
NEW!The Prison Website details the institutions in the British Isles that, over past centuries, were used to confine those who had fallen foul of the law. As well as the buildings, you can find information on how prisons were run, how inmates were treated, and what records exist for these forbidding establishments. As well as their locations, history etc. there are maps, census listings, and historic images of the buildings and inmates.
25th March 2023 marked the 300th anniversary of the introduction of the Workhouse Test Act, which is often regarded as the birth of the workhouse system in England and Wales. more...


Read the workhouse site-visit reports of reform campaigner Joseph Rowntree and and those of the magazine contributor Emma Brewer.
New! Some of my introductory talks are now on my YouTube Channel
The Victorian Slum: Common Lodging Houses and Model Dwellings
Know about workhouses? — try the Workhouse Quiz.
NEW! — Discover the wealth of information recorded by workhouse inspections and visitors.
For information on 1000s of children's homes, orphanages, reformatories, industrial schools, training ships etc. visit www.childrenshomes.org.uk
Explore a workhouse — take the Workhouse Tour!
An 1861 survey detailed all 14,216 adult workhouse inmates in England & Wales resident for over five years. All the names can be viewed via a link in the 'Inmates' section towards the end of each union's individual page.


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