Person:Elizabeth Beeson (1)

Explaination of Work House by Nottinghamshire researcher and National Trust docent

The Poor Law of 1601 made every village responsible for its own poor people. They had to raise money from a local levy (the Poor Rate). Most of the help was given as "out relief". This was financial help, or help in kind, given to people where they already lived. If they could not pay their rent some money was given to them. I recently saw some Poor Law Accounts for a village where they had paid 1 shilling and 4 pence for an apron for a poor woman. Another woman was given some money to look after another old lady who was ill. All this relief was given "outside" the workhouse - hence "out relief".

Some villages set up a Workhouse to provide work for unemployed people. This was often a small cottage where the people went to work during the day but went home at night. Some were a bit larger and people may have stayed there for a time.

In 1834, after the Poor Law Commission had heard evidence about the working of the "Old" Poor Law, the government produced the "New" Poor Law. This established administrative areas throughout the country containing up to 50 - 60 parishes - these were called Poor Law Unions. Each area could build its own Workhouse to serve the whole area, not just the individual village. These institutions tended to be larger, probably up to 150 in country areas and maybe 300 in large towns and cities. The idea was that NO relief would be given to poor people outside the workhouse. Individuals or families only got help INSIDE the workhouse. In practice this was not always the case, and "out relief" was still given in some cases. People who were ill (any age), or old, or unemployed (young or old) had to agree to go into the workhouse if they needed help. It was rather a tough life, but at least they were fed, sheltered and had some (menial) work to do - they were not paid. The work was usually to help out in the workhouse and work in the gardens to provide food for the inmates of the workhouse. Over the years these workhouses became more like homes for elderly people and primitive kinds of hospitals for those who were ill, as well as for orphans, or poor families. The physically ill were usually mixed with the mentally ill. By 1900 there were trained nurses and more staff that had medical experience. In 1930 the County Councils took them over. Some were used as old peoples homes, others for housing homeless families until new housing could be found for them. The children were often moved out to newer accommodation.

As for "Poor houses", I am not sure what this meant, unless it was just another name for Workhouses. I suppose it could have been used for "alms houses". These were cottages or groups of small houses built by people with money for the elderly. Sometime there were charitable organisations who built such accommodation. I will ask the researcher with the National Trust who deals with the Southwell Workhouse to see if she has any ideas. I give talks about the Southwell Workhouse. It is being restored by the National Trust and will open in 2002.

1. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   RG11, piece 3432, folio 45, page 32. FHL film 1341821.

   dwelling #3 Albert St, Chesterfield, England,