4 OCTOBER

1850 Some remarkable revelations were made at today's meeting of the St Marylebone guardians. First, during a recent absence of the chaplain and his deputy, one of the paupers had been ordered by the master of the workhouse to don the reverend gentleman's surplice and to conduct an entire service. It was said that there had been much giggling by other inmates during the proceedings. The chaplain, Mr Moody, appeared very indignant that any notice had been taken of the matter. The other disclosure was that carrier pigeons had been kept in the workhouse. It seems that the late master had regularly employed them to receive early news of the winning horses at Goodwood and Epsom, and to place bets accordingly. He had been a great better, and was said to have died with a betting-book in his hand. An extensive system of gambling was said to have prevailed in the workhouse. It was also revealed that a vestryman, who had no claim whatever to the birds, had caught and sold them, keeping the entire proceeds for himself.

1870 A meeting of the Neath Union guardians was told that the water supply to the workhouse was inadequate and, in consequence, some of the cooking was done using water drawn from the adjacent canal.