Genealogy Chat

Kathlyn the Victorian Workhouse IS a shock when you first come across it, I agree. But you have to try to think with the mind of the times. The Workhouse was an expression of social conscience and a feeling that everyone should help those less fortunate than themselves. However, that social conscience clearly said that no one in receipt of public charity should be better off than anyone not in receipt of it, otherwise all the idle would flock in their droves to live an 'easy' life in the workhouse, at the expense of those who worked. I tend to agree with that sentiment, to a certain extent. The treatment of Imbeciles, Idiots and the insane, whilst it seems awful in the extreme, was again only a reflection of the attitudes held at the time. Medical diagnosis was in it's infancy, and many of the conditions would be today treatable, if not curable. We cannot blame the Victorians for not knowing this. Those same poor unfortunates would have fared very badly indeed in society - unable to work or care for themselves, they would have had a very early death. I discovered, quite by accident, a great great aunt, who no one had ever heard of. She spent the first 38 years of her life in the Workhouse, classed as an imbecile. In 1891, she has been reclassified as Deaf and Dumb. I absolutely broke my heart over this. Her admission to the Workhouse was aged 17 months, one week after the birth of her brother. The request for admission is supported by a Dr Chandler, so I can only assume that the Doctor persuaded them to have her 'put away'. I do not know if she ever had any visitors, but in 1892, shortly after both her parents died, she was released as a nursemaid, into the care of her 'kinsman', a Vicar from the IOM. they were harsh times, but it was ignorance, not cruelty, I think. OC

I managed to get the Lymington Workhouse info up but sadly inmates and staff details have yet to be added. I did lookup my own areas workhouse, Maldon, Essex and was surprised at how many people were there at the time of the census. I did also note the number of residents that were labeled, 'Imbicile', I expect in the older people it was dementia and in children anything from 'learning disorders to Downs'. Having read a few books on the workhouse system I am hurt by the understanding of the time as to why people were paupers. It brings to mind Oliver Twist, The Little match Girl and similar Victorian stories. How any so called well off person could not be moved by such things, I do not know. Kathlyn

Was drawn to this thread as my ancestors were Alderbury Workhouse residents. The site that Kathleen Bell added needs a .uk on the end to make it work. Nice site though, thanks Kathleen.

Also, i stumbled upon the fact that you can access all the workhouse records for each of the census years! you will need to know which enumeration district they were in (and this bits a pain, they could change from census year to year) but its fascinating and upsetting stuff. I don't know for sure it its like that for all the counties but they are definitely available for Sunderland Union Workhouse. Good Luck! Carole (viaSusan)

If you go to this site:- www.workhouses.org and put Lymington into the search box, you will get some information. Kath. x

YES...if you google it you will find info about it.: A new Lymington Union workhouse was erected in 1837. In 1835-6, the Poor Law Commissioners authorised an expenditure of £4,500 on construction of the buildings which was to accommodate 200 inmates. The building was designed by Sampson Kempthorne and was based on his model '200-pauper' plan published by the Commissioners in 1836. Ann

I am having a rest from my tree and having a go at a friends. I have found the following birth place for the wife....Lymington Union...does this mean it was the workhouse???? Kathlyn