TWU Teaching @ Harlaxton College - Spring '22: Southwell Workhouse and Cathedral

Harlaxton College had a day-trip to the Southwell Workhouse and Cathedral that I was able to join and found it truly spectacular.

(Note: Southwell is pronounced "Su-thurl" sort of like "subtle" for reasons unknown to me!?!)

This was a fascinating trip, providing an up-close understanding of what the British workhouses were like in the 1800's.

In addition, the cathedral was another amazing architectural gem, with arches looking like Roman aqueducts in one section. When we arrived, there was a solo guitar recital in the choir section near the main alter and it was truly magnificent! The setting, the music and the history blended together seamlessly.

To understand more about the workhouse, here is a description from the website and link:

A National Trust property, The Workhouse is the best-preserved example of the hundreds of workhouses built across the country.

Built in 1824, the austere building was a place of last resort for the destitute. Its architecture was influenced by prison design and its harsh regime became a blue print for workhouses throughout the country. In its rural location, The Workhouse in Southwell was designed to house approximately 160 inmates who lived and worked in a strictly segregated environment with no contact between the old and infirm, able-bodied men, women and children.

Walking up the paupers’ path, visitors can only imagine how the Victorian poor must have felt as they sought refuge at The Workhouse. A life of drudgery was their only option to earn food, shelter and medical care.

https://visitsouthwell.co.uk/p/the-workhouse/

I hope you enjoy the pictures! Ron

A view into the segregated exercise yards. They were segregated by gender. The rounded sections in the corners were where they emptied their chamberpots/toilets.

Note the arches on the left that resemble Roman aqueducts.

We were told these stained-glass windows came from a church in France. If you look closely, some do not have the arch at the top and it was added to the original glass sections which were horizontal.