Figure 1.--We note photographs of the boy inmates wearing simple smocks/pinsfores and dresses. A reader writes, "I think this photo must have been taken at the old Crumpshall workhouse before the 1857 building was opened." The quality of the photographs, however, suggest that they are much more recent. And the source reports the photographs were taken in 1910. Our reader provides a photograph of the boys in 1895, dressed uniformally in warm corduroy suits. Corduroy was a fabric often used for inexpensive clothing. It was a specialty of Manchester mills. On the continent in the Netherlands and Germany, corduroy was commonly called Manchester cloth. We can not explain the different outfits at this time. We suspect thst the pinafore/dress outfits were for everyday wear in the Workhouse. The suits may have been worn for special occassions, including events outside the work house such as going to church. Notice that they are all long pants suits. Click on the image for a fuller discussion of the corduroy suits.

We note that workhouses began to appear in Manchester early in the Industrial Revolution (late-18th century). Manchester in the heart of the industrial Midlands was at the center of the British industrial revolution. The most important workhouse in Msnchester was built at Crumpshall. The Manchester Board of Guardians erected a new union workhouse to meet the needs of thge expanding industrial city. This was adecade after the Potato Famine in Ireland which had greatly enlarged the need for work house spaces. They chose a site at Crumpsall to the north of the city, up the Irwell valley (1855-57). Presumably land there was less expensivec than in the city center. The workhouse bukldings were designed by Mills and Murgatroyd. They were built to accommodate 1,660 inmates, comprising: 745 able-bodied men and women; 152 women including 76 with infants; 248 idiots, imbeciles and epileptics; 255 children under 16; 60 probationers; 200 sick. he first inmates were able-bodied males who worked on the workhouse farm. Inmates only began living in the main workhouse lster (August 1858). The new workhouse buildings originally consisted of large T-shaped main block facing to the south-east. We note a photograph taken about 1910 at the Crumpsall Workhouse with boys wearing simple frocks for the summer. They were simple and inexpensive to purchase. The girls wore similar frocks (Figure 3). Other photigraphs show the boys wearing corduroy suits. We do not understand the different outfits at this time.

Circumstances

A reader provides us some information about the circumstances by which people were forced ingo a work house. He tells us, "I was recently researching life in the English workhouses. My mother's great grandfather was killed when working as a labourer on the construction of the Chatham-Dover Railway. He was run over by a wagon. The family lived in Dover. They were left destitute, and he was sent to the local workhouse as a pauper scholar. His mother went into service, so he had no family live. Luckily an uncle was able to take him as an apprentice signwriter. Eventually he progress to be head of the firm in Lamb's Conduit Street in London. This flouished until he retired in the 1960s. Their main skill was making the gold leaf signs for banks. At the time almost all banks had their name written in gold leaf on the main front window. From what I can find there was no family life in most workhouses. The buildings were divided into large dormitories. I cou;dn't find much infiormatioin bout the Dover Workhouse, but I did find quite a bit of information anout the Manchester Workhouse. It was a very large institution. The original building was constructed to house 1,660 inmates. This was extended to 1,963 by 1866."

Inmates

The Manchester Workhouse was a very large institution. The original building was constructed to house 1,660 inmates. This was extended to 1,963 by 1866. The inmates consisted of; 746 able bodied men and women 152 women (76 with infants) 248 idiots, imbeciles and epiletics 255 children up to 16. It is interesting in the 1881 census children as young as 3 are classed as pauper scholars rather than infants. 60 probationers 200 sick.

Rules

The rules were very strict. Here is the rules that were posted for all to read. I. That they obey the Governor and Matron in all their reasonable commands. II. That they demean themselves orderly and peaceable, with decency and cleanliness. III. That they never drink to excess. IV. That they be diligent at their work. V. That they work from six o'clock in the morning till six at night, in summer; and from seven o'clock in the morning till such hours in the evening, as the Directors shall appoint, in the winter; except Saturday afternoons, from four o'clock; and on Good Friday, Christmas Day, and the two days following, and Monday and Tuesday in the Easter and Whitsun Weeks, which are to be regarded as Holidays. VI. That they do not pretend sickness, or other excuses to avoid their work. VII. That they do no wilful damage, but execute their work to the best of their abilities. — Such rewards and gratuities shall be distributed to the industrious and skilful in proportion to the quantity and perfection of their work, as to the Church-wardens and Overseers shall seem reasonable. (Man. Act. Sec.36) VIII. That they regularly attend divine service on Sundays, and prayers before breakfast and supper every day. IX. That they go to breakfast, and to supper, in the Dining-Hall, when summoned by ring of bell. X. That they be allowed half an hour at breakfast, and an hour at dinner. XI. That no strong or spirituous liquors be allowed in the House, except by order of the Physicians or Apothecary. XII. That they do not curse, nor swear, nor lie. XIII. That they do not steal, sell their provisions, or sell or pawn their clothing, nor be guilty of any other breach of trust. XIV. That they never go out during working hours, nor at any other time, without leave. XV. That when permitted to go out, they do not stay longer than the hour appointed. WHOEVER shall offend against the above Rules, will be punished either by confinement in the stocks, or in the dungeon, or elsewhere, or by distinction of dress, by abatement of diet, loss of gratuity, by such corporal or other punishment as may be determined and adjudged by the Weekly Board of Overseers, according to the powers vested in them by the Act of Parliament. The Rules shall be read to the Poor in the House by the Governor on the first Monday in every month.

Arrangements

The disposition of the inmates was in large dormitories. The women on one floor, the men on another. There were separate dormitories for children. Imbeciles, lunatics, and the harmless insane were grouped with the epileptics. There were separate men and women's wards for those with skin diseases who were assessed before being allowed to enter the main wards.

Building

The building was very large and constructed to allow for 1200 sq feet per inmate. This generous accommodation by modern standards! The workhouse bukldings were designed by Mills and Murgatroyd. They were built to accommodate 1,660 inmates,

Clothing

We note photographs of the boy inmates wearing simple smocks/pinsfores and dresses. A reader writes, "I think this photo must have been taken at the old Crumpshall workhouse before the 1857 building was opened." The quality of the photographs, however, suggest that they are much more recent. And the source reports the photographs were taken in 1910. Our rader provides a photograph of the boys in 1895, dressed uniformally in warm corduroy suits (figure 1). Corduroy was a fabric often used for inexpensive clothing. It was apecialty of Manchester mills. On the continent in the Netherlands and Germany, corduroy was commonly called Manchester cloth. We can not explain the different outfits at this time. We suspect thst the pinafore/dress outfits were for everyday wear in the Workhouse. The suits may have been worn by the boys for special occassions, including events outside the work house such as going to church.

Ethos

Finally a comment by one of the benefactors: Poverty ... is a most necessary and indispensable ingredient in society, without which nations and communities could not exist in a state of civilisation. It is the lot of man – it is the source of wealth, since without poverty there would be no labour, and without labour there could be no riches, no refinement, no comfort, and no benefit to those who may be possessed of wealth. s

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Created: 9:17 AM 11/15/2011
Last updated: 9:17 AM 11/15/2011