What did Victorians eat in the workhouse?
What was the typical Victorian workhouse food? The food primarily consisted of bread, cheese, broth, rice, milk, potatoes and gruel which was like thick porridge. There was limited food for the inmates as the food was rationed.
What did Victorian orphans eat?
They lived mainly on bread, gruel and broth (made from boiling up bones). Not surprisingly, the children of the slums were undernourished, anaemic, rickety and very short.
What was the daily routine in a workhouse?
Marjie Bloy, Ph. D., Senior Research Fellow, the Victorian Web
| Summer | Winter | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 a.m. | 6 a.m. | Rising bell |
| 6 a.m | 7 a.m. | Prayers and breakfast |
| 7 a.m. | 8 a.m. | Work |
| 12 noon | Dinner |
What were the punishments in the workhouse?
Rules and Punishment
| Name | Offence | Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| Rowe, Sarah | Noisy and swearing | Lock’d up for 24 hours on bread and water. |
| Aplin, John | Disorderly at Prayer-time | Lock’d up for 24 hours on bread and water. |
| Mintern, George | Fighting in school | No cheese for one week. |
| Greenham, Mary and Payne, Priscella | Quarreling and fighting | No meat 1 week. |
How do you get out of a workhouse?
While residing in a workhouse, paupers were not allowed out without permission. Short-term absence could be granted for various reasons, such as a parent attending their child’s baptism, or to visit a sick or dying relative. Able-bodied inmates could also be allowed out to seek work.
What rules did they have in the workhouse?
Rules: The daily work was backed up with strict rules and punishments. Laziness, drinking, gambling and violence against other inmates or staff were strictly forbidden. Other offences included insubordination, using abusive language and going to Milford without permission.
What were the conditions of a workhouse?
The conditions were harsh and treatment was cruel with families divided, forcing children to be separated from their parents. Once an individual had entered the workhouse they would be given a uniform to be worn for the entirety of their stay.
Why would you go to a workhouse?
People ended-up in the workhouse for a variety of reasons. Usually, it was because they were too poor, old or ill to support themselves. Unmarried pregnant women were often disowned by their families and the workhouse was the only place they could go during and after the birth of their child.
