Tales from Ponteland Workhouse

Within our Oral History collection, we hold a recording of Arthur Halliday who grew up in Ponteland Workhouse. Arthur’s father, an ex-policeman, became Master of the institution in 1898 and held that position until his death in 1926. His mother, a nurse, was the Matron until 1930. Arthur was born in 1907, and spent his childhood in the workhouse and eventually ended up working there. He fondly reminisces about some of the inmates, food, and living conditions with a great deal of humour. 

What is very interesting is Arthur’s recollection of his parents attempts to help & rehabilitate workhouse inmates. He claims they had very ‘modern ways’ and that this was part of the reason they were given their positions as the Board of Guardians wanted to shake up workhouse management. His parents wanted to give inmates some self-respect as many had fallen on hard times and could not find employment. One man called Thomas was a skilled Tailor. He became an inmate but after a period he became employed to repair all types of clothing. He became friends with Jacob the Cobbler who was employed to repair all the workhouse boots. Jacob was a renowned poacher so as a favour, Thomas sewed a large poachers pocket into his jacket! Another man was a painter and decorator, and he would become an inmate every winter when it was difficult to find work. During his stay he would always offer his services and would paint any room that needed to be spruced up. There was a standard colour for the rooms which was brown at the bottom and cream at the top. A large percentage of men who were in the workhouse were labourers. As there was a large garden of about 2.5 acres, some of these men helped the gardener with digging and general maintenance. They also grew all the vegetables that were used in the kitchen.  

Arthur talks fondly about the Straw Jacks who were the casual farm labourers. They went around different farms, worked hard and slept in the hay lofts. Many of them were known only by nicknames such as Old Clogs, Coffee Tommy and Galloping Dick.  These labourers would always come into the workhouse for the winter. However, not all men worked. One male inmate was very well spoken and had come from a wealthy family. He had travelled the world but never settled anywhere or had the need to work. Arthur saw him as a man who couldn’t really cope in the world & when the money ran out, he was destitute. Workhouse inspections occurred every six months and on one occasion, an inspector recognised the man and it turned out that they had both been at Cambridge University together. 

There were long stay inmates and some were classed as imbeciles. One man would do anything for the Master and would follow him about and offer to bring him snuff. He loved horses and would look forward to the coal arriving by horse and cart. One day the cartman hit the horse and the inmate was so angry that he went after him with a stick. The cartman never came back to the workhouse! 

The layout of the bedrooms was briefly discussed. Women were in rooms of four beds and the men were in dormitories of no more than eight beds. The building had previously been used as an isolation hospital for typhoid patients. When his parents began their duties in 1898, there were still blankets that were used by these patients. All the blankets were red, and Arthur states that the reason for this was that they wouldn’t show as much blood as a white blanket would. These hospital blankets were washed and used in the workhouse.

The children were kept separate from the adults. At one time there were 42 children in the workhouse. Boys and girls were segregated and were kept until they were 14 then they were apprenticed out. It was often difficult to secure a position as not many people wanted a workhouse child.  

Arthur claimed that many people were fed better in the workhouse than many on the outside. A pint of porridge was the usual breakfast and lunch consisted of soup and 8 ounces of bread. It wasn’t a thin soup but more like a broth containing pieces of meat.  There was meat for dinner on alternate days and always a roast on a Sunday. There was always a pudding, often milk based such a rice or sago. This was largely because milk was cheap. Supper consisted of bread and butter. Cakes were made on the premises and often on the menu were rice cake and fruit cake.  

The building contained a maternity ward, and he recalls that there were quite a few births. Most were young girls who had fallen by the wayside. The workhouse had a part time doctor who would attend to check the child, but the nurse would assist with the birth. Arthur’s mother (who was a nurse) was also on hand. With illegitimate workhouse births, there was a list of people who were willing to adopt. The Relieving Officer would visit the house of any potential new parents to check their suitability. Arthur’s mother was often asked to accompany the officer. They had high standards and if the house was the least bit dirty, the baby would not be placed there. 95% of the babies in the Ponteland workhouse were eventually adopted.  

NRO 8535/2/1/116 Photograph of Mr Mortimer (chairman of Castle Ward Board of Guardians) bidding farewell to Mrs Halliday (Matron of Ponteland Workhouse) 1930.