Southall Workhouse

[Monty]

Hi Guys,

Attached are photos I took last year of Southall Workhouse.

It may give some an idea of what these places looked like.

Monty

[lynn cates]

great

Hello Monty. Fantastic photos. Well done. (My, but those chamber pots looked quaint.)

I take it those were beds for 1?

Cheers.
LC

[Jenni Shelden]

It's a fine establishment, I went with my folks a few years ago, and I have to say for those for can get to it - it is a rare gem of Victorian delight.

Nice photos.

[Monty]

Thanks Ladies,

Yes, for one. The workhouse was split into 3 areas. Men, women and the elderly. Jence the walled yards.

The beds are in the female section, no materesses just straw padding. The toilet was actually the Governers, with the inmates having to attend the hole outside.

1 water pump.

And a communial garden outside where, today, they plant according to the original workhouse planting plan.

As Jenn says, if you can get there it is well worth a visit. Very moving. It has records on computer of all the Workhouses in the UK free for all to browse. As well as pictures of Workhouses up and down the country, including Whitechapel.

Cheers
Monty

[Graham]

Nowt wrong with that place - decent bed, a pot to p*** in, what more do you want? Was the post in the yard for summary executions by firing-squad?

Graham

[Monty]

Thats THE only water pump Graham.

The idea was to discourage people to enter, hence its sparseness.

Monty

[Graham]

Thats THE only water pump Graham.

The idea was to discourage people to enter, hence its sparseness.

Monty

Bloody sight better than a Holiday Inn, Monty.

Graham

[Celesta]

Monty, These are really great. Good work. It gave me a lonely feeling looking out of the window though, as I visualized having to be there.

[tnb]

Bloody sight better than a Holiday Inn, Monty.

Graham

Fantastic photos Neal. One thing you have to imagine is that even though it looks bleak now, it would have looked a damn sight worse crammed with people and irregularly cleaned! Bloody hell.

[DanaeChantel]

Yes, the chamber pots do look quite quaint. I don't know how you are supposed to use them? I imagine they would smell nasty at some point.

All in all the place looks very fresh and open. The beds look nice. The place looks clean and wholesome. Better than out beating the streets and p****g in a corner someplace.

At least you could say "I have a pot to piss in and a window to throw it out of." My dad's favorite saying when telling me he thinks I have spent too much money on some frivolousness when I should be paying bills.

I could go stay at the workhouse. Its free.

I think I would like to put on one of those comfy white robes and take a nap in that corner bed by the window.

Someone can come wake me up when dinner is ready.

[Nurse Sarah]

This may seem a daft question, but would they have had time to 'enjoy' the communal garden? Or was it all work, work, work?

(I agree too, great pics Monty)

[Monty]

It was a vegetable garden Nurse, they grew their own food.

It was the elderly, imbecilic (their words) or infirm who tended these gardens. You can see them at the front of the yard walls in the photos.

Monty

[Nurse Sarah]

Ah I see...thanks for that. I had pictures of them strolling around enjoying the flowers.

I guess growing vegetables is more practical and still "work"...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanwell_Asylum

The above is a link to Hanwell Lunatic Asylum...in the suburbs of Southall...interesting diagram of the layout from 1850 included on this page...

[Harry the Hawker]

question

Anyone know what the strange 'gate/maze' type arrangement is where the walls in the yard join?

[Monty]

That Harry, is the yard toilet.

Monty