Diet

Diet initially adopted by Milford Board of Guardians

Extract from the minutes of the board of guardians laying down the diet that they initially adopted for use in the workhouse.

Copyright of Donegal County Archives Service. No reproduction without permission�

Diet initially adopted by Milford Board of Guardians
Copyright of Donegal County Archives Service. No reproduction without permission�

Diet initially adopted by Milford Board of Guardians

Extract from the minutes of the board of guardians laying down the diet that they initially adopted for use in the workhouse.

Copyright of Donegal County Archives Service. No reproduction without permission�

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One way to discourage people was to lay down a strict diet. Boards of guardians who did not adhere to it could be fined for not complying with the recommendations of the poor law commissioners. In most areas of the country only two meals a day were given, however in Donegal and other areas of the northern half of the country where it was common for people outside the workhouse to have three meals a day, three meals were given daily inside the workhouse.

The poor law commissioners recognised that on occasion some variation might be needed, in these cases bread was to be substituted for either potatoes or oatmeal, in the proportion of 12oz of bread for 3 ½ lbs. potatoes and 8oz bread for 7 oz of meal. They also suggested that 8 oz meal in stirabout could be substituted for 3 ½ lbs of potatoes and milk or gruel was allowed in place of buttermilk, in equivalent portions. Previous to adopting any such change the board of guardians had to first apply to the poor law commissioners. However as time went on the dietary rules became less stringent and by the early 1900's notes were inserted in the minutes concerning giving extras to the inmates at Christmas and Easter.

During the early years of the workhouses the diets were very basic but efforts were made to ensure that the food was of good quality. The visiting committee of Milford union suggested that a new twelve gallon tub be purchased for the sweetmilk which was being carried in the same container as the buttermilk and this was causing it to sour much quicker than was necessary. Complaints by the inmates in relation to the quality of the white bread were investigated and action taken to remedy the situation.

When the workhouse opened in 1846 the only foods ordered for the inmates were oatmeal, bread, potatoes, sweetmilk and buttermilk. By 1899 eggs, tea, rice and meat had been added and by the early nineteen twenties butter, fish, jam and sugar were also included. Added to these supplies would have been the vegetables grown in the workhouse yard and garden, such as the cabbage plants which are mentioned in the minutes as part of the inmates' diet.

Images:

The recommended diet set by the Commissioners can be seen in the first image, while the original diet laid down by Milford board of guardians can be seen in the second image. (Eighth Annual Report of the Poor Law Commissioners, 1843; BG/119/1/1, 6 April 1846).

Extract from the visiting committee's report book recommending that a new tub be purchased for carrying the sweetmilk, 1848 (BG/119/3/1).

Click here to view a transcribed version of the Milford Dietary and the Visiting Committee's comments on improvements