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Life
within the workhouse was meant to be harsher
than normal. The workhouse itself was built to
be grim and intimidating - designed to look
and function like a prison. It was the belief
that such an environment would act as a
deterrent leaving only those in absolute
poverty to enter.
As
the number of inmates entering grew rapidly,
the workhouse became a place of overcrowding
and disease.
Admittance
to the workhouse was also made a degrading
experience. Initially inmates were segregated
into specific groups eg. Men, Women, Girls,
Boys, Elderly, Infirm, Sick. This saw families
being divided, often never to be reunited or
have contact with each other again. Inmates
were immediately stripped, searched, washed
and given a severe haircut. Their belongings
and clothes were taken away. Few, if any
personal possessions were permitted. Inmates
were then given a uniform, it was often coarse,
dull, simple and as cheap as possible. From
here inmates would then be sent to their
block.
With
such an intimidating building and
brutal routine,
aversion to the 'house' became extremely
strong.
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