Paupers Collection

The Hollies Childrens Home, Sidcup, Kent
Aerial view of The Hollies, the Greenwich & Deptford Unions cottage homes at Lamorbey, near Sidcup, Kent, opened in 1902 to house pauper children away from the workhouse

Walton Hospital, Liverpool
Walton Hospital, Rice Lane, Walton on the Hill, Liverpool. The central clock tower concealed a large water storage tank

Congleton Union Workhouse, Arclid, Cheshire
Aerial view of Congleton Union workhouse at Arclid, Sandbach, Cheshire. The building, erected in 1844-5, was designed by Henry Bowman. It later became Arclid Hospital

Union Workhouse, Wokingham, Berkshire
The Wokingham Union workhouse, Berkshire. The workhouse, opened in 1850 on Barkham Road, Wokingham, later became Wokingham Hospital

Union Workhouse, Wantage, Oxfordshire
The Wantage Union workhouse, Oxfordshire. The workhouse, designed by Sampson Kempthorne, was erected in 1836 on Hungerford Road, Wantage, and later became the Downs Hospital

Poplar Workhouse, East London
A side view of one of the blocks of the Poplar Union workhouse, located on Poplar High Street, East London

Christmas Day in the Workhouse
Illustration and opening verses of In the Workhouse: Christmas Day - better known as Christmas Day in the Workhouse, written by George R Sims in 1877

Market Hill and former workhouse, Maldon
A view of Market Hill, Maldon, Essex. The large building at the left is the Maldon Unions former workhouse. Date: circa 1900

Houseless and Hungry by Luke Fildes
A study entitled Houseless and Hungry by Luke Fildes depicting homeless paupers queuing outside the casual ward of a London workhouse. A policeman stands at the left of the scene

East End Doss House, London
Exterior of a lodging house or doss house in the East End of London, probably Whitechapel. A man and a boy stand outside. A sign above the door reads BEDS 4d. Per Night FOR SINGLE MEN ONLY

Union Workhouse, Pontypool, Monmouthshire
Pontypool Union workhouse was built in 1837 on Coedygric Road, Griffithstown, Monmouthshire (now Gwent). It later became Panteg County Hospital

Union Workhouse, Dursley, Gloucestershire
A distant view of the Dursley Union workhouse (left) from the road at Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire. The workhouse, designed by a Mr Fulljames, was erected in 1838-9

Training Ship Exmouth, full crew
Full group photo of the crew of the Training Ship Exmouth

Union Workhouse, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire
The Newport Pagnell Union workhouse was erected in 1836 at the junction of London Road and North Crawley Road. It later became Renny Lodge Hospital

Training Ship Exmouth, dumb bell drill
Uniformed boys on the deck of the Training Ship Exmouth perform dumb bell drill

Union Workhouse, Birkenhead, Cheshire
Birkenhead Union workhouse viewed from Church Road, Higher Tranmere, Birkenhead, Cheshire. A group of children stand in the foreground, with the workhouse infirmary behind them

City of London Union Infirmary, Mile End Road
Situated where Mile End Road continues as Bow Road, the City of London Union Infirmary (now St Clement's Hospital) opened in 1849 as the City of London Union workhouse

Manchester Union Schools, Swinton
The Manchester Union Industrial School at Swinton. The school, where 800 pauper children were housed and educated away from the workhouse, was established in 1843, one of the earliest of its type

Blandford Union Workhouse, Blandford Forum, Dorset
Distant view of Blandford Union workhouse, from Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset. A house at the left has a sign reading YNCA (or YMCA?)

