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London and Middlesex / Re: Poplar Workhouse inmates
« on: Sunday 18 August 13 01:14 BST (UK) »
I recently read a very good book that featured the Poplar workhouse around that time period. It was the life story of Will Crooks MP. As a boy he was actually sent to the Poplar workhouse with most of his family when his father lost an arm and the family was plunged into poverty. The experience put him on the road to becoming quite a social reformer and champion of the poor. Remarkably the once poor kid as an adult became chairman of the board of Guardians that ran the Poplar workhouse. He was so revolted by the conditions there that he set about reforming the whole workhouse system. He was quite the character and his social reforms have had a lasting effect even on todays society. Here's a link if anyone wants to know more. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1470162350
I'm glad to see workhouses getting so much media coverage recently. I'm absolutely fascinated by them. I can't believe how much talk there is these days with people suggesting we bring them back. Hopefully the more media coverage there is, the more people will realise just how awful those places were.
Mary
I'm glad to see workhouses getting so much media coverage recently. I'm absolutely fascinated by them. I can't believe how much talk there is these days with people suggesting we bring them back. Hopefully the more media coverage there is, the more people will realise just how awful those places were.
Mary