Poor House Collection

Combination Poorhouse, Stonehaven, Kincardineshire
Main building of the Kincardineshire Combination Poorhouse, opened in 1868 on Woodcot Brae, Stonehaven, north east Scotland. It later became Woodcot Hospital

Oldmill Military Hospital, Aberdeen, Scotland
The entrance to Oldmill Poorhouse on Skene Road, Aberdeen, Scotland, during its First World War redeployment as a Military Hospital

Neville Hall, Ulverston

Islay Combination Poorhouse, Bowmore, Argyllshire
The Islay Combination Poorhouse was established in around 1865 near Bowmore, Islay. It later became known as Gortanvogie House

Engraving depicting men at the entrance of a London night shelter, 19th century
5309113 Engraving depicting men at the entrance of a London night shelter, 19th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting men at the entrance of a London night shelter)

Female ward at the Westminster Union, 1877
3479861 Female ward at the Westminster Union, 1877; (add.info.: Female ward at the Westminster Union (Workhouse). Old women (aged female paupers) sewing, 1877.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Men employed chopping firewood in the casual ward of a London workhouse, 1895
3479648 Men employed chopping firewood in the casual ward of a London workhouse, 1895; (add.info.: Men employed chopping firewood in the casual ward of a London workhouse)

Stone breaking in the casual ward of a typical London workhouse, 1895
3479647 Stone breaking in the casual ward of a typical London workhouse, 1895; (add.info.: Stone breaking in the casual ward of a typical London workhouse)

Stone breaking in the casual ward of a typical London workhouse, 1895
3479646 Stone breaking in the casual ward of a typical London workhouse, 1895; (add.info.: Stone breaking in the casual ward of a typical London workhouse, 1895.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Leader of workhouse rebellion being encouraged to come down from the roof and end her protest, 1884
3479505 Leader of workhouse rebellion being encouraged to come down from the roof and end her protest, 1884; (add.info.: Leader of workhouse rebellion being encouraged to come down from the roof)

Men fighting over food (bones), depicting the poverty of workhouses in England, 1895
3480141 Men fighting over food (bones), depicting the poverty of workhouses in England, 1895; (add.info.: Men fighting over food (bones), depicting the poverty of workhouses in England

Ladies giving a special Strawberry tea to the female ward in a workhouse, 1884
3480140 Ladies giving a special Strawberry tea to the female ward in a workhouse, 1884; (add.info.: Ladies giving a special Strawberry tea to the female ward in a workhouse)

Engraving depicting the kitchen of a common lodging house in London, 19th century
5309112 Engraving depicting the kitchen of a common lodging house in London, 19th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the kitchen of a common lodging house in London)

Windsor union workhouse, 1841
3480133 Windsor union workhouse, 1841; (add.info.: Windsor union workhouse, 1841.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Poor house, 1833
3480143 Poor house, 1833; (add.info.: Poor house (workhouses) in England, 1833.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Workhouse for the United Parishes of Fulham and Hammersmith
3480134 Workhouse for the United Parishes of Fulham and Hammersmith; (add.info.: Workhouse for the United Parishes of Fulham and Hammersmith)

Workhouse inmates, 1884
3479644 Workhouse inmates, 1884; (add.info.: Workhouse inmates, England, 1884.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The unrecognised visitor, Rules and conditions for admission to workhouses, 1860
3479510 The unrecognised visitor, Rules and conditions for admission to workhouses, 1860; (add.info.: Rules and conditions for admission to workhouses were tightened in the 1860s)

Reading Poor House
3479504 Reading Poor House; (add.info.: Reading Poor House, Berkshire, England, 1626, the poor house was located on Minster Street, opposite St Mary's church)

Illustration depicting a man gaining entrance to a London night shelter, 19th century
5309114 Illustration depicting a man gaining entrance to a London night shelter, 19th century; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a man gaining entrance to a London night shelter)

Old women rusting out in a London workhouse, 1895
3479860 Old women rusting out in a London workhouse, 1895; (add.info.: Old women rusting out in a London workhouse, 1895.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Laundry in a typical London workhouse, 1895
3479645 Laundry in a typical London workhouse, 1895; (add.info.: Laundry in a typical London workhouse, 1895.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Rules and conditions for admission to workhouses were tightened in the 1860s, 1860
3479508 Rules and conditions for admission to workhouses were tightened in the 1860s, 1860; (add.info.: Rules and conditions for admission to workhouses were tightened in the 1860s)

Rochdale Union Workhouse, 1876
3480142 Rochdale Union Workhouse, 1876; (add.info.: Rochdale Union Workhouse, Rochdale, Lancashire, England, new building on 24 acres: 1876)

Poor-house, Isle of Skye

Mr. Bumble, illustration from Character Sketches from Charles Dickens, c. 1890 (colour litho)
LLM405145 Mr. Bumble, illustration from Character Sketches from Charles Dickens, c.1890 (colour litho) by Clarke, Joseph Clayton (Kyd) (1856-1937); Private Collection; (add.info)

