Newcastle Workhouse

Newcastle Workhouse was no more pleasant than the other two. The diet was monotonous and barely adequate (though in that respect it was probably little different than that of many outside), but the regimentation and discipline were strong deterrents to potential applicants.

Food in the Workhouse - Extracts from the Rules of Trentham Workhouse 1810
 

The Governor and Matron shall allot the quantity of provision for each day's consumption agreeable to the following Bill of Fare, shall see them weighed, and properly dressed and distributed.

Sunday:    Broth - meat and potatoes -peas, soup.
Monday:   Rice, milk - soup and bread and cheese - mashed potatoes.
Tuesday:  Broth - pork and pease pudding or bacon broth.
                  Wednesday:  Milk, porridge - meat and potatoes or bacon and
                  vegetables-broth.
Friday:      Rice and milk - Ox cheek or legs of beef with potatoes - broth.
Saturday: Milk porridge - a clearance of what has been cooked made
                  with bread and cheese - rice milk.

Quantity:

Breakfast: A pint of milk porridge or broth with eight ounces of bread to each adult; children in proportions.

Dinner: Nine ounces of meat, six ounces of bread, roots or greens to each adult. Working boys and girls, five ounces of meat, four ounces of bread with roots and greens. NB. The younger children drink water. Bread and cheese dinner; twelve ounces of bread and six ounces of cheese, adults; eight ounces of bread and four ounces of cheese, boys and girls.

Supper: A pint of broth or soup, nine ounces of bread, adults. Children in proportion. Potato suppers; a trencher full mashed with milk and a pint of beer. NB. To prevent the trouble of weighing each separate mess, when one has been weighed, the rest are ascertained by bulk.

from: Exploring the Potteries

Deaths of Audley people in Newcastle Workhouse: 

Date of death	Name	Age	Comments
05.04.1870	Hadgett, Mary	94	buried by her friends - we gave the coffin
28.04.1870	Taylor, Charles	22
08.04.1870	Booth, Hannah	1 mth
26.05.1871	Gleaves, Eliza	27
03.10.1871	Rock, Edward	69
09.11.1871	Proctor, William	70
04.01.1872	Ins, Ann	46
07.01.1872	Hancock, Elizabeth	81
11.01.1872	Dobson, William	66	buried by his friends
07.02.1872	Hill, Mary	3 mth
25.03.1872	Hooley, Thomas	54
21.10.1872	Beech, Ann	58
02.04.1873	Swann, Thomas	32	buried by his friends
04.06.1873	Darlington, Jane	86
18.11.1873	Lockett, Ann	73	buried by her friends

"A pauper funeral was something to be avoided, not only because of its extreme simplicity but also for its significance in exhibiting one's failure to maintain a position, however lowly, in society. The covered hand-cart pushed along by a hunched-up attendant with the undertaker striding out in front and the mourners hurrying along behind, made a pathetic accompaniment to the children's rhyme, "Rattle his bones over the stones; he's only a pauper who nobody owns"

…. Often the poor would deprive themselves of the necessities of life for the sake of paying respect to the bodies of their departed friends.

(from J. Litten, The English Way of death).

 Births in Newcastle Workhouse, parent admitted from Audley Parish