Catalogue description Folios 67-69. Workhouse Inspection Report Form from Robert Weale, Poor Law Inspector, to...

Folios 67-69. Workhouse Inspection Report Form from Robert Weale, Poor Law Inspector, to the Poor Law Board, reporting his inspection of the Basford Poor Law Union Workhouse on 24 February 1855; includes details of medical provision, management of the school, the vagrant wards etc.

He comments on the fact that the workhouse is usually adequate for the needs of the union, but 'during the present inclement weather' it is hardly adequate, and wards for the sick are occupied by healthy paupers.

He comments again on this situation in his final observations, saying he has left a minute in the visitors' book and a copy is attached to the report. He intends to press for the enlargement of the workhouse. He asks to see earlier correspondence, unless it has been bound, in which case he will see it when he is in the office. He believes the present increase is due to the frost and snow and is a temporary situation which will ease when the weather improves.

Attached is a copy of the minute which Weale left in the visitors' book of the workhouse. In this he states that the workhouse is in as good order as is possible considering its crowded state. The sleeping ward for women and girls is particularly crowded and the master is using the sick ward for the women, so if any infectious diseases arise the Master has nowhere to put the infected persons. Weale advises strongly that the Medical Officer should be required by the guardians to visit the sleeping wards after the inmates have gone to bed for the purpose of ascertaining the fitness of the wards to hold as many females as are now placed in them. The medical officer should be required to give the number for each ward. At the time the workhouse was enlarged, Weale says he argued strongly that sleeping rooms should be built over the school and chapel, but he could not prevail upon the guardians to do so. The necessity for the extension of sleeping accommodation Weale now feels is evident, and he urges the guardians to make this enlargement of the accommodation. He does not think any more admissions should be given to the workhouse.

Paper Number: 6862/1855.

Poor Law Union Number: 334.

Counties: Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.