Mr. Bumble, from Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, 1923 (colour litho)
KDC465736 Mr. Bumble, from Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, 1923 (colour litho) by Clarke, Joseph Clayton (Kyd) (1856-1937); Private Collection; (add.info)

Kirkcaldy Combination Poorhouse at Kinghorn, Fife, Scotland
An aerial view of the Kirkcaldy Combination Poorhouse in Fife, Scotland. The poorhouse (Scotlands equivalent of a workhouse) was erected in 1849 in a dramatic coastal location at Kinghorn

The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty in winter, Winchester, Hampshire, England
The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty and the surrounding winter landscape; Winchester, Hampshire, England

Lews Combination Poorhouse, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
The Lews Combination Poorhouse on Coulregrain Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. A number of inmates are visible at the front of the building

Smithston Asylum and Poorhouse, Greenock, Renfrewshire
The Smithston Asylum and Poorhouse, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, was opened in 1879 to house the areas lunatics and paupers

poverty, Jan Luyken, Christoph Weigel, 1695 - 1705

Mr William Cook Junior. The famous billiards player, who made the worlds record break in 1907, is now an inmate of Marylebone workhouse 5 September 1925

Workhouse, Roetersstraat, Amsterdam
View of the workhouse on Roetersstraat, Amsterdam. The building was opened in 1782. From 1875, it was officially to as a poorhouse or hospice. Date: circa 1800

NEW YORK: POORHOUSE, 1875. A line of men wait in the snow for dinner at the poorhouse on Randalls Island in the East River. Wood engraving, American, February 1875

GERMANY: POORHOUSE, c1850. Line engraving, German, c1850

BOSTON: ALMSHOUSE, 1852. View of the then new almshouse on Deer Island in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. Wood engraving, 1852

PHILADELPHIA: ALMS HOUSE. Alms house in Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Line engraving, 1799, by William Birch & Son

BOSTON: ALMSHOUSE, 1825. The Almnshouse on Leveret Street, Boston, Masssachusetts, built in 1801 and demolished in 1825. Line engraving, 19th century

PHILADELPHIA VIEW, c1767. A view of the House of Employment, Almshouse, Pennsylvania Hospital, and part of the City of Philadelphia. Line engraving, c1767, by I. Hulett after Nic. Garrison

Bath Union Workhouse

The Field Lane Refuge and Ragged Schools, founded in 1841, to support and care for the poor. Date: Late 19th Century

Soup kitchen
As soup kitchen for poor people in Stockholm 1892. Date: 1892

Kirkpatrick Fleming Poorhouse, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
View of the Kirkpatrick Fleming Combination poorhouse, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. The image is caption " Rest for the Weary" -- the poorhouse mostly catered for the elderly and the bedridden

Model poorhouse for town parishes in Scotland
An aerial view of a model poorhouse (the Scottish equivalent to the workhouse) for town parishes in Scotland. The design was prepared for the Scottish Board of Supervision in 1847 by architects

Edinburgh Charity Workhouse, Port Bristo, Edinburgh
An 1820 view of the Edinburgh Charity Poorhouse in Port Bristo, Edinburgh, Scotland, originally built in 1739-1743 by Samuel Neilson, mason, and William McVey and James Heriot, wrights

Work House, Blackwells Island, New York, USA
The workhouse on Blackwells Island, New York, USA. The workhouse provided a punitive regime for petty offenders who were required to labour during their stay

Maud Hospital, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Maud Hospital was erected in 1867-9 on Bank Road, New Maud, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was originally a poorhouse for the Buchan Combination, a group of Aberdeenshire parishes

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"Journey through the Poor Houses: A Glimpse into Scotland's History of Alms and Compassion" Step back in time as we explore the forgotten tales of poverty and resilience within Scotland's poor houses. From the Combination Poorhouse in Stonehaven, Kincardineshire to the haunting corridors of Oldmill Military Hospital in Aberdeen, these walls hold stories that echo with both despair and hope. Venturing further west, we arrive at Islay Combination Poorhouse in Bowmore, Argyllshire. Here, destitution met a glimmer of solace as communities rallied together to support those less fortunate. Meanwhile, Neville Hall in Ulverston stands as a testament to compassion during times of war - a place where wounded soldiers found refuge amidst chaos. The Isle of Skye unveils its own chapter with its humble Poor-house. Through hardships endured by generations past, this island community exemplified unity and resilience against adversity. Beyond Scottish borders lies Sholapur's Daily Distribution at The Indian Famine - an image etched forever on our collective memory. Witnessing such scenes reminds us that even across continents, humanity shares common struggles against poverty. Fictional characters like Mr. Bumble from Charles Dickens' works come alive through vivid illustrations capturing their roles within society's poorest corners. These timeless depictions serve as reminders that literature has long shed light on social inequality and sparked conversations for change. Closer to home is Kirkcaldy Combination Poorhouse at Kinghorn - an embodiment of communal care where neighbors supported one another through challenging times. Finally, Winchester's Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse presents noble poverty amid winter's chill; it symbolizes how charity transcends seasons while providing warmth to those most vulnerable. As we conclude our journey at Lews Combination Poorhouse in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, let us remember these places not only for their historical significance but also for the resilience and compassion they represent.