Parish Office, Stoke upon Trent
30th August 1833
Rector
Southwell
Nottinghamshire Revrerend Sir Stoke upon Trent is a very large parish locally situated in the Northern Division of the County of Stafford, containing nearly 40,000 inhabitants, principally employed in the manufacture of China, Earthenware and Collieries. We had a small inconvenient Poor House, always crowded and full of Paupers; Idle, Insolent and Refractory, In fact Paupers of the very worst description, having been many years on the Parish Books, and completely confirmed in their state of Pauperism without the least desire ever to be higher elevated in the scale of Society; bringing up their children and all within their influence in the same manner; demanding Relief as their lawful and freehold right without considering it a favour. Our rates having increased in 7 years from £10,000 to £18,000 per annum our Select Vestry and all the principal rate payers agreed that something was absolutely necessary to be done in order to check the rapid growth of Pauperism and the consequent increase of Poor rates. I was sent out to obtain information how other Parishes were conducted, particularly Liverpool, Sheffield, Chester, and Manchester; where much valuable advice was obtained, and when I heard for the first time of your excellent plan adopted at Southwell, it was resolved that a deputation of three gentlemen should visit Southwell to obtain additional information before they proceeded to any great outlay of money. This deputation was so highly satisfied with the system in operation in your Parish and the surrounding District under your superintendance; and with the very kind manner in which you communicated that invaluable advice, both regards the management of parochial affairs generally, as well as your superior mode of transacting your Bastardy accounts, and your practice of throwing a fair share of responsibility on the Mother as well the Father. For these favors and benefits conferred upon us our Parish Officers will ever feel very deeply indebted for the information of our parish abuses; and although our new System has only been adopted here for a few months its practicable results exceed all previous calculation. You are aware that we have erected a Poor House on a large extensive scale upon the Southwell Plan. It is isolated or separated from the bulk of the population and capable of containing from 500 to 700 inmates. Our Select Vestry on coming into office for the present year found 1100 cases or families receiving Relief in money weekly many having been permanent for years. They resolved to send half that number to our new Establishment but out of 550 who received Orders of Admission the odd 50 did not go into the Workhouse; consequently making a saving of £70 per week which had previously been paid to them in money. This new plan on so sweeping a scale has brought down a great deal of odium on the present Officers. The Paupers were very abusive and many respectable Rate-payers, by taking a wrong view of the case, and allowing their feelings to get the better of their judgement, have made matters a good deal unpleasant, accompanied with many threatening and Anonymous letters. ** Still we feel determined to persevere being satisfied that there is sufficient employment in this parish for all who are industrious and disposed to work. In fact when driven back upon their own resources they seldom fail to find employment. The saving will be £5000 per year as soon as we get the plan into full operation. The principle on which our house is conducted is exactly the same as at the Thurgaton Hundred Workhouse - Restraint and Confinement, with proper classification of the sexes. In fact the separation of Man and Wife is absolutely necessary according to the construction of our building; each bedroom being large enough to hold 18 beds with two persons in each. Although this separating of the married people has caused more complaints than all the rest we consider it would be neither decent nor moral to allow so many males and females to sleep in one room. I shall by your permission take the liberty of informing you from time to time how we are going on. Enclosed are two circulars respecting our county expenditure, which you will please accept and also my best thanks for all favours.
