Life in the Victorian and Edwardian Workhouse

By Michelle Higgs

The poor in Victorian times

With the explosion of interest in family history, more and more people are discovering ancestors who were workhouse inmates or who were members of staff in workhouses. This book has been specifically written for these family historians who want to find out what life was really like for their ancestors.

Using workhouse records, contemporary sources and oral testimony, this book presents an accurate picture of what daily life was like for inmates. It also looks at the living conditions and duties of the staff who, in many ways, were prisoners of the workhouse.