Discipline in the Workhouse

Rules:

The daily work was backed up with strict rules and punishments. Laziness, drinking, gambling and violence against other inmates or staff were strictly forbidden. Other offences included insubordination, using abusive language and going to Milford without permission. Smoking was also forbidden in the early years but by the 1890's tobacco was purchased for the inmates.

Punishment Book 2a

Extract from the punishment detailing name of person who has been or who is to be punished; offence; date of offence; punishment given; guardians opinions on punishment and the punishment the guardians decide upon; and the date of punishment. Punishments are for both adults and children and are for offences such as fighting, abusive language, insubordination, refusing to work and going to Milford without permission.

Copyright of Donegal County Archives Service. No reproduction without permission

Punishment Book 2a
Copyright of Donegal County Archives Service. No reproduction without permission

Punishment Book 2a

Extract from the punishment detailing name of person who has been or who is to be punished; offence; date of offence; punishment given; guardians opinions on punishment and the punishment the guardians decide upon; and the date of punishment. Punishments are for both adults and children and are for offences such as fighting, abusive language, insubordination, refusing to work and going to Milford without permission.

Copyright of Donegal County Archives Service. No reproduction without permission

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Punishments:

Punishments inflicted by the master and the board included sending people to the refractory ward, and for children, slaps with the rod; or for more serious offences inmates were summoned to the Petty Sessions and in some cases jailed for a period of time.

One example of this was Mary Devenny, who was described as "a very bad and disobedient, violent worker". She was imprisoned for six weeks with hard labour as a result of repeated insubordination and the use of threatening language to the infirmary nurse. Catherine Logue took the rod from the schoolmistress when she was punishing the children for which she was given three and a half hours in the refractory ward. By the early 1900's the punishments had moved away from incarceration in the refractory ward to being deprived of their tobacco or getting smaller rations of milk.

Extracts from the Punishment Book of Milford Workhouse(BG/119/3/5)

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