Union Workhouse, Thame, Oxfordshire
A view of the Thame Union workhouse from one of its internal yards with the workhouse chapel in the background

Union Workhouse, Leigh, Lancashire
Opened in 1851, the Union workhouse on Leigh Road, Leigh, Lancashire, later became Atherleigh Hospital. This early 1900s view focuses on the recently added workhouse offices and receiving home

Union workhouse, Market Harborough, Leicestershire
The Market Harborough Union workhouse. The inscription on the pediment reads HARBOROUGH UNION WORKHOUSE 1836

Holborn Union Infirmary, Highgate, London
The Holborn Union Infirmary, Archway Road, Highate, North London. A tram passes by. The infirmary, which was opened in 1879, was designed by Henry Saxon Snell

Greenwich Union Cottage Homes, Sidcup, Kent
Aerial view of The Hollies, the Greenwich & Deptford Union cottage homes at Lamorbey, near Sidcup, Kent, opened in 1902 to house pauper children away from the workhouse

Queen Marys visit to Poplar Schools at Brentwood
In 1906, the Poplar Union (East London) established a Schools site located between Shenfield and Hutton, near Brentwood, Essex

Wallingford Union Childrens Cottage Homes, Berkshire
The Wallingford Unions cottage homes on Wantage Road, Wallingford, Berkshire. Cottage homes were established by some poor law authorities to house pauper children away from the workhouse

Strand Union Workhouse, Edmonton, North London
The Strand Unions workhouse at Edmonton, North London, opened in 1870. The Strand Union was located in Central London

Poplar Union Schools, Brentwood, Essex
In 1906, the Poplar Union (East London) established a Schools site located between Shenfield and Hutton, near Brentwood, Essex

Union Workhouse, Hertford
A view of Hertford Union workhouse, Hertfordshire, opened in around 1869 on Ware Road, Hertford. The imposing three-storey building has a clock tower at its centre

Union Workhouse, Easthampstead, Berkshire
A distant view of the Easthampstead Union workhouse, Berkshire, opened in about 1836, in buildings adapted from former almshouses

Union Workhouse, Bakewell, Derbyshire
Bakewell Union workhouse. The porter and two other men stand at the entrance, while another stands at the left near a wheelbarrow

West Derby Union cottage homes, Fazakerley, Liverpool
Distant view of the West Derby Union cottage homes at Fazakerley, Liverpool. The homes were opened in 1889 to house pauper children away from the workhouse

Kensington & Chelsea District School, Boys Band
In 1876, the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea established a District School for pauper children at Banstead, Surrey (later known as Beechholme)

Statement of Poor Relief in St Lukes Parish, 1854
A printed summary statement of the poor relief statistics for the London parish of St Luke for the week ending 5 August 1854

People's Crusade. Coloman (1070-1116), King of
Walter Sans Avoir (?-d. 1096). One of the leaders of the People's Crusade, reacting to Pope Urban II's call in 1095 to the European nobility for the conquest of the Holy Land

Highfield Military Hospital, Liverpool
Nursing staff at the Highfield Infirmary for aged and infirm paupers in its First World War role as a Military Hospital. Date: circa 1916

Workhouse dining hall, Oliver Twist film, 1948
A workhouse dining hall interior, from the 1948 film of Oliver Twist, directed by David Lean. The religious mottos reminded the inmates that due gratitude was in order for the care they were receiving

The Real Sufferers by the Money Pressure
1594550 The Real Sufferers by the Money Pressure, a Sketch from Life in the Factory Districts (engraving) by English School

Crippled beggar with child (engraving)
7239661 Crippled beggar with child (engraving) by Quast, Pieter Jansz (1605-47) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: After a work from the 1630s by Pieter Jansz Quast.); Photo © Ken Welsh

Crippled beggar with child (engraving)
7239662 Crippled beggar with child (engraving) by Quast, Pieter Jansz (1605-47) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: After a work from the 1630s by Pieter Jansz Quast.); Photo © Ken Welsh

Beggar with his begging bowl (engraving)
7239660 Beggar with his begging bowl (engraving) by Quast, Pieter Jansz (1605-47) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: After a work from the 1630s by Pieter Jansz Quast.); Photo © Ken Welsh

Europes dregs entering the new world (litho)
6005048 Europes dregs entering the new world (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Europes dregs entering the new world)

Beggars receiving alms at the door of a house, 1648 (drypoint engraving)
FIT290435 Beggars receiving alms at the door of a house, 1648 (drypoint engraving) by Rembrandt Harmensz

Highfield Infirmary / Military Hospital, Liverpool
Nurses Home at the Highfield Infirmary for aged and infirm paupers in its First World War role as a Military Hospital. Date: circa 1916

