A pauper letter to the local Board of Guardians for Polar Workhouse, listing a series of complaints. According to the letter, a potato was sent in as evidence of the rotten food that workhouse inmates were given to eat, 23rd November 1888, Catalogue ref: MH12/7700
Poor Law Union: Poplar
Union counties: Middlesex
Modernised Transcript
Poplar Union Workhouse
23rd November 1888
The Local Government Board
Gentlemen,
I beg again to call your attention to our grievances in the Poplar Workhouse.
- To the sample of potatoes (of which a specimen I forward on to you for your opinion) which is issued out to us. Many of which are rotten, and on stew-days after being boiled, peeled are put in our stew.
- The meat which we are allowed on soup days and pie days, if sent in, seldom is ever issued or served up to us.
- To the beastly state of the clothes which are given to the men to put on admission, dirty, ragged and thread bare.
- Only two towels provided in the receiving ward for the use of perhaps from 24 to 40 new admissions after bathing.
- The continual bad cooking and no heed paid to complaints made. “Take it or leave it” anything is fit for such as you!
- The bread oft times [deficient] in weight, issued out by the 5 or 4 [ounce] loaf instead of by weight. These reports have been brought forward again and again, but no redress is given. The continuation of the same old game’ Cheating paupers of a small allowance of their dietary.
Further, after giving 72 hours’ notice for discharge, a pauper cannot get out before 10 o’ clock to look for work. Sundays are not counted in the three days, but have to go 96 hours or a day more. How can men look for a new job of work when a good ½ of the day is gone, this gives him no opportunity of getting work? If it was 7’o clock it might enable him. In conclusion I trust that our complaints will be looked into by you for the Guardians are in the Majority led to believe paupers complaints are exaggerated by a not over scrupulous Master to his own interests or whims. I remain, Gentlemen,
Your Obedient Humble servant,
J.W. Mouleynes, [Esquire]