was a fascinating place and well worth the visit with very knowledgeable staff.
