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Hard Times

"Mam and Dad were arguing this morning over the pawn shop. Dad's wages were late in coming through and Mam had to get her wedding tea set ready to pawn again. Dad felt bad and shouted that it wasn't his fault. Mam said she understood but at least this would keep us out of the workhouse. I know she didn't mean it really, but the workhouse kids at school are different - I'd hate to be one of them."

 

Vagrant´s Office, Huddersfield 1860s - large white-washed building with three people and a dog standing outside.
Vagrant's Office, Huddersfield 1860s

 

Please sir, could I have some more?  Were workhouses anything like Oliver Twist?


If you were unlucky, and your family fell on hard times you might end up at the Workhouse. The Workhouse (sometimes called the Poorhouse) was exactly like its name - a house you went to work in. They were not very pleasant places to live; the standard of living inside was to be 'less eligible' (more miserable) than the poorest independent labourer. The 'Workhouse test' gave someone the chance to decide whether to go in or not.


Once inside you were usually split from your family and sent to different wings of the poorhouse (though later elderly husbands and wives were allowed to share a room).

 

Begins: "The clothing worn by the paupers need not be uniform either in colour or materials.
Huddersfield Union Guardians' Handbook: Pauper clothing

The way of life was strict and there were many rules to follow, you were also expected to work hard for your bed and food. The Workhouse kept people alive, but many thought this was hardly charity.

 

Timetable shows time of rising, breakfast, work, dinner, work, supper and finally bed.
Huddersfield Union Guardians' Handbook: Timetable


Listen to the audio clip describing conditions in the workhouse:

Workhouse Memories - extract from memoirs of a young resident of St Luke's Workhouse

 

The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834

The poor had been looked after by their parish, but many things had increased the number of poor needing help - like weavers and spinners and even farmers losing their jobs because new machines had been made to replace them. Here is an outline of how it worked.

  1. Parishes would be grouped together as a 'Union' and each Union would have a Workhouse.
  2.  'Outdoor relief' was 'abolished'. In the past, the parish could give you extra money when times were hard and this allowed you to stay at home with your family. From now on all the family would have to go into the Workhouse.
  3. The 'Workhouse test' was created to make you really think about whether you were desperate enough to go into the Workhouse, or would you struggle outside as best you could. You would only be allowed in if you were poorer than the poorest labourer.
  4. Care of the sick, old and orphans. All of these people would be taken care of in the Workhouse.

Includes milk porridge, pea soup, suet pudding and cooked meat.
Crosland Moor Workhouse Diet Table

The Pawnbroker

The Pawnbroker was a place many people visited when money was running out. You would bring an object to 'pawn' - it could be clothes, ornaments or jewellery. The broker would give you some money for your objects and give you a ticket and a date. You were supposed to pay back the money before the due date. If you didn't the pawnbroker would sell the things that you had brought in.

Glossary

Workhouse - The place the parish sent the poverty stricken and homeless, such as unwanted orphans, unmarried mothers, widows and those too old or sick to work.