Inmates Collection

Shotley Bridge General Hospital, County Durham
Aerial view of Shotley Bridge Hospital, County Durham. It was originally opened by the Gateshead Union in 1912 as a TB sanatorium (far right of picture)

Union Workhouse, Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland
Female lunatic inmates sit in an airing yard at the Cootehill Union Workhouse, County Cavan, Ireland

Pentonville Prison, Islington, North London
An aerial view of Pentonville Prison in Islington, North London. The prison was opened in 1842 as the new Model Prison, on the separate system

Driffield Union workhouse, East Yorkshire
The entrance to the union workhouse (or Poor Law Institution) on Bridlington Road, Driffield, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Two inmates can be seen on the left, sitting on a bench

Christmas Day in the Workhouse
Illustration and opening verses of In the Workhouse: Christmas Day - better known as Christmas Day in the Workhouse, written by George R Sims in 1877

Great Barr Colony, Staffordshire
Great Barr colony for mental defectives, opened circa 1918 by the Walsall and West Bromwich Joint Committee to house people with severe learning difficulties

St Mary in the Fields Childrens Colony, Mayfield, Sussex
Inmates of the St Mary in the Fields Childrens Colony, Mayfield, Sussex Date: circa 1924

Cell Block Interior, Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire
The interior of a cell block at Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire. Cells line the open galleries which have a safety net strung across to prevent inmates falling

West Derby Union, Liverpool - Belmont Road workhouse
The Belmont Road workhouse opened in 1890 by Liverpools West Derby Union. It catered primarily for able-bodied inmates and vagrants, providing daily out-relief in return for manual labour. Date: 1925

Bermondsey Military Hospital, London
Bermondsey Military Hospital operated during the First World War on the premises of the St Olaves Union workhouse at Ladywell, near Lewisham, in south east London

Prison reformer Elizabeth Fry visits women at Newgate
Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845) on a visit to Newgate Prison, London. In 1817, Fry and a group of like-minded, mostly Quaker, women formed the Ladies Association for the Reformation of the Female Prisoners

Leicester Union Cottage Homes, Countesthorpe, Leics
Three small inmates stand in front of a water tower at the Leicester Union cottage homes at Countesthorpe, Leicestershire

Male inmates at Cardiff Union Workhouse, Glamorgan
A group of elderly male inmates, accompanied by a nurse, at the Cardiff Union workhouse located on Cowbridge Road, Cardiff

Union Workhouse, Wincanton, Somerset
The Wincanton Union workhouse, Somerset, with extensive vegetable gardens in front which were cultivated by the workhouse inmates. The workhouse opened in 1838 and was designed by George Wilkinson

Lancaster Nazareth House - young inmates
Younger children on the steps of the Nazareth House at Lancaster, run by the Sisters of Nazareth. Date: circa1913

Exminster Industrial School
Inmates stand in front of the Exminster Industrial School, Devon

Fife and Kinross Asylum, Cupar, Fife
A distant view of the Fife and Kinross Asylum, Cupar. What appear to be inmates can be seen on the grass and pathway. Date: circa 1904

Aylesbury Inebriate Reformatory - Inmates at Work in Laundry
Staff supervise inmates ironing washing in laundry of Aylesbury Inebriate Reformatory. Date: 1908

Caterham Asylum, Surrey - Carpentry Class
A carpentry class for inmates of Caterham Imbeciles Asylum. Like its twin at Leavesden, the asylum was established in 1870 by the Metropolitan Asylums Board for Londons sick poor with mental

Edinburgh Industrial School, Liberton, Gardening
Inmates gardening at Dr Guthries Original Industrial School for Boys, Liberton, Edinburgh. Date: circa 1899

Transfer of inmates to new Fylde Union Workhouse
The removal of inmates from the Fylde Unions old workhouse at Kirkham to its new premises at Medlar-with-Wesham. Scenes include children, elderly inmates, staff, and beds in a dormitory. Date: 1907

Milton Industrial School, Alexandra Road, Farnborough
Inmates and staff of the Milton Industrial School, Alexandra Road, Farnborough Date: 1912

