Correspondence with Poor Law Unions & local authorities
We hope you enjoyed watching our Education Service video with Paul Carter Principal Records Specialist (Modern Domestic) for collaborative projects looking at documents inherited by the Ministry of Health concerning the 1834 Poor Law. This video focusses on documents written by those who experienced the system and those who controlled it.
Now try and answer the following questions:
- What is the two-letter reference code of the Ministry of Health series discussed in this video?
- What type of poor law authority records did the Ministry of Health inherit?
- What type of poor law union correspondence can we find in this collection?
- Why did those who experienced the Poor Law (as paupers receiving relief or poor people wishing to access it) write to the central authorities that supervised local poor law authorities?
- What type of information can be gathered from their letters?
- Why did a pauper complain about treatment of inmates in the Liverpool Workhouse?
- Why is it significant that this complaint letter was printed in ‘the Daily Chronicle’ newspaper?
- What does the existence of a ‘pauper poem’ reveal about the voices’ of the Victorian poor?
- Why do you think this MH collection is so valuable for finding about the lives of the Victorian poor?
Document 1
Letter from Thomas Henshaw from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, to the Poor Law Commission, 5 February 1842. Catalogue ref: MH 12/9232/46
- How do we know this document is a letter?
- Why has Thomas Henshaw written this letter to the central Poor Law authorities?
- What evidence does the letter provide that Thomas Henshaw and his family are in desperate need of relief?
- In which industry is a framework knitter associated? What does the job involve?
- What does the letter reveal about Henshaw’s actions and understanding of how the Poor Law worked?
- What do the following phrases from Henshaw’s letter infer (a) ‘submit my case’ (b) ‘Edwin Chadwick, Clark to the Poor Law Commissioners’ (c) ‘I saw a circular’?
- What does the letter infer about the Poor Law as a system for social welfare?
- How would you describe the language and tone of Henshaw’s letter to the Poor Law Commissioners?
- What do we learn about Thomas Henshaw’s character and education from this letter?
- What do you think Thomas Henshaw felt about his experience of the Poor Law?
- What do you think is the value of personal letters as historical evidence of the past?
- Why do you think this letter, and similar ones are found in the Ministry of Health collections at The National Archives?
Transcript
Ilkeston February 5, 1842
Gentlemen
I beg here most humbly to submit my case to you for your consideration and pray that you will afford me that redress in my most distressing case. I am a poor man by trade, a framework knitter and have been for a length of time nearly out of employment and now entirely so, I have a wife and 3 children, and we have been completely destitute of food since February 1st to the present time.
I applied on the 3rd to the relieving officer, Mr Stotten for relief or an order to the union to the union workhouse and he refused to do either- I then applied to Mr Bennet assistant overseer, and he refused likewise. I then applied to Mr Radford, a Magistrate at Smalley who sent a positive order to Mr Bennett to see to my case as I was destitute, according to the 54 clause in the poor law amendment Bill, but still he refuses to allow me anything so that we live and die in a land of plenty, though I saw a circular from Mr Chadwick, clark to the Poor Law Commissioners stating you would hold officers responsible for any evil consequence arising out of such neglect- Gentlemen I submit my case to you and hope you will afford me that assistance as speedily as possible my case needs which will oblige
your Humble servant
Thomas Henshaw
Document 2
Page from a Poor Law form for Holywell Workhouse, Flintshire, 1871. The form was used as part of an inspection report by Andrew Doyle, Poor Law Inspector, to Local Government Board. Catalogue ref: MH 12/16192
Notes:
- Vagrant/casual ward: a specific ward within the workhouse used to house homeless paupers who moved from place to place. Individuals were given food and a bed for a night in return for a day’s work.
- Skillie/skilly: thin watery porridge or soup.
This document uses some outdated language at the end which is considered inappropriate and offensive today. We have included it as part of the historical record.
- What type of document is this?
- Can you explain its purpose?
- What do the numbered questions in the document reveal about workhouses run by local Poor Law authorities?
- Name two other examples of information gathering on the operation of the workhouses mentioned in this document. How could they be useful to historians of the Poor Law?
- What is the message of the poem recorded for ‘Question 8’ in this document?
- Can you explain the use of irony in the lines: ‘Send the Guardians to Hell as soon as they die’; ‘We lie on Boards at their command’?
- What does the poem suggest about the experience of those who applied for relief from the Poor Law?
- What does the comment: ‘latest contribution to tramp poetic literature’ suggest about those who experienced poverty in Victorian times?
- Why do you think the poem was anonymous and signed as ‘Yankee sailor’?
Transcript
- Are the provisions of the 19th Section of the Act of the 4 and 5 Wm. IV [King William IV] c.76 duly and systematically observed in the management of the workhouse?
[Note]: (see former Reports)
- Are there vagrant wards in the Workhouse, and are they sufficient? Are the arrangements for setting the vagrants to work effective and is the resolution of the Guardians under 5 and 6 Vict., [Queen Victoria] c.57, Se. 5, duly observed?
Yes.
I copy the following- the latest contribution to tramp poetic literature from the wall of the vagrant ward: –
Jesus wept and well he might
To see us all poor mumpers in such a plight
A can of skillie in our hand
They call it relief in a Christian land
O God defend the tramps say I
Send the Guardians to Hell as soon as they die
We lie on Boards at their command
Nice treatment in a Christian land.
