Archive and reference: The National Archives MH 12/6850
Date of letter: 11 November 1863
Poor Law Union: Bethnal Green Poor Law Union
CIRCUMTEXT:
Send copy to the Gns for their observns
<AH> 13 Nov ‘63
TEXT:
My Lords and Gentlemen Nov. 11th 1863
We the undersigned being inmates of Bethnal Green Workhouse humbly bring forward to your notice the following complaint.
You may be probably aware that the labour allotted to the class of men termed able-bodied in consists of breaking stones but we do not think you are aware that we have ^to^ break any certain quantity neither do we think that it specifies in your code of laws that we are to be punished in the event of us not breaking that certain quantity Viz 5 Bushels The master says you are but we cannot think so and we write this so as to be enabled know from you direct if it is so we must bow to your decision if it is not so we should be highly gratified
We the undersigned are those that find it beyond capabilities to perform the allotted task consequently we are receiving bread and water only as our diet every other day We also have lay a complaint against the master he having refused to supply us with the necessary articles to lay before you our complaint
William Davis X
William Mills
Edward Reynolds
John Forecast
George Foredice X
Frederic Tuting X
Henry Hopwood – under 16 [“under 16” written in a different hand]
Abraham Davis X
Inmates of Bethnal
Green Workhouse
Document 4 – Petition. From the male inmates of the Bethnal Green workhouse stating that they are being punished for a labour task which is beyond them to undertake.
What punishments does the pauper receive? Not clear – but they are being punished for not breaking the correct amount of stones. In the last part of the letter, there is the suggestion that their diet is being restricted and also that they are denied writing materials. “Alteration of diet was the most common punishment and, since workhouse food was neither plentiful nor appealing, additional restrictions on meals would have been unwelcome to disorderly and refractory inmates” – S. Williams, ‘Paupers Behaving Badly: Punishment in the Victorian Workhouse, Journal of British Studies 59 (October 2020), pp. 764-792.
What does the evidence suggest about workhouse staff? The staff are prepared to punish paupers for not meeting a work ‘quota’. The master of the workhouse believes he is entitled to this.
What does the nature of the evidence reveal about the paupers? The paupers are aware that there are rules in the workhouse that must be adhered to – and they are prepared to challenge that. Some are illiterate (X next to name).