How do I find my workhouse records?

Visit The Workhouse website to access extensive information about workhouses. The ‘records and resources’ section may help you find out which local archives hold workhouse records.

Can I access workhouse records?

Few workhouse records are online, so the best place to start is often the County Record Office local to the institution. You will need to know roughly when your ancestor was in the workhouse and, if it was after 1834, which Poor Law Union their parish belonged to.

When was the last workhouse shut down?

Historians are still debating when exactly the workhouse system came to an end. Some date its demise to 1930 when the Board of Guardians system was abolished and many workhouses were redesignated as Public Assistance Institutions, becoming the responsibility of local councils.

When did the last workhouse close in England?

1 April 1930
The workhouse system was abolished in the UK by the same Act on 1 April 1930, but many workhouses, renamed Public Assistance Institutions, continued under the control of local county councils.

What were the conditions like in the workhouses?

The harsh system of the workhouse became synonymous with the Victorian era, an institution which became known for its terrible conditions, forced child labour, long hours, malnutrition, beatings and neglect.

What was it like living in the workhouse?

Upon entering the workhouse, the poor were stripped and bathed (under supervision). The food was tasteless and was the same day after day. The young and old as well as men and women were made to work hard, often doing unpleasant jobs. Children could also find themselves ‘hired out’ (sold) to work in factories or mines.

What was it like to live in a workhouse?

What food did they eat in the workhouse?

The main constituent of the workhouse diet was bread. At breakfast it was supplemented by gruel or porridge — both made from water and oatmeal (or occasionally a mixture of flour and oatmeal). Workhouse broth was usually the water used for boiling the dinner meat, perhaps with a few onions or turnips added.

How much did it cost to build Fir Vale workhouse?

The 44.5 acre site at Fir Vale was purchased in September 1874 at a cost of £16,800. The new workhouse, which was expected to have a total cost of £180,000, was designed by James Hall. The foundation stone for the building was laid on 16th September 1878 by Alderman Searle, Chairman of the Sheffield Guardians.

Where was the first workhouse in Plymouth?

Stoke Damerel workhouse infirmary, 2001 (Image: workhouses.org.uk) The Hospital of the Poor’s Portion was not a hospital in the modern sense but rather Plymouth’s first workhouse. It was located opposite St Andrew’s Church. The eastern side of the workhouse is where Plymouth Guildhall now stands.

What was the original name of Fir Vale Hospital?

On 21st March 1906, the Local Government Board issued an order to separate the hospital from the remainder of the site, renaming it Sheffield Union Hospital. It gradually became known as Fir Vale Hospital. After 1912, the workhouse officially became known as Fir Vale House Poor Law Institution.

What happened to Sheffield’s Kelham Street workhouse?

The new Sheffield Union decided to continue using the Kelham Street workhouse and also retained the Brightside workhouse which was used for the accommodation of children. The Kelham Street workhouse was enlarged in 1843 at a cost of £6,000.