Desperate lives of Barnstaple Workhouse children revealed in new book

The hidden lives of children forced into Barnstaple’s workhouse have been told in a new book by a North Devon author.

Born into the Poor Laws: the children of Barnstaple Workhouse by Gudrun Limbrick uncovers some of the stories of poverty, despair and occasionally, hope, of those forced to endure the grim 19th century institution.

In the early 1800s North Devon as with many other parts of England saw great poverty as new machines took away farm jobs and towns and cities became overcrowded with under-employed and impoverished people.

People in desperate need were forced into the workhouse where they were imprisoned as if they were criminals and forced to work, generally only hard, menial tasks. If they refused to work they could be punished, beaten or sent to prison.

North Devon had a number of small workhouses or ‘poorhouses’ run by the parish churches, such as in Ilfracombe, Combe Martin and Barnstaple itself.

These were closed and instead a single large workhouse was built in Barnstaple, using the labour of those living in the old workhouse.

The new workhouse, on what is now Alexandra Road, could house 300 people and was run by a board elected from amongst the wealthiest men of the borough.

People who were at their wits end went into the workhouse and for many it was a life sentence, stuck there until they died.

It was considered an absolute last resort taken by those who could not find any work and were unable to feed themselves, let alone their families.

Single pregnant women went into the workhouse, unable to find work because of the shame of carrying an illegitimate child. Those who had disabilities, or illness or those who were too frail all had little choice but to go into the workhouse.

They could take in no possessions; their clothes were replaced by the workhouse uniform. Married couples were split up. Children were taken from their parents. Rations were meagre, the regime was harsh and leaving the workhouse was impossible for many.

Local researcher Gudrun has written several books about children in care and for her latest book she pored over the few records that exist of life in the workhouse and has written the history of the institution from 1837 right through to the 1950s.

This was when the last part of it – the cottage homes for children, which were built in the grounds of the workhouse, were closed.

Gudrun said: “It has been extraordinary to learn of the stories of the people who lived there – the children who were born in the workhouse and those poor people who spent their entire lives in the house.

“However, there are also stories of hope, survival and people managing to rebuild their lives.”

Born into the Poor Laws: the children of Barnstaple Workhouse, is available from local stockists and online sellers.