By the early 1830s the existing poor relief system was unable to cope, and the New Poor Law Act came into effect in 1834. Northamptonshire was divided up into 12 poor law unions: Brackley, Brixworth, Daventry, Hardingstone, Kettering, Northampton, Oundle, Peterborough, Potterspury, Thrapston, Towcester and Wellingborough. Some of these include cross-border parishes.
Paupers were classified into different categories and were mostly segregated. A union only offered relief to those holding settlement in its area. However, food and a night’s shelter could be given to any destitute person in urgent necessity. The workhouse population was never static; people could and did leave at their own will, although for the old and infirm this was their final home.
Admission procedure
You could admit yourself or be referred by the parish or Relieving Officer. You would be interviewed, be given a bath and be issued with a workhouse uniform. Your own clothes would be washed and returned when you left. Details would be entered in the Admission and Discharge register and often in the Master’s journal.
These admission examples are from Northampton Union.
Thompson Sarah: aged 11, Kate at 9, Isaac aged 6. The father and stepmother in prison for ill-treating the 3 children. Adm: 27 June 1877
Winch William: aged 7 months. The mother left the child with Mrs Richards on 18 May promising to send 5s per week for its maintenance. Her husband is a soldier in the Dragoons lying at Dublin. Adm: July 3rd 1877
Goodman Ann: aged 16 years. single, shoeworker, venereal, destitute, Born at Winslow, been in Northampton five years. Adm: 19 Sept 1877
Vagrants were housed in ‘casual wards’ and there are separate registers for these admissions.
Discharge
You could leave at your own request. If you came in as a family, you left as a family. You could ask for short term absence i.e. to visit family members, and able-bodied men were allowed out to find work. Some people treated the workhouses as free lodging, coming and going as the mood or the weather took them! You can follow their trail in the registers.
Northampton Union examples:
Potter Frederick aged 13 years. To the service of Mr Simco, Mears Ashby.
Discharged 4 August 1888
Discharged 5 November 1877
Bates Richard age 61 years, Emma aged 13, George 11 and Agnes 6.
At his own request. They were re-admitted six days later where Richard is described as a labourer, widower and destitute, born at Grendon but been in Northampton 5 years.
Work
Those capable were expected to work – men in the workhouse gardens and the women with domestic duties. Casual inmates had to perform some tasks towards their upkeep, often breaking stones or unpicking oakum.
Workhouse Staff
Master and Matron
They were responsible for the running and administration of the workhouse. The Master’s Register often contains notes about those admitted and it supplements the Admission register.
Relieving Officer
He evaluated the cases of all persons applying for medical or poor relief and authorised emergency relief (both indoor and outdoor). He supplied the weekly allowance of the paupers within his district.
Medical Officer
He attended to the poor needing medical assistance and provided medicines. He examined the inmates on admission and reported to the Guardians – as below!
Northampton Union 1868
Report of Bath accommodation: From the Medical Officer.
Men: The men are washed in a bath which is stationary, hot water is got from a boiler across the yard as is the cold, is afterwards ladled out. The boys are washed in the school room, the bath is brought down from the infirmary, water is procured from the yard as above. Women: There is a bath with cold water, warm being procured from the kitchen. There is one bath in use for about 50 children. It takes about 2 hours to bathe them. Infirmary: There is one bath in use which is dragged up and down stairs. With these difficulties there is no wonder at the imperfect and rare baths.
For the Guardians: Resolved that the present bath accommodation is sufficient!
Porter
He kept a register of those entering, particularly the casual vagrants. He also had to lock all the outer doors, and take the keys to the Master, at 9pm every night, and to receive them back from him every morning at 6am. The Porter’s Admission register may survive.
The following was certainly not in their job description!
Oundle
January 1846: The Master reported that Mary Martin, an inmate was pregnant and that William Smith, the Porter was the father. He denied the charge but tendered his resignation.
