My photograph for today's 365 is in the upper picture but for the explanation of my story I've added the aerial view of the whole workhouse, the yellow dot is where I stood for my entrance picture.
The Stroud Workhouse was built in 1836-40 and was designed for 500 inmates, the very poor, paupers and tramps. The block in my picture is a different date and was the superintendence's home.
If you were taken to the workhouse you went through a large doorway into a courtyard, it was here that the sadness begins. Families were dragged apart, women and children to washrooms on one side and the men to washrooms to other side, never to see each other again.
You will notice that the buildings were in the form of 2 crosses 3 stories high, with a chapel in the center. The separated families were housed on each side. On Sunday's the men were sent for prays in the chapel where there was a window looking down from the second floor from where a superior would watch the inmates. Once the male inmates were moved out then the women and children went into the chapel, another window from the other side had someone watching their every move.
Finally, on each floor, and in the center of the crosses was an office where the staff could look down each section to make sure the inmates where working.
Today it's all been converted to apartments and I had a friend who lived here on the top floor of one of the sections. There are several ghost stories that I can vouch are true, I've heard and felt them.
Actually a nice building, and nicely presented. But a grim social history...punished for being poor...and no economic safety net, so they could get a job, get back on their feet. Really a prison, 'H' block etc. Thank you for sharing photo and history. Fav.
So near to each other yet so far....so much unhappiness in that building, not sure if I would care to live there! No wonder the word workhouse was so dreaded!
Workhouses are fascinating places despite their dreadful past. Quite a few on my ancestors ended up in them (Wincanton, Mere & Shaftesbury) and I find them really interesting. Thanks for sharing this.
So what was worse - being sent to these workhouses or deported as a convict to Australia? our history has a lot of sadness in it! Thanks for sharing this which makes us grateful for today :)
Well captured- love the way you presented these. Yes, it is quite sad. I would be apprehensive about living in one of those apartments - too much past sorrow and unhappiness.
Interesting history Heather and great shots. Our local workhouse which then became the hospital has been knocked down and is in the process of being replaced with with a new GP centre.