I m hungry (colour litho)
668513 I m hungry (colour litho) by Dickes, William (fl.1843-81); Private Collection; (add.info.: I m hungry, and its very cold)

The Good King Was To Be Seen Giving Food And Drink to the Folk
STC292432 The Good King Was To Be Seen Giving Food And Drink to the Folk, illustration from The Story of France by Mary Macgregor, 1920 (colour litho) by Rainey

Rowton House on Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel
Exterior of the Rowton House from the south west on Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel

Wanted A father, A little boys plea, c. 1915 (engraving)
PNP252347 Wanted..A father, A little boys plea, c.1915 (engraving) by American School

Christmas in the Workhouse (engraving)
6021261 Christmas in the Workhouse (engraving) by Small, William (1843-1931) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Christmas in the Workhouse)

The new Black List; a comparative table of allowances to rich and poor paupers (engraving)
584633 The new Black List; a comparative table of allowances to rich and poor paupers (engraving) by English School

Often He Was To Be Seen Riding Upon An Ass, plate from
STC292430 Often He Was To Be Seen Riding Upon An Ass, plate from The Story of France, by Mary MacGregor, 1920 (coloured litho) by Rainey

The Liverpool Industrial schools at Kirkdale, 1850
The Liverpool Industrial schools at Booth Lane, Kirkdale. Built in an Elizabethan style, it was designed as an alternative to the workhouse to accomodate juvenile paupers. Date: 1850

St Germans Workhouse, Torpoint, Cornwall
A view along Union Road, Torpoint, Cornwall. The long building behind the white wall, partially obscured by a tree, is the St Germans Union workhouse

Wheatenhurst Union Workhouse, Eastington
The Wheatenhurst Union workhouse at Chippenham Platt, Eastington, Gloucestershire. The main building (right) has a greenhouse attached. A large pond is in the foreground

Hexagonal workhouse, first floor plan
The first floor layout of the model hexagon (or Y-plan) workhouse design by Sampson Kempthorne, issued by the Poor Law Commissioners

St Oswalds Hospital, Ashbourne, Derbyshire

Whitechapel Workhouse Infirmary, womens ward
An old womens ward in the Whitechapel Workhouse Infirmary on Charles Street (later Bakers Row, now Vallance Road), East London

Whitechapel Workhouse Infirmary, East London
Exterior view of the Whitechapel Workhouse Infirmary on Charles Street (later Bakers Row, now Vallance Road), East London. A carriage stands outside the entrance

Salvation Army Shelter, Blackfriars Road, London
A crowd of vagrants awaiting admission to the Salvation Army shelter for men (known as The Embankment) at 115B Blackfriars Road, London

Sheffield Workhouse Token, 1815
A one penny workhouse token of the Sheffield Workhouse, Yorkshire, from 1815

Hamburg workhouse - punishment of inmates
An illustration of the punishment meted out to idle paupers at the Hamburg workhouse in 1777

St Johns Childrens Home, Ipswich, Suffolk
Children and nurses at the St Johns Childrens Home on Bloomfield Street in Ipswich, Suffolk. The childrens toys include two rocking horses

Mile End Old Town Workhouse, East London
Previously part of the Stepney Union, Mile End Old Town in East London became an independent Poor Law Hamlet in 1857

Crippled beggar with child. After a work from the 1630s by Pieter Jansz Quast

Beggar with his begging bowl. After a work from the 1630s by Pieter Jansz Quast

Mr Drouets pauper school, Tooting, Surrey
A view of the school for pauper children, privately run by Bartholomew Peter Drouet at Tooting in Surrey (now south west London). In 1849, a cholera epidemic broke out at the school

Cover page of pamphlet, A Night in a Workhouse
The cover page of A Night in a Workhouse -- an undercover expose of conditions in the casual ward of the Lambeth workhouse in London

Inmates of Union Workhouse, Shipston on Stour, Worcs
Aged female inmates of the Union workhouse believed to be at Shipston on Stour, Worcestershire. The women are wearing the typical workhouse uniform of long dress, shawl, apron, and bonnet

