Shoemaking Workshop, Holborn Union Workhouse, Mitcham
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Shoemaking Workshop, Holborn Union Workhouse, Mitcham
The shoemaking workshop at the Holborn Union workhouse, Mitcham, Surrey. Male inmates are at work making and repairing shoes for use in the workhouse
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 4464871
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10416090
1896 Cobbler Cobblers Cobbling Conditions Elderly Employment Holborn Homeless Homelessness Inmates Manual Mitcham Poverty Repairing Shoe Shoe Making Shoes Skill Skills Surrey Workhouse Workhouses Workshop Youth
EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: "Shoemaking at the Holborn Union Workhouse, Mitcham: Preserving Victorian-era Skills and Dignity Amidst Poverty This evocative photograph captures the scene of a shoemaking workshop inside the Holborn Union Workhouse in Mitcham, Surrey, during the late 1890s. The image portrays a group of young and elderly men, focused intently on their work as they mend and create shoes for the residents of the workhouse. The Holborn Union Workhouse, established to provide shelter and employment for the homeless and destitute, was a common feature of the Victorian era's social welfare system. The workhouse system aimed to instill a sense of discipline, industry, and self-sufficiency among its inmates. The shoemaking workshop was one of several trades taught to the men, providing them with valuable skills and a sense of purpose. The men in the photograph, dressed in simple work clothes, display a range of ages, from the young to the elderly. Their expressions reveal a deep concentration, as they meticulously stitch, shape, and polish the shoes. The presence of these men in the workshop underscores the importance of the trade during this era, when shoes were essential for daily life and the cobbling industry was a significant source of employment. The conditions in the workshop are modest, with minimal tools and equipment, yet the men's determination and focus are evident. The photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and resourcefulness of the human spirit, even in the face of poverty and hardship. This image, taken in 1896, offers a unique glimpse into the past, providing valuable insights into the lives of those who lived in workhouses during the Victorian era. The shoemaking workshop at the Holborn Union Workhouse in Mitcham stands as a testament to the importance of trades and the role they played in providing employment and skills for the most vulnerable members of society.
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