Genealogy Chat

I've found a family in workhouses in 1871. Mother in Stepney Union Bromley St. Leonard and 3 children in Lambeth Workhouse School, Lower Norwood. Once you were in a workhouse, how did you get out apart from marrying? Naomi

Hi Naomi, I believe that it was common practice for adults to be allowed to start work outside whilst the family were still in the workhouse. Then, when able, they could leave by looking for their own accomodation as they were again able to support themselves. In 1913, my Father and his siblings were sent to the workhouse because their parents were in an isolation hospital with TB. Their Father died there but their Mother recovered. When she was able the family were reunited and she was paid "outpayments " of 12 shillings and sixpence to live on.

Thanks David, I think the husband died which is why they ended up in there. I'm waiting on a cert for proof. However have found what I think is one daughter in the Camberwell workhouse in 1881 but another as a domestic servant and no sign of brother or mother. The search continues :0) Naomi

My grandad tells me that when he was a boy (around 1920) the local tramps would sometimes go to the workhouse for a bed for the night. They would admit them but they had to hand over any money in their possesion. To avoid this it was common practice for the tramps to hide their few coppers in the woods or a nearby wall. My grandad as a boy with his friends would craftily spy on them watch where they put it and pilfer it! No comeback as the poor tramps wern't supposed to have any money anyway. They would go from local workhouse to workhouse as there was a time limit of I believe a week before they could return. Sounds like a version of the modern day benefit fraud to me!! Penny

Naomi Many Workhouse children were shipped to Canada between 1870 and the early 1900's under numerous schemes. Try: http://www(.)collectionscanada(.)ca/02/020110_e.html You never know you you might find the lost child. (~: George

I have an entry in my tree for an approx 20 year old servant entered the workhouse on the day she had her daughter there and left a month later. No idea where she went after that. She didn't marry until a year later. No idea if he was the father of her child.

Thanks George, What an excellent site, very useful. Cheers Naomi