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Union Workhouse, Romsey, Hampshire
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Union Workhouse, Romsey, Hampshire
The Union workhouse on Winchester Road, Romsey, Hampshire. Some of the workhouse staff appear to be playing croquet while workhouse inmates are seated on benches behind. The building, originally the Romsey parish workhouse dating from 1774, was taken over and enlarged by the Romsey Union after its formation in 1835
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Media ID 4464955
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10416115
Benches Country Side Croquet Hampshire Homeless Homelessness Inmates L Aw Lawn Legislation Parish Poor Poverty Romsey Shelter Staff Uniforms Winchester Workhouse Workhouses Games
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures a moment in time at the Union Workhouse on Winchester Road in Romsey, Hampshire, circa 1906. The building, originally constructed as Romsey Parish Workhouse in the late 18th century, was later taken over and expanded by the Romsey Union in 1835 to accommodate the growing needs of the community during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. In this image, some of the workhouse staff are seen enjoying a leisurely game of croquet on the lush lawn, while workhouse inmates are seated on benches behind, dressed in drab uniforms, bearing the signs of poverty and hardship. The ivy-covered walls and Gothic Revival architecture of the workhouse serve as a stark reminder of the social and economic conditions of the time. The Union Workhouse was established under the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601, which required parishes to provide shelter, food, and other necessities for the destitute. However, the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act introduced a new system of workhouses, which aimed to deter able-bodied paupers from entering the workhouse by making living conditions harsh and unpleasant. This photograph offers a glimpse into a bygone era, providing a poignant reminder of the historical significance of workhouses in addressing poverty and homelessness in rural communities during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The scene of staff playing croquet while workhouse inmates look on highlights the stark contrast between the privileged and the marginalized, and underscores the complex social and historical context of this intriguing building.
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