Gressenhall Workhouse

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An Historical Introduction

The buildings which now house the Norfolk Rural Life Museum and the Archaeology and Environment Division formerly served as the workhouse for the surrounding areas of Mitford and Launditch.

In the second half of the 18th century, owing to the growth of the population and other economic and social changes, the problem of poverty increased. Under the 'old poor law', responsibility for the relief of the poor fell on individual parishes, but the increasing scale of the problem encouraged the local authorities to consider new approaches. In the autumn of 1774 a group of magistrates in the 'hundreds' of Mitford and Launditch proposed that all of the parishes in those districts should combine to build one large 'house of industry' where the helpless could be properly looked after and those capable of work could be profitably employed. This, they argued, would guarantee more generous and humane treatment for the poor at a lower cost to the ratepayers. Opposition from those who argued that the house of industry would be like a prison and would lead to discontent among the poor, and from the inhabitants of East Dereham (thought to be the most likely site for the house of industry), was unavailing. The Act of Parliament establishing the Mitford and Launditch Incorporation was passed in May 1775.

In the spring of 1776 the directors of the incorporation purchased Chapel Farm, an estate of almost 62 acres in Gressenhall, and plans for the house of industry were approved. Construction began in the early summer and was completed in just over a year. The total expenditure of over £15,000 was financed by loans raised on the security of the poor rates. The size and proportions of the buildings are testimony to the ideals of their promoters. They consisted of the large central block, H-shaped in plan, together with the two extensive wings which form an L-shaped extension to the east. Two western wings were planned but never built. The house of industry proved to be less profitable than had been hoped and this contributed to the decision to obtain a second Act of Parliament in 1801, under which East Dereham left the incorporation and new arrangements were made for meeting the expenses of the house.

The first governor of Gressenhall House of Industry was James Moore, formerly owner of the George Inn at Dereham. His wife was the matron. The number of inmates averaged nearly 450 between 1777 and 1794 and reached 670, the highest total ever, in 1801. Married couples were able to live together in the 'cottages' or apartments into which the two eastern wings were divided. 'Women of bad character', however, were kept apart and had to wear distinctive clothing later referred to (when abolished in 1839) as 'ignominious dress'. The sick were looked after in the building which had formerly been Chapel Farm.

In the summer months the inmates started work at 6am, stopped for breakfast for half an hour at 8am, and then worked until noon. After a break of an hour and a half for dinner and recreation, work continued until supper time at 6pm. They were expected to be in bed by 9pm. In the winter the day began an hour later, the lunch break was shorter, and bedtime was an hour earlier. Some inmates worked in the fields. Others were employed in textile manufacturing, the men combing wool, dressing hemp and flax, and weaving the yarn to produce clothing and other articles for use in the house. Spinning was done by women, some of the woollen yarn being sold for weaving into worsted in Norwich. In the 19th century the manufacture of sacks became the most significant source of employment and money earner. Many of the women and children in the workhouse worked at domestic tasks, and the children received some education. In accordance with the provisions of the Act of 1775, adult inmates were allowed to retain a proportion of their earnings and children were given small rewards for their work. Before 1836, the inmates' diet was comparatively generous, with regular meals, abundant vegetables, bread made with flour from a windmill erected in 1781, and beer which was brewed on the premises. Their beds were of flocks, which must have been more comfortable than the straw mattresses used later. Discipline seems to have been relatively relaxed, and the inmates were allowed to go out on Sundays after the morning service in the dining hall.

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