england wales colloquially known spike place unable support offered accommodation employment earliest known use term dates account mayor reporting erected borough people origins traced poor law act attempted address labour shortages following england restricting movement labourers ultimately led state responsible support poor mass unemployment following end napoleonic wars introduction new technology replace agricultural workers particular series bad meant early 1830s established system poor relief proving new poor law attempted reverse economic trend provision relief refused enter poor law authorities hoped run profit free labour inmates generally lacked skills motivation compete open market employed tasks breaking stones crushing bones produce picking large metal nail known spike origin nickname life intended harsh deter able bodied poor ensure truly apply areas provision free medical care education children available poor england living outside early 20th century inmates general population dilemma poor law authorities managed reconcile 19th century wore increasingly elderly sick able bodied poor legislation passed allow local authorities municipal hospitals formally abolished legislation continued new public assistance institutions control local authorities national assistance act poor law disappeared legal social background medieval early modern period poor law act attempt address labour shortage caused devastating killed england population new law fixed wages restricted movement labourers anticipated allowed leave parishes higher paid work wages inevitably rise according historian fear social disorder following plague ultimately resulted state personal christian charity responsible support poor resulting laws origins state funded relief poor 16th century onwards distinction legally able work able work genuinely unemployed supporting problem exacerbated began significant source charitable relief provided good deal direct indirect employment poor relief act went establish principle able bodied poor needed support work act relief poor parishes legally responsible care boundaries age unable work act essentially classified poor groups proposed able bodied offered work house correction precursor persistent punished proposed construction housing poor old assistance granted form poor relief known outdoor relief money food given living homes funded local tax property wealthiest parish georgian era system evolved 17th century allowing parishes reduce cost providing poor relief authoritative figure numbers comes century poor drawn following government survey number parish england wales approximately parish seven total capacity places growth number prompted test act seeking poor relief enter undertake set work usually pay system called indoor relief act helped prevent irresponsible claims parish poor rate growth number bolstered relief poor act proposed gilbert act intended allow parishes share cost poor relief forming unions known build maintain larger accommodate elderly able bodied poor instead given outdoor relief found employment locally relatively set inadequate wages system established end 18th century keen poor law authorities cut costs possible cases reported husbands forced sell wives avoid financial burden parish case wife child living sold market parish paid cost journey wedding dinner 1830s parishes badly managed work state poor sir wrote building small windows low rooms dark surrounded high wall gives appearance prison prevents free circulation air beds room chiefly flocks consequently productive passages great want regular account kept deaths smallpox appearance house mortality great inmates house children lieu sparsely populated parishes placed homeless rented accommodation provided relief homes entering joined handful inmates instance liverpool accommodated men women children larger generally served number communities case parishes writing poor law commissioner viewed little factories established mainly conducted view profit labour inmates means relief time testing reality truth time kind carried risk cost poor rate employing worst description people helping best act spent poor relief nationally risen million year shillings head population million large number seeking assistance pushing system verge collapse economic following end napoleonic wars early 19th century resulted increasing numbers unemployed coupled developments agriculture meant labour needed land successive bad beginning reform inevitable suspected system poor relief widely abused government established investigate recommend relief best given poor result establishment england wales poor law amendment act known new poor law discouraged allocation outdoor relief able bodied cases offered house individual parishes formed union built years thirds certain parts country good deal resistance new buildings violent particularly industrial north workers lost jobs major economic depression strong feeling unemployed needed short term relief tide poor law unions formed england wales incorporating parishes unions established entire country year applied gilbert unions despite intentions act relief poor remained responsibility local powerful economic incentive use sickness family continue outdoor relief weekly cost person half providing accommodation outdoor relief restricted terms outdoor relief order aimed end altogether able bodied poor million maintained considered able bodied leaving estimated able bodied outdoor relief excluding periods extreme economic distress estimated cent british population accommodated given time early victorian new poor law commissioners critical existing generally insisted replaced complained particular far greater number cases large young trained ignorance vice able bodied maintained sluggish sensual aged respectable exposed misery incident dwelling society constructed central buildings surrounded work exercise yards enclosed brick walls called commission proposed new allow segregation distinct groups housed separately aged children able bodied males able bodied females common layout resembled prison radial design storey buildings centre set rectangular courtyard perimeter defined storey entrance block single storey enclosed wall basic layout designed architect design interior known star allowed separate work exercise yards class separating inmates intended serve purposes direct treatment needed deter physical barrier illness physical mental commissioners argued buildings based plans symbolic recent changes provision