Work in the Workhouse

As the name suggested people who entered the workhouse were given work to do in return for their upkeep.

Washing and cleaning floors: extract from Visiting Committtee Report Book

Extract from the Visiting Committee's Report Book. Comment made by Samuel Horsley, Inspector in which he expresses his concern over the time at which the floors are scoured and washed.

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

Washing and cleaning floors: extract from Visiting Committtee Report Book
Copyright of Donegal County Archives Service. No reproduction without permission.

Washing and cleaning floors: extract from Visiting Committtee Report Book

Extract from the Visiting Committee's Report Book. Comment made by Samuel Horsley, Inspector in which he expresses his concern over the time at which the floors are scoured and washed.

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

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The Adult Inmates

The aged and infirm were expected to pick, card and spin wool, knit and mend or make clothes for the inmates, and in 1847 the union inspector, Samuel Horsley, suggested that the infirm should be employed in making stockings for the house. Partially disabled men were occupied in the kitchen, along with the women, and doing some work around the house and yard. Able-bodied men were employed in stone breaking and able-bodied women were employed in doing the household chores, sewing, carding, knitting and spinning.

Tramps who stayed in Milford workhouse for one night from March 1899 were compelled to break at least one cart-load of stones before leaving.

Extract from the Visiting Committee Report Book where the union inspector remarks that the inmates are washing and scouring the floors too late in the afternoon. (BG/119/3/1, 13 December 1847)

Education of children in the workhouse

Extract from the visiting committee's book detailing their responses to various set questions about the running of the workhouse, with comments on the education the children in the workhouse are receiving.

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

Education of children in the workhouse
Copyright of Donegal County Archives Service. No reproduction without permission�

Education of children in the workhouse

Extract from the visiting committee's book detailing their responses to various set questions about the running of the workhouse, with comments on the education the children in the workhouse are receiving.

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

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The Children

While the adults in the workhouse were set to work the children were sent to school. It was important that they got a good education to increase their chances of getting employment when they left the workhouse. The visiting committee comment on a number of occasions on the way the school is run. The committee complained that by July 1847 the children had still not been examined as the Commissioners of National Education had not sent the relevant books and they also complained that useful trades like shoemaking and tailoring were not taught.

Outside of school hours the girls were expected to help out with the household chores while the boys worked in the garden or yards or in some form of trade, so that their hands would become accustomed to labour and their muscular powers could develop. In 1854 the visiting committee suggested that the girls be taught sewing from four to six each evening and in the summer the children were to be taken out for walks after school.

Extract from the visiting committee report book detailing the replies to standard questions relating to the education of the children who were inmates of the workhouse. (BG/119/3/1, 1 July 1847).

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