Union Workhouse, Orsett, Essex
The Union workhouse at Orsett, Essex. The building, designed by Sampson Kempthorne, was erected in 1827. It later became Orsett Hospital

Workhouse interior, Oliver Twist film, 1948
A workhouse interior from the 1948 film of Oliver Twist, directed by David Lean. A female inmate carries a baby. Behind her are workhouse " coffin beds"

Holborn Union Workhouse, Mitcham, Surrey
The dining hall at the Holborn Union workhouse in Mitcham, Surrey. The uniformed inmates sit at benches in segregated sections - the men can be seen at the rear of the hall

Union Workhouse, Cranbrook, Kent
The Cranbrook Union workhouse, erected in 1838 at Hartley. The architect was John Whichcord

Salford Union Cottage Homes at Culcheth, Cheshire
Swimming baths (right) and workshop buildings (left) at the Salford Union cottage homes at Culcheth in Cheshire. Some girls in their school uniforms walk across the scene

Union Workhouse, Braintree, Essex
Entrance to the Braintree Union workhouse, Essex. Some of the workhouse staff are just visible in the doorway

Hexagonal workhouse, perspective view
Perspective view of the model hexagon (or Y-plan) workhouse design by Sampson Kempthorne, issued by the Poor Law Commissioners

Hexagonal workhouse, ground floor plan
The ground floor layout of the model hexagon (or Y-plan) workhouse design by Sampson Kempthorne, issued by the Poor Law Commissioners

Square workhouse, ground floor plan
The ground floor layout of the model square workhouse for 300 inmates, design by Sampson Kempthorne, issued by the Poor Law Commissioners

Lambeth Workhouse Schools, Norwood, South London
The parish of Lambeth operated a workhouse school on Elder Road, West Norwood, South London. In 1885, the premises were extended with the erection of the New School buildings

Union Workhouse, New Forest, Hampshire
The New Forest Union workhouse, designed by Sampson Kempthorne, was erected at Ashurst in 1836. This view shows the main frontage of the workhouse with its chapel just visible at the left

Union Workhouse, Preston, Lancashire
The massive Preston Union workhouse erected in 1865-8 on Watling Street Road, Fulwood, Lancashire, for up to 1500 inmates

Smithston Asylum and Poorhouse, Greenock, Renfrewshire
The Smithston Asylum and Poorhouse, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, was opened in 1879 to house the areas lunatics and paupers

The Biblia pauperum ( Paupers Bible ) was a picture Bible to portray
The Biblia pauperum (" Paupers Bible" ) was a picture Bible to portray the books of the Bible visually

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"Paupers: Forgotten Lives of Desperation and Hope" Step into the world of paupers, where destitution meets resilience. From The Hollies Children's Home in Sidcup, Kent to the haunting scenes of Christmas Day in the Workhouse, these places bear witness to the struggles faced by those on society's margins. Market Hill and former workhouse in Maldon stand as a testament to the harsh realities endured by paupers seeking refuge. Luke Fildes' poignant painting "Houseless and Hungry" captures their plight with heartbreaking clarity. In Congleton Union Workhouse, Arclid, Cheshire, lives were defined by hardship but also moments of camaraderie amidst adversity. The Union Workhouses in Wokingham, Berkshire and Wantage, Oxfordshire provided shelter for countless souls yearning for a glimmer of hope. The walls of Poplar Workhouse in East London echo with tales of survival against all odds. Meanwhile, the East End Doss House remains a symbol of both despair and fleeting solace for those without a roof over their heads. Journeying further across Britain reveals more stories etched within stone walls - from Pontypool's Union Workhouse in Monmouthshire to Dursley's Union Workhouse in Gloucestershire. Each place bears witness to humanity's struggle against poverty. Finally, we arrive at Newport Pagnell's Union Workhouse in Buckinghamshire - an emblematic reminder that even amidst scarcity there is strength found through unity. These pauper institutions may have faded into history but they serve as reminders that compassion can triumph over adversity. Let us remember these forgotten lives; let us strive for a future where no one goes unnoticed or uncared for – where every person finds dignity and opportunity regardless of circumstance.