poor relief assistant commissioner expressed view feel utterly impossible contend confidence poor law guardians assistant commissioner claimed new design intended terror able bodied population architect critical called set ready designs possible character critics new poor law noted similarities plans model prisons doubted merely compared plan poor professor calls romantic conservative critique english moral aesthetic values 1840s enthusiasm designs waned limited space built areas concerns ventilation buildings unions moved away designs separate blocks designed specific functions built typically entrance building contained offices main building housed linked long corridors designed improve ventilation lighting possible building separated exercise yard use specific category admission discharge poor law union employed relieving officers job visit applying assistance assess relief given applicants considered need immediate assistance issued note admitting directly alternatively offered necessary money goods tide meeting guardians decide appropriate level support applicants assigned designed single entrance guarded porter inmates visitors alike pass near entrance casual relieving rooms housed examined medical officer assessed separated allocated appropriate ward category boys able bodied men men girls able bodied women women children age allowed remain mothers entering considered responsibility families clothing personal possessions taken stored returned discharge bathing issued distinctive uniform men striped cotton shirt jacket trousers cloth cap women blue white striped dress worn underneath shoes provided establishments certain categories marked clothing prostitutes required wear yellow dress pregnant single women red dress practices directive issued entitled dress women continued separate foul ward inmates diagnosed skin diseases detained entering proper conditions casual worse relieving rooms deliberately designed discourage considered potential trouble makers probably disease ridden presented door mercy porter decision bed night casual ward refused entry sentenced weeks hard labour found begging sleeping open prosecuted offence act typical early 19th century casual ward single large room furnished kind bucket middle floor offer basic poor law authorities richmond provided straw beds available sick return night accommodation expected undertake certain work leaving day men required break stones hours women pick hours breakfast passage casual poor act discharge day following admission onwards required detained second day admitted month required detained fourth day admission inmates free leave wished giving reasonable notice generally considered hours parent discharged children discharged prevent abandoned comic actor spent time mother records autobiography half brother returned having sent school met gate mother hannah dressed clothes desperate discharged children spent day playing visiting coffee shop work poor law authorities hoped payment work undertaken inmates produce profit allow self supporting small income produced matched running costs eighteenth century inmates poorly managed lacked skills compete effectively free market industries spinning weaving operated places employment houses correction role similar magistrate experimented test poverty source profit leading establishment large number purpose local people concerned competition businesses cheap labour late instance complaining members threatened cheap offer east end london inmates allocated tasks caring sick teaching capabilities employed generally pointless work breaking stones removing telegraph wires picked large metal nail known spike source nickname bone crushing useful creation task inmates perform government inquiry conditions found reduced fighting rotting bones supposed grinding suck resulting scandal led withdrawal bone crushing employment living replacement conditions regulated according list rules contained included guidance issues diet staff duties dress education discipline grievances poor law unions opted send children british colonies particular canada australia hoped fruits labour contribute defence empire enable colonies buy british exports known school sent boys colonies taken ladies strong resolve began taking groups children canada taken farming families ontario canadian government paid small fee ladies child delivered cost met charities far possible elderly inmates expected undertake kind work younger men women concessions relative alternatively required clean carry domestic tasks later set project provide alternative occupation non able bodied inmates known scheme volunteers provided training crafts lace making costs initially borne slow discovered goods produced enterprise self financing scheme gradually spread country branches diet distributed inmates chosen depending local circumstances food generally adequate according contemporary records prepared great care issues training staff serve weigh portions understood included general guidance schedules class laid weekly rotation meals selected daily basis list instance breakfast bread followed dinner consist cooked pork bacon vegetables potatoes soup rice supper normally bread cheese butter potatoes larger separate dining rooms males females separate dining rooms meal times avoid contact sexes rations provided indoor staff generous master instance received times food given education education provided children teachers particular problem poorly paid formal training facing large classes children little interest lessons stayed job months effort force offer basic level education legislation passed requiring able read sign papers training college teachers set hall 1840s closed following decade children trained skills valuable area boys placed workshop girls tasked spinning making gloves jobs suited sex ages abilities fields children trained spinning picking hair wool placed links local industry nottingham children employed cotton mill earned year parishes advertised willing pay employer prepared offer agreements supporting children children subject inspection justices lowering chance punishment neglect viewed better long term method teaching skills children work supporting child considerably cheaper outdoor relief children matter arranged permission knowledge parents supply labour factory remained popular 1830s viewed form transportation getting parish agent reported parents came crying children suggests poor factories sort religion religion played important life prayers read