Workhouse (2)

This plaque dates the workhouse at 1839.

Interviewer: What was the place like, sort of, for comfort when it comes to heating?

Mr Carter: Excellent, it was all centrally heated and they had big fireplaces as well, you know, but, they all had steam radiators.

Interviewer: What were the dormitories like, can you describe one?

Mr Carter: Well, they were long, long wards with beds on either side, metal beds.

Interviewer: Did people tend to have many of their own belongings there, you know, a locker full of things that they could call their own?

Mr Carter: There were cupboards in the wards, but quite frankly I can’t remember lockers.

Interviewer: What about clothes?

Mr Carter: They were all supplied by the institution, by the workhouse. They all wore the same sort. The men wore corduroy trousers that squeaked when they walked, well, you know, when corduroy brushed together, you know, you got a sort of whistling noise. And their jackets and waistcoats were strong tweed.

Interviewer: And there must have been shirts as well I suppose?

Mr Carter: Yes, they were sort of flannel shirts, and neck-ties.

Interviewer: The women’s uniform?

Mr Carter: Well, it was a sort of like, if I remember the stuff, do they call it gingham? It was striped, blue stripes, very small blue stripes, and then they wore a white sort of apron, you know, with a sort of bib and apron.

Interviewer: They were long weren’t they?

Mr Carter: Oh and they had, oh they had - long, long dresses - and then they had caps, white caps, sort of round, ‘ruched’ or something or other?

Interviewer: Sort of pleated up?

Mr Carter: Yes.

©EMOHA