The Peel Web

I am happy that you are using this web site and hope that you found it useful. Unfortunately, the cost of making this material freely available is increasing, so if you have found the site useful and would like to contribute towards its continuation, I would greatly appreciate it. Click the button to go to Paypal and make a donation.

The Andover Workhouse scandal, 1845-6

The Andover scandal of 1845-6 highlighted the hardship of the workhouse regime. McDougal, the Master of the Andover workhouse, had a reputation for inhumanity; rumours of excess cruelty eventually led to a public enquiry. Bone crushing was a normal occupation for paupers. The bones of horses, dogs and other animals (and there were hints that some from local graveyards) were crushed for fertiliser for local farms. The paupers were so hungry that they scrambled for the rotting bones. Bone-crushing became the focus of a case which was reported extensively by The Times and was followed avidly by the public. Edwin Chadwick emerged particularly well and reached the height of his prestige and power at this time. Andover was only the most notorious example of workhouse cruelty. There were several other major scandals and incidents, all recorded by the press in minute detail.

Report from the Select Committee on the Andover Union: Evidence of Charles Lewis, a labourer

9828	(Mr Wakley) What work were you employed about when you were in the workhouse? I was employed breaking bones.
9829	Were other men engaged in the same work? Yes
9830	Was that the only employment you had? That was the only employment I had at the time I was there
9831	Was the smell very bad? Very bad
9832	Did it appear to affect your health? It did a great deal mine, and appeared to affect the others
9833	How many men were so employed? Whether it was nine or ten boxes round the room, I don't recollect.
9834	Was it a close room or shed? It was a very close room
9835	How did you break them? We had a large iron bar to break them with
9836	Something like a rammer? Yes
9837	Had you no other employment at all? No, not while I was there, but breaking the bones
9838	What sort of bones did they appear to be? All sorts
9839	During the time you were so employed, did you ever see any of the men gnaw anything or eat anything from those bones? I have seen them eat marrow out of the bones
9840	You were not examined before Mr Parker, the Assistant Commissioner? No
9841	Have you often seen them eat the marrow? I have
9842	Did they state why they did it? I really believe they were very hungry
9843	Did you yourself feel extremely hungry at that time? I did, but my stomach would not take it.
9844	You could not swallow the marrow? No
9845	Did you see any of the men gnaw the meat from the bones? Yes
9846	Did they use to steal the bones and hid them away? Yes
9847	Have you seen them have a scramble and quarrel amongst the bones? I do not know that I have seen them scramble, but I have seen them hide them.
9848	And when a fresh set of bones came in, did they keep a sharp look-out for the best? Yes
9849	Was that a regular thing? While I was there.

Meet the web creator

These materials may be freely used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with applicable statutory allowances and distribution to students.
Re-publication in any form is subject to written permission.

Last modified 4 March, 2016

The Age of George III Home Page

Ministerial Instability 1760-70

Lord North's Ministry 1770-82

American Affairs 1760-83

The period of peace 1783-92

The Age of the French Wars 1792-1815

Irish Affairs 1760-89

Peel Web Home Page

Tory Governments 1812-30

Political Organisations in the Age of Peel

Economic Affairs in the Age of Peel