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Dorchester Union Workhouse, Dorset
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Dorchester Union Workhouse, Dorset
The chapel (left of centre) and main building (right) of the former Dorchester Union Workhouse, Dorset. The workhouse, designed by George Wilkinson, later became Damers Hospital. Date: 2000
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Media ID 7193369
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10530030
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the historic Dorchester Union Workhouse in Dorset, England, as it stood in the year 2000. The image showcases the chapel, located to the left of the main building, and the imposing main building itself. Designed by architect George Wilkinson, this workhouse was a place of last resort for the destitute and the desperate, a grim reminder of a time when the welfare system was far less generous than it is today. The Dorchester Union Workhouse, also known as Damers Hospital after its later use as a mental health institution, was established in 1837 as part of the New Poor Law. The New Poor Law aimed to reduce the cost of poor relief by forcing able-bodied paupers to work in exchange for shelter and food. The workhouse regime was intentionally harsh, with long hours, meager rations, and strict discipline intended to deter people from entering the workhouse unless absolutely necessary. The chapel, with its tall spire and ornate details, stands in stark contrast to the utilitarian main building. It served as a place of worship for the workhouse residents, offering a small measure of comfort and solace in an otherwise bleak existence. The main building, with its large windows and red-brick facade, housed the workrooms, dormitories, and administrative offices. Today, the Dorchester Union Workhouse stands as a testament to a bygone era, a time when the plight of the poor was seen as a matter for the community rather than the state. While the building has been repurposed as Damers Hospital, its history as a workhouse remains an important part of Dorset's rich cultural heritage.
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