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Hexagonal workhouse, first floor plan
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Hexagonal workhouse, first floor plan
The first floor layout of the model hexagon (or Y-plan) workhouse design by Sampson Kempthorne, issued by the Poor Law Commissioners
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Media ID 4464533
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10416005
1830s 1835 Annual Commissioners Dickensian Floor Hexagon Hexagonal Hundred Kempthorne L Aw Lay Out Legal Legislation Paupers Plan Poor Poverty Report Rooms Sampson Status Workhouse Workhouses
EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: "A Glance into the Past: The First Floor Plan of Hexagonal Workhouse - A Model of Victorian Poverty Alleviation" This evocative first floor plan, hailing from the annals of the 19th century, represents the Hexagonal Workhouse design by Sampson Kempthorne, an influential architect commissioned by the Poor Law Commissioners in 1835. The design, a key component of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, aimed to reform the haphazard and often cruel workhouse system of the time. The Hexagonal Workhouse, also known as the Y-plan, was a radical departure from the Dickensian workhouses of the past. The layout, as depicted in this print, reveals a more humane and efficient approach to housing the paupers. The first floor is divided into several rooms, each designed for specific purposes. The central hexagon houses the dining hall, surrounded by smaller rooms for various work activities, such as spinning, weaving, and laundry. The hundred markers on the plan indicate the accommodation for 300 paupers, reflecting the scale of the institution. The layout, a testament to the legislative efforts of the Poor Law Commissioners, aimed to promote self-sufficiency and discipline among the residents, while also ensuring a more equitable distribution of resources. The architectural design, with its hexagonal shape and clear room layout, offers a fascinating glimpse into the historical context of the 1830s. The status of paupers, once shrouded in shame and secrecy, was gradually changing, as the focus shifted towards providing a more dignified and efficient solution to poverty relief. This first floor plan, a critical component of the annual reports and recommendations of the Poor Law Commissioners, remains an essential piece of historical documentation, shedding light on the evolution of social welfare systems and the architectural innovations that shaped them.
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