Catalogue description Folios 163-164. Workhouse Inspection Report Form from Andrew Doyle, Poor Law Inspector,...

Folios 163-164. Workhouse Inspection Report Form from Andrew Doyle, Poor Law Inspector, to the Poor Law Board, reporting his inspection of the Wolstanton and Burslem Poor Law Union Workhouse on 16 April 1858; includes details of medical provision, management of the school, the vagrant wards etc. The report is generally favourable. Doyle expresses doubt that the schoolmistress can be considered competent. Ten young children with itch were confined in the same room as two women of bad character, a situation which the medical officer undertook to remedy. One of the inmates had hidden in his bed a bottle which had recently contained spirits, given to him by a visitor. Doyle drew the attention of the recently-appointed master and matron (from the Bakewell Poor Law Union) to several irregularities, and considered that they would be rectified, although the master required some additional assistance. Doyle recommended the appointment of a superintendent of pauper labour to supervise paupers working on the several acres of land attached to the workhouse.

Paper Number: 14728/1858.

Poor Law Union Number: 415.

Counties: Staffordshire.