Workhouse Staff

By George R and Hannah S

Underpaid overworked and

went mainly unsupervised by the board of guardians

Were the most powerful people in the workhouse staff

Often abused their position However not all were like this,

e.g. The master at the Ashford workhouse.

Master and Matron

This position was sometimes

combined with the position of master.

Was responsible for the budget, and just about everything else.

There was therefore great scope for corruption.

Clerk

Appointed on short term

contracts at the lowest possible pay

Were all local doctors Had to cope with all the

diseases that the voluntary hospitals refused to treat

Infirmary conditions were terrible as sick were forced to rely on pauper nurses supervised by the matron

Medical officer

Firmly under the Master’s control Responsible for teaching children and keeping up cleanliness and appearances No set curriculum Board of guardians wary of teaching paupers to write 1836-Bedford board of guardians decided to teach children to read but NOT to write ‘solution’ disallowed as it was believed it would stigmatise

paupers Most teachers were illiterate themselves so this wasn’t an

issue in many areas In Deptford the teachers were illiterate sea farers specialising

in drunkenness, bullying and cussing

Teacher

Usually poor curates Had to hold one service in chapel every Sunday morning Had to visit sick and dying Answered to the Master and Matron Extracts from Dennis Lewis Cousin’s book, ‘Extracts from the diary of a workhouse chaplain’:

‘…in nine cases out of ten the chaplain appointed isan already over-worked curate…’

‘…in many of our gaols the chaplain receives a salaryof around £150 to £200 per year; in few of our regions doesa like official receive more than £50 per annum…’

Chaplain

Pay

Master and Matron£80-150 per annum (between them)

Chaplain£30-100 per annum

Medical Officer£78 per annum

• Most Workhouse staff were 50% less than those with like jobs outside of the warehouse

• Had few holidays• Long hours • Were subject to the master/matron’s cruelty