The Workhouse was built in 1824 and is the best example of a Victorian workhouse of the period; it was used as a blueprint for other workhouses. The Victorian poor would come here to work for lodging and to attempt to change their lives around to eventually leave the workhouse and be able to live on their own. The workhouse was a last resprt for the poorest people, and it was never an easy decision to decide to move into a Workhouse. The design of the building is influenced by a prison, and they attempted to be a short term solution. The workhouse was designed to house 160 inmates that worked and lived in the area. The living areas were segregated between women, chilren, and men as well as able-bodied and old or infirm or mentally unable to work. Families would be split up. There are stories from some who would have lived and worked at the workhouse.
The workhouse had audio commentary where visitors could scan objects and be told stories. Some of the staff were also available and told of the stories of the living conditions. Straw was used as carpeting and bedding, for example.
One of the rooms on the ground floor was the laundry room.
Next to it was the dead room, where the dead would be until they were collected.
Some of the lodgers at the workhouse had to make rope, which was a very difficult activity and it would harm the hands.
We also discovered the kitchens.
The school room was provided for children to receive their education.
I took a look at the different bedrooms for men, women, the able, and the infirm.
Next up was the women's area, which looked a lot more homely. The women made their living areas more homely.
There is a view over the gardens, which provided vegetables for the infirmary and workhouse.
Next to the workhouse is the infirmary. The infirmary was a hospital and the only option available for 80% of the population for the lower and middle classes. Florence Nightengale called for the reform of these places as the majority of the population used them. She called for these reforms, and this estalished an example of a national health service before the NHS was set up.
A knitted hospital was available to view in the museum.
The infirmary was in use until the 1980s because some of the people who lived here could not move as there was nowhere for them to be transferred to. One of the residents who lived here for many years was allowed to keep a cat. The solution was never a "one size fits all" solution.
After exploring the rooms here, I went to have a look at the stables across from the infirmary.
The Workhouse and Infirmary is locatd in Nottinghamshire and is managed by National Trust.
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