Shropshire Routes to Roots

3. Through the workhouse doors

The story continues ...

When families first went into the workhouse, they were put into a Receiving Ward before being split up or segregated. Men and women were sent into separate areas or wards of the workhouse. The young children of the family would stay with their mothers, if they were lucky.

What do you think the Davies family felt when they entered the workhouse?
What would it have been like for the twins, William and May, who were only 9 years old?

All the family would then have had their clothes taken from them. These would be washed or cleaned and kept until the day of their release. They would then have had a bath and been given baggy workhouse clothing to wear.

How do you think the children felt when they were handing over their everyday clothes and putting on these workhouse clothes?

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