The Poor Laws in the United Kingdom left a built and material legacy of over two centuries of legislative provision for the poor and infirm. Workhouses represent the first centralized, state-organized system for welfare, though they maintain a notorious historical reputation. Workhouses were intended to be specialized institutions, with dedicated subdivisions for the management of different categories of inmate. Examining the workhouse provision from an archaeological perspective, the authors demonstrate the heterogeneity of the Poor Law system from a built heritage perspective. This volume forms a social archaeology of the lived experience of poverty and health in the nineteenth century.
Table of Content
List of Figures
Forward
Introduction
Chapter 1. Poverty Archaeology
Chapter 2. The Sick
Chapter 3. The Elderly
Chapter 4. The Young
Chapter 5. The Mad
Chapter 6. The Workers
Concluding Thoughts
Bibliography
About the author
Katherine Fennelly is a historical archaeologist based at the University of Sheffield, where she teaches cultural heritage. She has a BA and MA from UCD, Ireland, and a Ph D from the University of Manchester. She has previously worked in commercial archaeology. Before joining the University of Sheffield, she taught history and heritage at the University of Lincoln (2017-2020).