Union Workhouse, Andover, England 1872

Victorian answer to poor living on the Parish.

                                
Respected couple, old, brought low! "To
Union Workhouse, off, you go."
He turns right and she goes left.

Separation! Both bereft!

 

Yet the old must eat!
So work must bring their meals.

"Pick Oakum" is their destiny!
Now, see the poor divide in three.
"Men there! Women here!" (There, the Children, twee!)

'Work or Death!' Will set them free.                            

    

Author's Note

The workhouse, designed for the undeserving poor, claimed the deserving too. The people were seperated into residential wings. Mens, womens and children. All families serparated forever. Unless they no longer needed parish welfare.

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

I guess some people and corporations would like to see the return of the workhouse, but I hope and pray that those horrors of injustice will never be known again. As always, excellent writing, Ron.

[Mauricio Montoya]

This is a very insightful piece, nice work.

[Cherrie Palmer]

very powerful wonderful use of imagery both dark and dismal