Jeremy Benthams Panopticon
Jeremy Benthams proposed panopticon workhouse or industry house for up to 2000 inmates. The scheme, published in Benthams 1812 work Pauper Management Improved

Laundry at Shirley Schools, near Croydon, Surrey
Inmates ironing clothes and linen in the laundry at the Shirley Schools, near Croydon, Surrey, established in 1904 by the St Olave Union to house pauper children away from the workhouse

Wandsworth Prison / Letter
Built in 1851 and originally called the Surrey House of Correction. The inmates writing letters

Elizabeth Fry (Quiver)
ELIZABETH FRY - Prison reformer, quaker and philanthropist. Here she visits inmates of Newgate Prison

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.

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)

The blind inmates of Stepney Workhouse, 1850
3478671 The blind inmates of Stepney Workhouse, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the blind inmates of Stepney Workhouse. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

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.

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.

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

Poor Law set out regulations for Workhouses, imposing harsh conditions on inmates so that they were seen as places of
527832 Poor Law set out regulations for Workhouses, imposing harsh conditions on inmates so that they were seen as places of last resort

Inmates of All Saints Workhouse, Hertford, England, grinding corn in Herbert's patent mill to produce flour for use
527876 Inmates of All Saints Workhouse, Hertford, England, grinding corn in Herbert's patent mill to produce flour for use in the workhouse

Blantyre House Detention Centre, Goudhurst
Inmates lined up on for the one o clock parade at the Blantyre House Detention Centre for young offenders, Goudhurst, Kent. Date: circa 1950

Sunday School Union Holiday Home, Clacton
Inmates and staff outside the Sunday School Union Holiday Home, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. Date: circa 1910

Elizabeth Fry Reading Scriptures at Newgate Prison
Prison reformer Elizabeth Fry gives a Bible reading to female inmates at London's Newgate Prison. Date: Date unknown

Eventide: A Scene at the Westminster Union - von Herkomer
Eventide: A Scene at the Westminster Union is an 1878 work by the social realist painter Sir Hubert von Herkomer (1849-1914). It depicts women at St James's Workhouse, in Soho, London

Burnley Workhouse Inmates
A group photograph of elderly female inmates at Burnley Union workhouse, Lancashire

The Queens Visit to Ireland (litho)
1599528 The Queens Visit to Ireland (litho) by Begg, Samuel (fl.1886-1916) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Queens Visit to Ireland)

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"Inmates: A Glimpse into Lives Bound by Circumstances" Shotley Bridge General Hospital, County Durham - Where illness meets incarceration, the inmates find solace in a place of healing. Pentonville Prison, Islington, North London - Behind towering walls and iron bars, the inmates strive for redemption amidst the concrete confines. Driffield Union workhouse, East Yorkshire - In this austere institution, destitution intertwines with hope as inmates seek refuge from life's hardships. Christmas Day in the Workhouse - Amidst bleakness and despair, a glimmer of joy illuminates the hearts of these forgotten souls during a special day behind institutional doors. Union Workhouse, Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland - Within these walls lie stories untold; tales of resilience and survival echo through generations of Irish inmates seeking solace within their homeland's embrace. St Mary in the Fields Childrens Colony, Mayfield Sussex - Innocence finds itself entangled with adversity as young minds navigate an unconventional childhood within this colony's protective arms. Exminster Industrial School - Here lies an opportunity for reform; where wayward youths are given guidance to forge new paths away from lives once marred by misfortune. Bermondsey Military Hospital London – The scars borne by soldiers become visible reminders of sacrifice made on distant battlefields; here they find respite amongst fellow comrades turned temporary inmates Prison reformer Elizabeth Fry visits women at Newgate – A beacon of compassion shines upon incarcerated women as Elizabeth Fry brings her unwavering dedication to improving conditions within prison walls Leicester Union Cottage Homes Countesthorpe Leics – Amidst rolling countryside landscapes lie homes that offer sanctuary to vulnerable children who have found themselves labeled as society’s unwanted