Catalogue description Folios 755-758. Workhouse Inspection Report Form from John Thomas Graves, Poor Law...

Folios 755-758. Workhouse Inspection Report Form from John Thomas Graves, Poor Law Inspector, to the Poor Law Board, reporting his inspection of the Bromsgrove Poor Law Union Workhouse on 29 October 1861; includes details of medical provision, management of the school, the vagrant wards etc.

Graves found the workhouse school very well managed and refers to Mr Bowyer's report (of which a copy is annexed). Regarding the religious persuasions of the paupers there were 217 inmates on the day of the visit of which 215 were members of the established church; 1 a protestant dissenter and 1 a roman catholic. The Vicar of Bromsgrove is the chaplain and some ladies visit the workhouse occasionally to read to and give 'religious consolation to the inmates'. A reference is made to 33396/1861 for the entry made in the visitor's book by the Commissioner in Lunacy.

Attached is a copy of the entry made in the visitor's book by H G Bowyer, Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools, dated 7 February 1861; which states that Bowyer was'much pleased with the way in which the children have been taught by the present Mistress'. There is also a copy of the entry made in the visitor's book by John Forster, Commissioner in Lunacy regarding his visit made on 9 October 1861 in which he recommends the old man Seth Bolton to the attention of the medical officer; as Bolton is in a condition that might 'profit by a little occasional indulgence of diet'.

The state of bedding in the dormitories was good, and all the insane were such as may properly be kept there.

Paper Number: 35381/1861.

Poor Law Union Number: 526.

Counties: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.