Workhouses Flashcards
What style were workhouses often built in
panopticon - prison style
define “less eligibility ”
the concept that the workhouse needed to be in worse condition than outside, so that people would only go there if they absolutely needed to
how were workhouses normally split up
families split - men, women and children
how did people lose identity?
treated as units, institutionalisation, no personal possessions allowed
what percentage did children make up of the workhouse
up to 40%
pauper children could be apprenticed at what age
9
what did the Education Act 1870 help with
education being put under the elementary system, so integration to the outside became easier
until what year were all meals eaten in silence
1842
what did some workhouses ban (related to diet/meals)?
cutlery
the daily routine was designed to be..
monotonous
why were these types of jobs chosen?
designed to rehabilitate and restore people to the outside workforce. If work couldn’t be found that was economical, then monotonous work was given
role of women
maintaining the workhouse - laundry, kitchen, childminding
3 examples of workhouse work
oakum picking, smashing limestone, sack making
what could workhouse work be compared to
that of convicts’
name some of the clear limits set out by the commission
women couldn’t be beaten, reduced rations and punishment cells used for minor offences, rewards could be used (e.g. pocket money, extra food, cleaner jobs)
