A little bit of Withington Workhouse came my way recently.
It is a round metal disk, measuring just over 2 cm, and bears the name Chorlton Union Workhouse on one side and has a small ring fastener on the back.
It was found by Frances Farrow on her allotment just off Nell Lane and was about 80 centimetres below the surface.*
There is no date on the disc, but it will date from between 1837, when the Chorlton Union was established, and 1930, when the workhouses were abolished.
And I think we can narrow that timeline, because from 1837 the Union’s workhouse was situated in Hulme, until it was replaced by the new one on Nell Lane in 1855.
Of course it might have originated in Hulme, and was dropped on the site of the future allotment, or might even have found its way there in a consignment of night soil, but given that the new Workhouse was very close to where it was found I rather think we have a window of time from 1855 onwards.
I thought that at first it might be a token, which could be redeemed for poor relief.
Such tokens were widely in use in the early years of the 19th when there was a shortage of currency, but had become illegal after 1814.
It might just have been customized with the ring on the back so that it could be worn on a bracelet or necklace, but I doubt anyone would want to be reminded of the Workhouse.
All of which just leaves me to think it might have belonged to an inmate or an official out on business. And it might be a button given its size from a workhouse uniform.
Those with a gruesome turn of mind will immediately point out that the burial ground of the old workhouse was close to where the disc was found …… but not close enough.
That burial ground was situated on the north eastern side of Nell Lane at the junction of what was Princess Parkway, and part of it was taken over when the road was widened, while the allotments are further north along Nell Lane.
So, it is a bit of a mystery, but one that someone will have an answer too.
I contacted Mr. Peter Higginbotham, who is one of the leading authorities on the Poor Law and Workhouses, and I can confirm that it is a button which he replied "do turn up sometimes". So mystery solved and I can now just fall back on the disc itself and ponder what secrets it might hold.**
Location; Chorlton
Pictures; the Workhouse disc, 2020, found by Frances Farrow, and the old burial ground, 1950, from the OS map of Manchester & Salford, 1956
*Plot 40A, Southern Allotments, Nell Lane, Frances Farrow and Akram Dadafarid
**The Workhouse; http://www.workhouses.org.uk/
It was found by Frances Farrow on her allotment just off Nell Lane and was about 80 centimetres below the surface.*
There is no date on the disc, but it will date from between 1837, when the Chorlton Union was established, and 1930, when the workhouses were abolished.
And I think we can narrow that timeline, because from 1837 the Union’s workhouse was situated in Hulme, until it was replaced by the new one on Nell Lane in 1855.
I thought that at first it might be a token, which could be redeemed for poor relief.
Such tokens were widely in use in the early years of the 19th when there was a shortage of currency, but had become illegal after 1814.
It might just have been customized with the ring on the back so that it could be worn on a bracelet or necklace, but I doubt anyone would want to be reminded of the Workhouse.
All of which just leaves me to think it might have belonged to an inmate or an official out on business. And it might be a button given its size from a workhouse uniform.
Those with a gruesome turn of mind will immediately point out that the burial ground of the old workhouse was close to where the disc was found …… but not close enough.
So, it is a bit of a mystery, but one that someone will have an answer too.
I contacted Mr. Peter Higginbotham, who is one of the leading authorities on the Poor Law and Workhouses, and I can confirm that it is a button which he replied "do turn up sometimes". So mystery solved and I can now just fall back on the disc itself and ponder what secrets it might hold.**
Location; Chorlton
Pictures; the Workhouse disc, 2020, found by Frances Farrow, and the old burial ground, 1950, from the OS map of Manchester & Salford, 1956
*Plot 40A, Southern Allotments, Nell Lane, Frances Farrow and Akram Dadafarid
**The Workhouse; http://www.workhouses.org.uk/
I wonder why there were not more buttons found Andrew. Perhaps because when a permanent inmate wanted to leave the workhouse he had to get permission & I believe they were given back their street clothes for the day. I think if they left wearing the uniform they could be charged with theft. So perhaps not many uniforms made it outside the walls. Anyway, to me it's a fascinating find.
ReplyDeleteI teresting
Deletehttps://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/digging-up-the-past-1135976 You probably already saw this article but just in case you didn't. Wish they would have included some tokens or buttons from the old Chorlton Union Workhouse in the time capsule. How ironic that they would have thought at the time .. oh that wouldn't be very interesting. Have you ever visited a Workhouse Museum Andrew?
ReplyDeleteThe link doesn't appear to be working. Did I make a mistake or is it that links just don't work in the comments on the blog?
ReplyDelete