Workhouses

[Katie]

Put a date in your diary for ITV's new two-part 'Secrets from the Workhouse' (25 June and 2 July, 9pm). Five celebs whose ancestors experienced the workhouse (Fern Britton, Keira Chaplin, Brian Cox, Felicity Kendal and Barbara Taylor Bradford) uncover the often grim details of what life was really like for the poor in the 19th century. In fact, ten stories were originally lined up to explore, including those of some non-celebs, but due to the amount of material, five had to be dropped - including, sadly, two which I did some filming for. I do get honourable mentions in the credits though!

[MaryA]

I do get honourable mentions in the credits though!

Well done!

Sounds a good programme, I'll look forward to seeing it.

[Ian isle of wight]

Well done Katie. And thanks for the info.

[Bertieone]

Bump,

Reminder.

[Katie]

Dear All

I never took part in this programme one of our members posted it on her timeline and I just shared what she posted. I would have needed 10 hours for my lot in the Workhouse!!!

[MaryA]

Well I'm looking forward to it, I bet none of us have ancestors who all avoided the workhouse.

[Katie]

I was telling my dad before Mary about the programme and mentioned that some of the Donaldson clan were in there at one point and he clammed up and said "That's were I'm going to end up" LOL

[MaryA]

we might laugh now but it was a sad thought for some of our ancestors.

[dickiesam]

On the other hand... what would have been the alternative for thousands of destitute individuals and families? Probably death from starvation and disease in some rat-infested gutter or alleyway, or in a ditch.

[Blue70]

My Dad, probably like many others of his generation, was often told when he was young, "You'll end up in the Workhouse!"


Blue

[MaryA]

It was a good programme, gave us more of an insight than I've ever seen before. It got to me when the poor woman gave her address as "on the stairs".

[Daisycakes]

On the other hand... what would have been the alternative for thousands of destitute individuals and families? Probably death from starvation and disease in some rat-infested gutter or alleyway, or in a ditch.

I agree with you DS... it was awful but sadly there was no alternative

Ann

[erika]

Just been watching the programme, found it quite sad.
However after seeing how Ferns ancestor was used after death made me wonder if this is why records of burial are difficult to find as the bodies had been cut up for medical research! Do you think this is a possible reason?
Sorry to sound so melodramatic but it does have me wondering.

[MaryA]

They did seem to think it was not at all unusual, and especially here in Liverpool with our University, I feel that there may have been quite a demand for bodies for learning.

[Fledge]

Quite possibly, yes.

I found a newspaper article concerning an inquest towards the end of the 19th century that caught my eye because the death had occured in the small village where my family lived for generations. It described the terrible living conditions of the poor young woman concerned and her children - lying on beds of straw instead of proper bedding. The children were sent out by their mother to beg. It concluded that she had starved to death because she did not want to be sent to the Workhouse, and had 'always objected to applying for relief'. The sad reality, of course, that upon her death her children would have ended up there anyway.

I saw last night's programme. Like everyone else, I had family who were in the WH - I also had a neighbour a few years back, a lovely man, who was born and grew up there.