Workhouse regime Flashcards
Under the new regime, what did the workhouses become?
Became a principal means in to effect relief and intended as a deterrent to those seeking help
What was established?
Poor Law Commission
What did the commission organise?
15000 existing parishes into 600 larger unions to allow for larger workhouses, appointed local men as governors as ‘guardians’
How many Workhouses had been built by 1839?
350
Why did guardians want to lower costs to minimise financial burden on ratepayers?
Workhouses were expensive to build, Banbury house in 1835 cost £6,200
How many hours were inmates commonly working?
10 hour days
What work did they have to do?
Varied from house to house and depended on what inmates could physically do
What was banned?
Beer and tobacco
What did inmates receive in exchange for their work?
Bed, basic diet
What food and drink did they receive?
Basic diet of bread, cheese and gruel (thick porridge), and water
What did they get once a week?
Soup, meat, potatoes and tea was a privilege reserved for the elderly
What were inmates given to wear?
The same uniform
How were they divided?
Men and Women separated, some between the ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’, families separated until they left
