Scarborough New Workhouse

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Scarborough New Workhouse

A birds eye view of Scarborough New Workhouse, situated in Dean Street, leading to the Cemetery. Date: 1860

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Media ID 20159505

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Bubblepunk

1860 Cemetery Dean Leading Scarborough Workhouse Workhouses

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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative bird's eye view photograph captures the imposing presence of Scarborough New Workhouse as it stood in 1860, situated in Dean Street and leading towards the town's cemetery. The workhouse, a stark reminder of the social and economic realities of the Victorian era, was a place of last resort for the destitute, the elderly, and the infirm. The image reveals a sprawling complex of buildings arranged around a central quadrangle, with the main block dominating the composition. The high walls and barbed wire fencing encircling the workhouse underscored the institutional nature of this place, designed to deter those within from leaving and to keep those outside from entering. The workhouse system, established in 1601, aimed to provide relief to the able-bodied poor through forced labor in exchange for food and shelter. However, conditions within the workhouses were often harsh, with long hours, meager rations, and strict discipline. The photograph also reveals the cemetery, a final resting place for those who had passed away within the workhouse walls. The proximity of the workhouse to the cemetery underscores the high mortality rate among the inmates, a tragic consequence of the harsh living conditions and inadequate medical care. This photograph offers a glimpse into the past, providing a poignant reminder of the social and economic challenges faced by the Victorian-era community and the role of institutions like the workhouse in addressing those challenges. The image also underscores the importance of historical preservation, allowing future generations to learn from the past and to understand the complex social and economic realities of the Victorian era.

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