O sweet spirit hear my prayer
Cut them from salvation rare
And feed them upon straw and sand
They will call it relief in a Christian Land
‘Yankee sailor’
- [a] Does the Visiting Committee regularly inspect the Workhouse? [b] Do any of their answers to the queries in the Workhouse regulations suggest the propriety [suitability] of any interference on the part of the Commissioners?
a/ Yes b/ No
Insert a copy of any entry made since your last visit in the Visiting Committee’s book, or other report book, by a Commissioner in Lunacy. [See note in document caption.]
Document 3
Letter from Mary Powderley, Barnsley, Yorkshire West Riding, to the Poor Law Board, explaining why she does not want to go to the workhouse, 20 February 1856, Catalogue ref: MH 12/14677
Transcript
Barnsley,
February 20th, 1856
Gentlemen, I beg to be excused in trespassing upon your time and hope my humble application will receive your most kind considerations. The particulars of this is in consequence of my distressed condition. I am a widow with one daughter who is in a very bad state of health and not able to follow constantly her employment. I am also afflicted and can only casually perform labour which leaves me in a very depressed condition. I have a son who for a short period supported me, but he has enlisted in the army and gone to serve our most Gracious Queen which leaves me un-supported at an advanced age, I have been a rate payer in Barnsley and hope while my son is serving his country that you sirs will assist me in obtaining that relief which you may deem right in order that I may be saved from going in to the Union house in Barnsley. I have applied to the Board of Guardians and the house if offered to me, whereas my daughter would be left homeless or be compelled to go in with me, she is seventeen years of age and by proper attention she may become able to labour after she passes her critical years. As I stated in the commencement, that myself and daughter, can labour partially, I beg gentlemen that you will give such instructions to the Board of Guardians as will lead to a small amount of outdoor relief and with what little we can earn we shall be able to maintain ourselves and at the same. My best thanks will be the reward of your indulgence and hopes you will excuse imperfections.
I remain your most humble and obedient servant,
Mary Powderley, Jacksons Yard, Dawson Well, Barnsley, Yorkshire.
To the Poor Law Commissioners, Green Gardens, London
P.S. I hope, Gentlemen to receive your instruction at the same time, [I beg] to be excused and hope by next Board day, I shall receive your indulgence. M.P. [Mary Powderley]
- Comment on the style of address and tone used in this letter written by Mary Powderley.
- What family circumstances have caused her to request payment of ‘out relief’?
- What is her justification for this payment?
- Why does she want to avoid being sent to the workhouse in Barnsley?
- What does the letter reveal about Mary Powderley’s understanding of the working of the Poor Law?
- How does Powderley build personal and family respectability into her letter?
- What is the value of this letter for understanding social welfare in Victorian Britian?
Document 4
A letter from J.W. Mouleynes to the local Board of Guardians for Poplar Workhouse, Middlesex, to the Local Government Board, 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, 23 November 1888, Catalogue ref: MH 12/7700
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]
- Why has the writer included a potato with his letter?
- Summarise his complaints about the workhouse conditions. What do they reveal about his knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of poor law officials?
- What makes it difficult to get employment after discharge from the workhouse according to the writer?
- Why does he criticise the workhouse master?
- Do you think the Poor Law Guardians would have acted on the complaints in this letter?
Document 5
A letter from Sarah Hancot, Sheffield, Yorkshire West Riding, to the Local Government Board, on behalf of her family. She included a photograph taken in a studio of her husband, 20 May 1873, Catalogue ref: MH 12/15481.
Transcript
Sir, I hope you will excuse me writing these few lines to you. This is to inform you how we are situated. My husband has been ill for a long time we have been obliged to trouble the parish but not before we sold most of our goods to live on. They are allowing me 5 shillings a week for my husband and four little children. The oldest is six years of age. It has been such a small amount, it will [provide] bread for us, I have been a rate payer for the last 24 years. I am sorry to trouble you, but we are in great need of it at this time. I hope your lordships will intercede for us. I hope you will excuse me sending my husband’s photograph. He has been a hardworking man for 43 years in the iron and steel works,
Sarah and Thomas Hancot
- Why has Sarah Hancot written to the Local Government Board?
- Why do you think she included a photograph of her husband?
- What were Victorian photographic studio portraits?
- Why does she mention that she has been a ratepayer ‘for the last 24 years’ do you think?
- What similarities does this letter share with Document 3?
- What do you think is the value of personal letters as historical evidence of the past?
Connections to Curriculum
Key Stage 3
Ideas, political power, industry and Empire: Britain 1745-1901: party politics, extension of the Franchise and social reform.
Key Stage 5
AQA GCE History:
Industrialisation and the people: Britain, c1783–1885: the Age of Reform 1832–1885.
Edexcel GCE History:
Britain, c1785–c1870: democracy, protest and reform: Poverty and pauperism, c1785–c1870.
Poverty, Public Health and the state c1780-1938: Aspects in depth, poverty, the people and the poor.
OCR GCE History:
From Pitt to Peel: Britain 1783—1853: Peel and social reform 1832–1846
Related Resources
Here you can find more examples of pauper letters with audio files and transcripts.
Find Jenkins’ letter from the Spotlight video here with an audio file.
Lesson about an anti- Poor Law Poster
Students creative writing on the Poor Law
Voices of the Victorian Poor A searchable website with an interactive map to access over 3500 letters from paupers, and associated manuscript material such as petitions, sworn statements and advocate letters (those written on behalf of paupers).
Themed collection of document sources about Victorian Industrial towns and what made them unhealthy.