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Union Workhouse, New Forest, Hampshire
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Union Workhouse, New Forest, Hampshire
The New Forest Union workhouse, designed by Sampson Kempthorne, was erected at Ashurst in 1836. This view shows the main frontage of the workhouse with its chapel just visible at the left
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Media ID 4464359
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10415957
1830s 1836 Chapel Commissioners Designer Dickensian Forest Frontage Hampshire Kempthorne L Aw Legal Legislation Main Paupers Poor Poverty Sampson Status Workhouse Workhouses 1907 Designed
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the main frontage of the Union Workhouse in Ashurst, Hampshire, designed by the renowned architect Sampson Kempthorne and erected in 1836. The New Forest Union Workhouse was established under the harsh legislation of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, which aimed to end the perceived abuses of outdoor relief and provide a more efficient and cost-effective system for the care of the poor. The workhouse was designed to be a deterrent to those seeking relief, with its imposing and austere appearance intended to discourage entry. The green fields surrounding the workhouse offer a stark contrast to the gray, stone building, which housed paupers in spartan conditions, intended to force them into labor to earn their keep. The chapel, just visible at the left of the image, served both religious and administrative functions within the workhouse. Religion played an important role in the workhouse system, with regular services and moral instruction provided to the inmates. The design of the workhouse reflects the Dickensian era in which it was built, with its grandiose entrance, symmetrical windows, and classical columns. Sampson Kempthorne's design was commissioned by the Union Workhouse Commissioners, who sought to create a building that would instill discipline and order in its inhabitants. Today, the Union Workhouse stands as a testament to a bygone era of poverty and social welfare, providing a glimpse into the harsh realities of life in the 19th century. Its historical significance and architectural merit make it an important part of the cultural heritage of Hampshire and the New Forest.
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