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Irish Workhouse Dormitory Design 1840
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Irish Workhouse Dormitory Design 1840
Design by architect George Wilkinson for dormitories in Irish workhouse. On the upper two floors, inmates slept on raised platforms with a walkway in between. On the ground floor elderly or sick inmates slept on harrow beds made from a simple framework of planks. Date: 1840
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Media ID 7189175
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10512833
Architect Dormitories Elderly Floor Floors Inmates Platforms Raised Slept Walk Way Wilkinson Workhouse Upper
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EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: "A Vision of Despair: George Wilkinson's Irish Workhouse Dormitory Design of 1840" This evocative image showcases George Wilkinson's design for dormitories in Irish workhouses during the mid-19th century. The architect's innovative yet dismal solution to house the surging population of the destitute and the indigent in Ireland, this design was a stark representation of the living conditions during the era of the Irish Potato Famine. The upper two floors of the dormitory are depicted, with inmates sleeping on raised platforms. These platforms were designed to maximize space and accommodate as many people as possible. A walkway ran between the platforms, allowing for minimal circulation and interaction between the inmates. The upper floors were intended for the able-bodied inmates, who were expected to work during the day and return to sleep in the cramped quarters at night. In stark contrast, the ground floor of the dormitory was reserved for the elderly and sick inmates. They were provided with harrow beds, which were made from a simple framework of planks. These beds offered little comfort and support, and the inmates would have endured a cold and damp existence, further exacerbating their already precarious health conditions. The design by George Wilkinson was a product of the harsh realities of the time, with the primary objective being to minimize expenses and maintain order in the workhouses. The dormitories were intended to discourage idleness and encourage self-sufficiency, as able-bodied inmates were required to work in exchange for their shelter and sustenance. This image serves as a poignant reminder of the living conditions during one of the most challenging periods in Irish history, and the architectural innovations that were implemented to address the pressing social and economic issues of the time.
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