What is lambeth workhouse?

Lambeth workhouse was a poorhouse that operated in Lambeth, London from 1726 to 1930. It was originally built to house the poor and destitute of the parish of Lambeth, providing them with food, shelter, and work in exchange for their labor. However, it also served as a place for the punishment of those who could not support themselves or were considered a moral or social threat to the community.

Conditions in the workhouse were notoriously harsh, with inmates forced to wear uniforms and work long hours doing menial tasks such as breaking stones or picking oakum. Families were separated and given meager rations of food, leading to widespread malnutrition and illness. Discipline was strict, with inmates subjected to solitary confinement, flogging, and even being sent to the treadmill as punishment for disobedience.

The workhouse system began to decline in the late 19th century, as public opinion turned against their inhumane conditions. The Lambeth workhouse was finally closed in 1930, and the building was later converted into apartments. Today, the site is a listed building and serves as a reminder of the difficult social and economic conditions faced by the working classes in Victorian England.