Henry Stuart Baker at the Grantham Union Workhouse, Lincolnshire, 1910.

TRAMPS AND GRANTHAM.

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A NIGHT GRANTHAM CASUAL WARD.

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(By An Amateur Casual.)

Grantham, being on the main highway to the North from London, has many visitors in the shape of those Nomads of the road known as tramps. The county of Lincoln itself can boast, if it be an envious record, of a greater proportion of convictions for vagrancy than any other county in England and Wales. "Lincoln Stir (gaol)" said an old tramp me the other day near Newark, "is a meeting place for tramps. Why there's nowt else but tramps there as 'as been copped by the 'bobbies' for 'mouching.'" Readers of the newspapers will see that Grantham itself sends its quota of vagrants to swell the numbers in Lincoln Prison.

Five classes of "Roadsters" visit the town and very often take up their quarters in the Casual Ward of the Workhouse. First comes the "Gagger," an individual who prefers, however, to beg his "kip" (bed) rather than spend a night in the vagrant ward. This tramp character has an imaginative mind and can "tell a good tale." He is in the habit of "pulling up" on the road any person he thinks is charitably minded. Then there is the "Griddler" who frequents the back streets, and either performs on a battered tin whistle, or else sings in a raucous voice, "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep." or mournfully proclaims "Abide with me." He can easily be picked out from the attitude he adopts: he invariably clasps tightly the lapels of his well-worn coat, and warily lets his eyes roam to every door and window in search of a sympathetic listener. The brawny "Navvy" is also a visitor to Grantham. He often gets a job, and as often gives it up. He is a born roamer and cannot rest in one place any length of time.

The fourth class is the "Door Thumper," the beggar (moucher) pure and simple, he is a familiar sight to Grantham householders. Carefully makes his way to the rear of their premises, and approaches the backdoors generally at meal times with a plea for food. Usually he carries a small tin-can, which he terms a "drum," and in it he begs tea or hot water. Many of these characters are found in Lincoln gaol.

The last class is only to be found in small numbers frequenting Grantham Casual Ward, and for them I claim my readers' sympathy. They are the genuine unemployed workmen seeking work, and it to be hoped that when the Poor Law Commissioners move in the matter for better regulating the law respecting the vagrant, some measure will be adopted to deal with this deserving class, and separate him from the professional Tramp.

Grantham Casual Ward is referred tho tramps as a "Spike," "Derrick," or a "Grubber."

"It's no easy 'un, matey," a typical Weary Willie I told me as I tramped with him near the town; "an' it's a dry bread shop and a cowd lay down." Certainly the Reg'lar Tramp receives no encouragement in Grantham "Spike." There are luxuries, so he cannot spread the joyful news over the country. He has a task to perform, and can't leave until he has done at least the major portion of it.

However, the other evening, a cold, rainy, blustering night, I wended my way up the hill towards the Workhouse. Arriving at the gate about six o'clock, I found only one casual, like myself, awaiting admission. He was an old man nearly sixty-five years of age, whose casual employment seemed chiefly to have recently been what he described as "tater picking." "'Ad yer tea, lad?" he asked as I stood by his side. "I'd a rare job to get mine. Ye've to dodge Johnny Gallager (the Policeman) in this 'ere blessed town if yer agoin' ter mouch out." However, while we were talking the gate was opened by a Tramp Major, whom I may state is a Workhouse inmate who assists in reception of tramps, and we went up to the Porter s Office. Here our names, age, occupation, and destination were entered in the register, also the colour of our eyes and hair, and, by means of a standard, our correct heights were recorded. Then we gave in our possessions (pipes, tobacco, matches, etc.), and underwent a search. As smoking is tabooed in the Tramp Ward, the vagrant endeavours by all the tricks at his command to smuggle in his short clay pipe and matches. Unfortunately for him at Grantham, he is too well searched, and therefore has to forego this luxury.

After this ordeal we went on the Day Room, a plainly-furnished apartment, where we received our supper, 8oz. of bread and an unlimited supply of water. This is meagre fare, my readers will allow, but when I tell them the Reg'lar always manages to secure one or two good "feeds" just prior to entering the Casual Ward, he, at all events doesn't feel the meagreness of it. However, this consumed, we undressed and had a bath. Here again, the Reg'lar is apt to "kick at" this necessary ordeal. "Let's the cow'd in yer bones," one dirty specimen told me, "an' it's weakenin'." To the cleanly person, however, the hot bath is very welcome, and after drying and donning a Workhouse nightshirt, I was handed two rugs and shown to my sleeping compartment, which consisted of a small cell. My bed was a narrow hammock, and I cannot say I slept well, but awoke, shivering, at daybreak.

At seven o'clock my cell door was thrown open, and I was told to dress. Then rugs and nightshirts were folded up and the five of us, for three others had entered after I had gone to bed, received 8oz. bread with water for breakfast. At eight o'clock the Porter came along to allot us the tasks to be performed in return for the night's accommodation. At the back of the sleeping compartments are small cells termed stone cells. In these a certain number of stones have to broken up with the aid of an iron ring and a small hammer. Some discrimination, however, is shown in allotting the tasks, and only those who appear to actual vagrants are asked to "break stones."

Now breaking stones is not easy job to the ordinary person, but the Reg'lar Tramp will make light work of it. He has the "knack," and can often split up the stones like magic. But this class of labour is abhorrent to the Reg'lar, and very often he refuses the task. At Grantham, however, this refusal is apt to cost him dearly. The Porter is not one of those easily hoodwinked. He will probably first try persuasion; if this fails, the Tramp finds himself before the magistrates, and eventually goes to join his brother vagrants for 14 days at Lincoln.

Wood chopping and bundling are other tasks imposed at Grantham "Spike."

At eleven o'clock the Casuals are released. If, however, any are kept all day at work, they receive 8oz. of bread and l½ozs. of cheese for dinner.

Certainly there is no inducement for the tramp to pay a second visit to this Institution, which, however, fulfils the requirements for which it was established. The cells and rooms are kept admirably clean, and the Porter, despite his often unpleasant duties, exercises perfect control, without a show of hectoring or bullying, to all who endeavour to conform to the rules imposed.