Union Workhouse, South Molton, Devon
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Union Workhouse, South Molton, Devon
The rear of the main building of the union workhouse, opened in 1838 at South Molton, Devon
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 4481491
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10472783
1830s 1838 L Aw Main Molton Opened Poor Rear Workhouse
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the rear facade of the Union Workhouse in South Molton, Devon, built in 1838. The Victorian-era workhouse, a symbol of the English Poor Law, was designed to provide shelter, food, and work for the destitute, the infirm, and the elderly. The main building, with its imposing architecture and fortress-like appearance, reflects the harsh realities of the time, when poverty was seen as a moral failing and those in need were often stigmatized and marginalized. The Union Workhouse in South Molton was one of many such institutions established across England and Wales under the New Poor Law of 1834. The law aimed to reduce the cost of poor relief by introducing a system of workhouses where able-bodied paupers were required to work in exchange for their keep. The workhouse regime was notoriously harsh, with long hours, meager rations, and strict discipline intended to deter people from entering the workhouse unless absolutely necessary. Despite its grim reputation, the Union Workhouse in South Molton also provided essential services to the community, including a hospital, a school, and a workhouse farm. The building's rear facade, with its tall chimneys, narrow windows, and intricate brickwork, bears witness to the complex history of poverty, charity, and social welfare in Victorian England. Today, the site is a reminder of the past and a testament to the enduring human spirit that has survived the challenges of poverty and hardship.
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