Part 6/11:
The new system emphasized separation and control; sex-segregated facilities and strict policies aimed to maintain decorum and prevent a perceived moral decay among the inhabitants. While some workhouses did offer essential services and food, many subjected their residents to squalid and dehumanizing conditions, with reports of families being torn apart and women often subjected to abuse.
The Impact of Scandals
Over time, scandals surrounding the workhouse system began to tarnish its reputation. Extreme cruelty in places like Andover, where inmates were reduced to consuming marrow from bones, and neglectful management in Huddersfield led to public outcry. These incidents revealed an ugly truth: the very design of the workhouses often perpetuated suffering rather than alleviating it.