Union Workhouse Plan by John Bowen
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Union Workhouse Plan by John Bowen
A model plan for a union workhouse annotated by poor-law critic John Bowen of Bridgwater to illustrate his arguments that workhouse inmates were overcrowded and underfed. Date: 1842
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Media ID 8200353
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1842 Annotated Arguments Bowen Bridgwater Critic Illustrate Inmates L Aw Over Crowded Plan Poor Workhouse
EDITORS COMMENTS
This model plan for a Union Workhouse, annotated by John Bowen of Bridgwater in 1842, provides a compelling visual representation of the overcrowded and underfed conditions that existed within the English workhouse system during this period. Bowen, a prominent poor-law critic, meticulously marked up the plan to illustrate his arguments against the inadequacies of the workhouse system. The Union Workhouse, a product of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, was intended to provide a more efficient and cost-effective means of caring for the poor. However, as Bowen's annotations reveal, the reality was far from ideal. The plan shows that the workhouse was designed to accommodate 350 inmates, yet Bowen notes that it was housing over 500. The cramped living quarters, inadequate kitchen facilities, and insufficient food rations are all highlighted in Bowen's annotations. Bowen's criticisms were not without foundation. The workhouse system was designed to be a deterrent to poverty, with living conditions intended to be harsh and unappealing. However, the reality was that many workhouses were overcrowded, underfunded, and unable to provide even the most basic necessities for their inmates. Bowen's annotated plan serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by those in the care of the workhouse system during this period. The plan, created by architect John Bowen, was likely used as a tool to advocate for reforms to the workhouse system. Bowen's annotations provide a unique insight into the conditions that existed within these institutions and the arguments made by those seeking to improve them. This historical artifact is a valuable resource for scholars and researchers studying the history of poverty and social welfare in England during the 19th century.
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