This is the first of two lessons exploring descriptions of the punishment of the poor in the MH12 collection. The first lesson explores punishments given to children while the second lesson examines pauper attitudes to punishments for the general population.

It was created as part of the Teaching the Voices of the Victorian Poor Teacher Scholar Programme.

You can download both parts in a single zip file here:

Download Punishment in the Workhouse lesson sequence

What can ‘pauper voices’ reveal about punishments for workhouse children?

Extract from the 1847 Consolidated General Order

Art. 136. – No child under twelve years of age shall be punished by confinement in a dark room or during the night.
Art 137. – No corporal punishment shall be inflicted on any male child, except by the Schoolmaster or Master.
Art 138. – No corporal punishment shall be inflicted on any female child.
Art 139. – No corporal punishment shall be inflicted on any male child, except with a rod or other instrument, such as may have been approved of by the Guardians or the Visiting Committee.
Art 140. – No corporal punishment shall be inflicted on any male child until two hours shall have elapsed from the commission of the offence for which such punishment is inflicted.
Art 141. – Whenever any male child is punished by corporal correction, the Master and Schoolmaster shall (if possible) be both present.
Art 142. – No male child shall be punished by flogging whose age may be reasonably supposed to exceed fourteen years.

Male child = under 13 years old
Female child = under 16 years old