Huntingdon Union Workhouse
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Huntingdon Union Workhouse
The master, matron, and a small child stand at the entrance to the Huntingdon Union workhouse, opened in 1837 at Walnut Common, Huntingdon. The building was designed by Sampson Kempthorne. Date: Date unknown
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Media ID 14126494
© Mary Evans/Peter Higginbotham Collection
1837 Common Huntingdon Kempthorne Master Matron Opened Sampson Stand Walnut Workhouse Designed
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures a moment in time at the Huntingdon Union Workhouse, located at Walnut Common in Huntingdon. The image features the master, matron, and a small child standing at the entrance of the imposing building, which was designed by renowned architect Sampson Kempthorne and opened in 1837. The Huntingdon Union Workhouse was established to provide relief and support for the destitute, the elderly, and the infirm within the Huntingdon Union, which covered a large area of Huntingdonshire. The workhouse system, introduced in England and Wales in 1834 as part of the Poor Law Amendment Act, aimed to end the haphazard and often cruel practices of outdoor relief and provide a more systematic and cost-effective approach to caring for the poor. The master, dressed in formal attire, and the matron, wearing a traditional Victorian dress, oversee the entrance to the workhouse. The small child, likely an inmate or perhaps a visitor, gazes up at them with a curious expression. The building's grandeur and the stern demeanor of the master and matron convey the strict and regimented atmosphere of the workhouse. The Huntingdon Union Workhouse, with its distinctive architectural features and historical significance, stands as a testament to the social and economic conditions of the time. Despite its intended purpose of providing relief, the workhouse system was often criticized for its harsh living conditions and the separation of families. This photograph offers a glimpse into the past, providing a poignant reminder of the complex history of poverty and social welfare in England during the Victorian era.
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