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Holborn Union Workhouse, Mitcham, Surrey
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Holborn Union Workhouse, Mitcham, Surrey
The dining hall at the Holborn Union workhouse in Mitcham, Surrey. The uniformed inmates sit at benches in segregated sections - the men can be seen at the rear of the hall
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Media ID 4464839
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10416089
1896 Bench Benches Dickensian Dining Gender Holborn Homeless Homelessness Inmate Inmates Mitcham Pauper Paupers Poverty Sections Segregated Segregation Surrey Workhouse Workhouses
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the stark reality of life in a 19th-century workhouse, specifically the Holborn Union Workhouse in Mitcham, Surrey. The image depicts the dining hall, where uniformed inmates are seated at long benches in segregated sections. The men can be seen at the rear of the hall, while the women and children occupy the front. The uniformed attire of the inmates, with their caps and aprons, adds to the somber atmosphere of the scene. The Holborn Union Workhouse, built in the late 1890s, was a product of the Victorian era's harsh poverty relief system. The workhouse system, established in 1601, required able-bodied paupers to work in exchange for shelter and food. The segregation of men and women in the dining hall was a common practice in workhouses, reflecting the societal norms of the time. The Gothic-style architecture of the workhouse building, with its high arches and pew-like benches, adds to the sense of solemnity and isolation. The photograph transports us back to a time when poverty and homelessness were more visible in society, and the workhouse was a last resort for those in need. The image is reminiscent of the Dickensian era, with its stark contrasts between wealth and poverty, and the dehumanizing effects of institutional living. The photograph is a poignant reminder of the past, offering a glimpse into the lives of the paupers who once called the Holborn Union Workhouse their home.
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