Voices of the Victorian Poor

Voices of the Victorian Poor is an open database of letters from paupers, the wider poor and their advocates written between 1834 – 1900. These materials show even the very poorest members of society could be literate, understand the poor laws, regulations and rules, and were able and willing to resist or contest the power of the national and local state. The letters explain their situations in their own words, providing an invaluable insight into the lives of everyday ordinary Victorians whose thoughts and opinions are often considered ‘lost to history.’ The letters are a testament to the agency of the poor and their insistence to be considered citizens with rights.

The site was created as part of a Teacher Scholar Programme, exploring the letters alongside ten teachers to discover elements of these people’s lives that can aid the understanding of students in primary and secondary schools. Each teacher was tasked to create a resource using the letters to be used in classrooms. These free resources are now available for your use below, available online and as downloadable resources.

Visit the Voices of the Victorian Poor website

Illustration of a woman in a bonnet and shawl holding a baby with a small boy stood beside her

Children’s Clothing in the Workhouse

This lesson for KS2 explores the topic of clothing within the wider context of the enquiry ‘What was life like for a child in the Victorian Workhouse?’

Food Glorious Food

This lesson for KS2 explores the topic of food within the wider context of the enquiry ‘What was life like for a child in the Victorian Workhouse?’

Have we underestimated the Victorian Poor?

This resource is designed for a KS3 year 8-9 class with prior knowledge on the Victorian Workhouse.

Going to School in the Workhouse

This lesson for KS2 explores the topic of school within the wider context of the enquiry ‘What was life like for a child in the Victorian Workhouse?’

Punishment in the workhouse – Lesson One

This is the first of two lessons exploring descriptions of the punishment of the poor in the MH12 collection.

Punishment in the workhouse – Lesson Two

This is the second of two lessons exploring descriptions of the punishment of the poor in the MH12 collection.

Protesting against the New Poor Law

This document pack and associated activity are designed to support students with their depth study of Poverty, Public Health and the State in Britain c1780 - 1939.

A ‘right’ to relief?

It has previously been assumed that paupers themselves had little knowledge nor understanding of the legislation governed their position, yet letters sent to the poor law commission from across England and Wales challenge this notion.

Health and the Poor Law

This lesson for KS4 presents a carousel activity exploring aspects of Health in the MH12 collection.

Workhouse Women

The seven letters selected within this resource show a wealth of varied experiences of women inside the workhouse.