Workhouse

On our way home from Yorkshire we made a stop at an old Workhouse. Many local parishes got together to built these as a way to take care of the homeless. It wasn't a great place, but it gave them clothes, food, and warmth. Everyone was split up by gender and whether they were able bodied homeless or the blameless (old and frail). They were not allowed to speak to or even see one another every, not even families. The children were even split up from their mothers. They built separate staircases so they would avoid one another. They worked 10 hour days to earn their keep essentially. It felt a lot like a prison, but the homeless had to apply to get in and you could apply to leave at any time with your family- although very few did since they had no money and no where to go. They intentionally made it not an enjoyable place so as the desperate would only enter. It was running as a type of workhouse even into the 70's although policies changed over time which changed the way it was operated. Kinda crazy.... I didn't even know things like this existed.

There are walls built around high enough so they could not see each other, but not high enough to where they couldn't escape since it was not a prison.

Men's Work Courtyard

Overlooking the garden area

Women's leisure courtyard. The semi-circles in the corners are their lavatories.