breakfast supper day poor law union required appoint chaplain look spiritual needs inmates invariably expected established church_of_england religious services generally held dining hall early separate chapel parts country notably cornwall northern england members established church section poor law specifically forbade regulation forcing attend church services mode contrary religious principles commissioners reluctantly forced allow non leave sundays attend services long able provide certificate attendance signed minister return 19th century wore non ministers increasingly began conduct services catholic priests rarely welcomed variety legislation introduced 17th century limit civil rights catholics beginning act wake failed year restrictions catholics england ireland removed roman catholic relief act great deal anti catholic feeling remained areas large catholic populations liverpool appointment catholic chaplain guardians went far refuse catholic priests entry discipline discipline strictly enforced minor offences swearing sickness diet restricted hours offences violent behaviour confined hours diet restricted girls punished way adults boys age beaten rod instrument approved guardians bringing liquor taken justice peace jailed handed recorded punishment book examined regularly guardians locally elected representatives participating parishes overall responsibility running management commissioners responsible regulatory framework operated union run locally elected board guardians comprising representatives participating parishes assisted members guardians usually farmers roles contracting supply goods position prove lucrative friends commented clear awarding contracts involved petty corruption endemic poor law system act allowed women guardians provided met property requirement female elected working class guardians appointed property requirement dropped favour occupying rented premises worth year complement time staff referred indoor staff head governor master appointed board guardians duties laid series orders issued overall administration masters required discipline necessary visit ward twice daily female inmates children seven responsibility general master usually married couple charged running minimum cost maximum efficiency lowest possible wages large thousand employed staff smallest porter assistant nurse addition master typical inmates staff included time chaplain time medical officer low pay meant medical officers young inexperienced add difficulties unions obliged pay pockets drugs medical supplies needed treat patients later developments abolition second major wave construction began result report poor law conditions found london provinces london inspector observed meet requirements medical science able suggest arrangements enable middle 19th century growing purpose longer solely chiefly act able bodied poor generation buildings widely considered inadequate new built mainly london lancashire yorkshire architectural styles began adopt features better fit surroundings present intimidating face surviving example gateway designed somewhat style medieval major feature new generation buildings long corridors separate leading men women children architectural fashion moved away corridor design favour pavilion style based military hospitals built war providing light accommodation opened comprised seven parallel storey separated foot wide airing yards pavilion space beds day room nurse kitchen toilets start 20th century new fitted impressive standard opened yorkshire steam boilers automatic supplying heating hot water building generator provide electricity institution electric lamps electric lifts pavilion early aware dilemma posed ideology new poor law promptly attended qualified medical patient furnished promote recovery denied condition respects better money influence secure prompt careful attendance education children presented similar dilemma provided free paid merely poor free elementary education children provided instead eligible living certain respects eligible living poverty outside late 1840s outside london larger provincial towns housed incapable elderly sick responsibility administration poor law passed emphasis soon shifted helpless poor role care sick helpless diseases prevention act allowed offer treatment non inmates beginning 20th century able operate private hospitals end century cent admitted unemployed cent population introduction aged result reduction number elderly housed reduce number outdoor relief cent reported deal different categories resident traditionally housed recommended specialised institutions class established treated appropriately properly trained staff future reserved local government act gave local authorities power municipal hospitals outside london system abolished act april renamed public assistance institutions continued control local county councils late outbreak second world war people accommodated children national assistance act poor law disappeared buildings converted old folks homes run local authorities slightly cent local authority accommodation elderly provided continued shelter homeless men operated renamed centre museum provide temporary accommodation mothers children early 1990s modern view poor law designed address issue poverty considered inevitable lot people concerned inability individual support writing patrick commented poverty necessary ingredient society nations communities exist state lot man source wealth poverty labour labour comfort benefit possessed wealth argued largely designed pool able bodied group hardly existed outside imagination generation political life intended harsh deter able bodied poor ensure truly apply principle known eligibility writing years introduction described motives authors new poor law force poor bed notions treated poor incredible purpose labour clear according historian early days punishment source income parish 19th century idea work punishment increasingly idea took hold work inmates eventual independence rewarded workers maintenance incentive seek work art literature dramatic possibilities provided inspiration artists including depicting young widow pleading bread children painted following visit meeting guardians course contains known request oliver master sir want food popular piece literature dramatic monologue christmas day better known line christmas day chapter novel paris london gives brief vivid account stay london streets short period late twenties early version account published essay spike issue
Workhouse