April 1859: Master: I this day discovered that an improper intimacy existed between the Porter and Alice Hughes, an inmate aged 16 years. The next day I accused him of it, he did not deny it. I told him he had better leave at once and he did so.
Board of Guardians
An elected body which included representatives from the parishes. They oversaw all administration, discussed relief, received reports and made decisions on putting out older children as apprentices. The Guardian Minute Books are a treasure trove of information and give a real insight into the lives of the poor at that time.
Out Relief
Not everyone in need was admitted, those suffering from temporary illness or hardship were allowed out relief, sometimes cash but more usually in the form of bread or other goods. The Registers give information about claimants, why they needed relief and for how long payments were made.
Oundle Union October 1842
Outdoor relief was to be allowed to James Eaton, wife and 6 young children: Allowed 32lb of bread, 5lb of meat and 3s 6d. Having worked for 20 years on Biggin Grange Farm was thrown out of work two weeks ago by the late occupier leaving and the new tenant bringing his own man with him. He has been the last fortnight traversing the country searching for work, temporary relief ordered to enable him to seek further work.
Births in the workhouse
These were registered and also recorded in the Workhouse’s own register of births. In 1904, to reduce stigma, the birth registration did not state workhouse but gave an address such as 1 Glapthorn Road for Oundle, or The White House for Potterpury.
Deaths in the workhouse
These were registered with the local registrar and should also be found in the Admission and Discharge books. Relatives could collect the body and arrange burial in the deceased home parish, if not, burial was arranged by the Guardians. Many of the birth and death registers have been transcribed.
You may find notes like the following: The widow of the Thomas Lea a lunatic who died in the Asylum applied for a box containing his wearing apparel. Ann Pratt begs to be allowed the clothes of her father, James Clarke deceased. Allowed.
Contributions towards upkeep
In order to keep the poor rate low, family members would be asked to contribute towards the upkeep of parents in the workhouse Details can be found in Guardians minute books and in the local newspapers.
Apprenticeships
Children were educated so they could support themselves. The workhouse was also seen as a source of labour by those needing servants or apprentices, and not just from local families, but from further afield as the following examples show.
Oundle 1858/9: Mrs Garratt of Oundle is to take as servant, Mary Lane, aged, at 6s per week.
Brackley 1876: Application was made by Miss Walton of Harlesdon Green, Middlesex for a servant.
Peterborough
24 April 1869: Cornelius Wootton, a poor boy aged 16, apprentice for 5 years to Henry Edwards of Grimsby, owner of the smack ‘Henry’.
28 April 1869 Samuel Toombs, aged 13, apprentice, ditto and George Baxter, aged 14, to Henry Edwards, owner of smack ‘Mary’.
6 August 1870: Richard Collins, aged 14, apprenticed to Agnes Carslake of Kingston upon Hull, owner of ship ‘Satisfaction’ and Charles Nunn, 17, apprenticed to Agnes Carslake, ship ‘Precurser’.
21 Sept 1870: John Bailey aged 15, apprentice for 6 years, to Henry Edwards of Grimsby, owner of ship ‘Joyce’ and more from other unions.
One wonders what happened to these young fisherman.
Other Records
Creed Registers: From 1869, an inmate’s religion was recorded on admission and these are useful where other admission records do not survive
Newspapers: They reported on the Guardians’ meeting so include discussions which are not always minuted. You will also find job adverts and requests for tenders for the supply of groceries, uniforms and other necessities.
Where to find Workhouse records.
Northamptonshire Record Office holds surviving records and there is good coverage for most Unions except Potterspury. A summary list can be found on the Record Office website.
Some of the births/deaths registers have been transcribed.
The National Archives has some records, especially for correspondence from the Poor Law Commissioners.
See also www.workhouses.org.uk – a superb site with very detailed information on the background to the setting up and administration of workhouses along with a county gazetteer.
(Images © Northamptonshire Archives)
AM December 2025
