Tales of hardship, poverty and even recipes for gruel feature in a newly published book that looks behind the scenes of a once-feared Westbury institution.
The Westbury workhouse, which was one of almost 20 in Wiltshire, still stands in Eden Vale but is now transformed into attractive retirement flats – a far cry from its original purpose of providing very basic shelter for the poor and vulnerable for more than a century.
Former journalist Sally Hendry used sources including minute books, newspaper reports, registers and workhouse manuals in researching its history.
Nobody was forced to enter the workhouse and conditions were deliberately harsh to deter all but the most desperate.But for many it was the only option open to them, especially in times of extreme hardship or for those who were elderly, disabled, sick or homeless.
“The changing population of the workhouse was a reflection of the community’s economy. For instance, we see older farm workers who have lost their tied cottages along with their jobs, and in 1842 the temporary closure of the town woollen mills led to a massive rise in admissions to the workhouse,” explained Sally.
But while the workhouse offered very basic shelter and food, it was a harsh option. Once admitted, husbands and wives were separated and children over seven only saw their parents once a week. The work was tough too – women and older children had to do household tasks or were set to picking oakum, untangling tarred rope for resale to shipyards. Men were set to breaking stone into gravel, sometimes using slag from the town ironworks. They also worked on the land, fetched water and tended to animals – early maps show the extent of the farmland surrounding the building and minute books mention piggeries and a dairy.
Everything about the workhouse was laid down by legislation from the Poor Law commissioners, from the quantities of food to be served to each inmate through to restrictions on bathing – cold water always in first, a lock on the hot tap and only one inmate to be bathed at a time!
“Even the recipes for food like gruel had to be strictly followed and every inmate was given exactly the same amount at each meal, whether they wanted it or not,” explained Sally, whose book features the recommended meals and quantities for the Westbury institution.
But she says uncovering the history behind the high walls turned up some unexpected events. There were thefts, corruption, vandalism and even sex scandals.
“We hear of more than one porter being sacked for making female inmates pregnant, the master of the workhouse being accused of sexually assaulting the workhouse school mistress, workhouse uniforms being torn up and destroyed, inmates absconding or smashing up windows and furniture and even a reference to the workhouse master beating a girl so badly that she had to be hidden from view,” explained Sally.
The workhouse system ended by the 1930s, with many Wiltshire buildings sold off to become hospitals or housing. The Westbury workhouse was auctioned at the Lopes Arms in 1934, with its surrounding land sold off in two lots as freehold building land. It was converted to housing as William Court House in 2001.
‘The Westbury Workhouse – the true story behind the doors of Westbury’s feared institution’ priced at £5, is now on sale at the visitor and heritage centre in Westbury High Street. Profits will help raise funds for the Westbury Heritage Society.
“Researching the history of the workhouse was both fascinating and disturbing as I uncovered real life stories of hardship and tragedy,” said Sally. “But this building played an essential role in the social history of our community and I thought the story deserved to be told.”
