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Workhouse Sports Day, Sheffield, Yorkshire
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Workhouse Sports Day, Sheffield, Yorkshire
Inmates of the Sheffield Union workhouse at Fir Vale watch as male competitors take part in an obstacle course during a sports day
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Media ID 4464419
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10415974
Competition Competitors Course Inmates Institution Institutional L Aw Legislation Obstacle Pauper Paupers Poor Poverty Sheffield Spectators Vale Watching Workhouse Workhouses
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the scene at the Workhouse Sports Day held at Fir Vale, Sheffield, Yorkshire in 1909. The image portrays a stark contrast between the competitive spirit of the male competitors participating in an obstacle course and the paupers of the Sheffield Union, who watch from the sidelines. The Union Workhouse, an institution established to provide relief for the poor and destitute, was a bleak and often inhumane place. The Edwardian era saw a shift in the administration of poor relief, with the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 leading to the establishment of workhouses as a means of enforcing the work ethic and deterring able-bodied paupers from seeking relief. The spectators in this photograph, mostly women and children, gaze intently at the competitors, their expressions a mix of curiosity, excitement, and perhaps even envy. The men, dressed in their workhouse uniforms, tackle the obstacle course with determination, their focus unwavering as they navigate the various challenges. The atmosphere is one of community and camaraderie, despite the harsh realities of life within the workhouse walls. This photograph offers a glimpse into a bygone era, a time when poverty and destitution were widespread, and the law of the land dictated the harsh conditions under which the poor were forced to live. The image serves as a poignant reminder of the historical significance of workhouses and the impact of poverty legislation on the lives of those who were deemed in need.
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