Victorian Workhouse

The Victorian Workhouse was an institution that was intended to provide work and shelter for poor people who had no means to support themselves.  With the advent of Poor Law system, Victorian workhouses, designed to deal with the issue of pauperism, in fact became prison system detaining the most vulnerable in the society.  The harsh system of the workhouses became synonymous with the Victorian Era. It was known for its terrible conditions, forced child labour, long periods of working, malnutrition, beatings and neglect. It became a blight on the 

social conscience of a generation leading to opposition from the likes of Charles Dickens. Dickens Oliver Twist illustrates the grim realities of a child's life in the Workhouse. 

The exact origin of the system started with the Poor Law Act of 1388. In the event of Black Death labour shortage was a major problem.  The movement of workers to other parishes in search of higher paid jobs was restricted. At the same time homelessness, unemployment and poverty became severe. 

With King Henry Viii's Dissolution of Monasteries in 1536, dealing with the poor and vulnerable became more difficult, because the church had been a major source of relief. 

Poor Relief Act of 1576 stipulated that if a person was able to work he need to work in order to receive support. In 1601 parish was made responsible for ensuring the poor relief within its geographic boundaries. 

The oldest documented example of the workhouse dated back to 1652. This was a system designed to deal with the persistent idlers. The seventeenth century witnessed the increase in state involvement in pauperism. 

1723 Workhouses Test Act provided that anyone seeking relief was obliged to work for a set amount of time, for no pay, in a system called internal relief. 

In 1782 Thomas Gilbert introduced a new act called the Relief of Poor, but more commonly known by his name. It allowed parishes to join together to form unions to share their costs. These became known as Gilbert Unions. 

Casterbridge Union House must have been in this category.