The Workhouse

[ellie]

I've discovered that my GG Grandad was in the workhouse and sadly thats where he died. I did some research, I knew the workhouses weren't pleasant by any means but I think from what I've read people were treated like prisoners because of the 'stigma' attached to being poor.I found a really intereating website if anyones interested in looking :-
http://www.workhouses.org.uk

[dianel]

Thank you, Ellie, this is really useful!

[Northern Lass]

When I go to the archives and look at the actual Workhouse registers the later ones especially were very useful for pregnant women and the sick more like hospitals. I suppose they were the places that would help at that time.
Loads of my rellies were in the workhouse.
William Rose who is featured in the Rogues Gallery was taken in there from where he was living for medical attention in 1919 and died in there. Yet he had a place of residence in the High St in Cradley Heath. They listed his meals taken. Interesting reading.

It says he died in Sedgley Workhouse Infirmary.
And I believe that the council then were responsible for his burial.
So perhaps if they died in the workhouse the council picked up the burial cost

[ellie]

My pleasure dianel. I would like to find out where my GGG grandad is buried. I've done some research into the workhouse and I found that the one my GG Grandad was in was called 'spittals' / stoke on trent union workhouse, oddly enough the part of buildings are right around the corner from my house! The only thing i'm not sure about is where people were buried, i know it'd be an unmarked grave, but it would be nice to know where.

[ellie]

I found this link to spittals. if you click on the 'life in the workhouse' link it takes you to a photograph of the 'vagrant block' this building has been knocked down but the remains of the black and red tiled floor are still evident. This is around the corner from my house, I knew it was part of the workhouse but I didn't know which part. Looking at the remains of the building oit gives an idea of what a tiny sleping/living space people had. Its very interesting but makes very sad reading.
http://www.exploringthepotteries.org.uk/Nof_website1/local_history_static_exhibitions/Workhouses/pages/what.htm

[Northern Lass]

Ellie I know that Dudley council have on their site a link that takes you to the cemetary information .
As I said my William Rose died in the Workhouse and they buried him and I was able to find via the Dudley site the grave and plot no. no headstone . So I just wondered if it might be worth contacting your council re if they had the same sort of resource?

[ellie]

Yes thanks, thats a good idea. Hopefully I will be able to find some information, I'd really like to find out where my GG Grandad is buried

[Silver surfer]

Which council would Sedgley come under then? Wolverhampton? My paternal gd ma died there in 1916 from TB. Don't know where she's buried.

[Northern Lass]

If you mean the Workhouse it comes under the Dudley district SS
and Dudley archives have the records
have you had a look on their cemetary info here

http://www2.dudley.gov.uk/burial_records/regenq.asp