Clutton Workhouse Drawn by J. T. Roff. Master 1850 to 1854
OS Map 1844 to 1888
Aerial View of Cambrook House
Clutton History Group
Source – The Cambrook House Story – A History of a Somerset Workhouse by David S. D. Jones (1996)
Cambrook House served the Clutton district successively as a Workhouse, Poor Law Institute, Public Assistance Institution, Hospital and Home for the elderly from 1835 to 1967. It functioned independently for 93 years, firstly as Clutton Union Workhouse, then as the Cambrook House Institution.
On the 29th. July, 1836, the Poor Law Commissioners directed the Guardians of the Poor for the Clutton Union to purchase a field belonging jointly to the Earl of Warwick and Mr Joseph Rossiter, for a sum not exceeding £690 on which to erect a Workhouse for the common use Of the parishes within the Union at a cost not exceeding £6,000.
Six weeks later, on 9th. September, 1836, the Guardians entered into a contract with James Parfitt of Clutton, and Richard Kennard of East Harptree, builders, to erect and complete a Workhouse at Clutton Within twelve calendar months at a cost of £4,965. The Workhouse was designed by Jesse Gane of Evercreech, architect, who was employed to supervise all stages of the construction.
Inmates of the workhouse slept in dormitories known as "Wards ." When not gardening, baking, cleaning, sewing, or carrying out other tasks, they sat on hard wooden benches in the recreation rooms. Men, women, and children were all segregated. This often caused great distress when a farm labourer and his family were forced to winter in the workhouse through lack of work. The aged and infirm, many of whom entered the workhouse as a last resort, spent long hours lying on uncomfortable beds waiting to die, constantly disturbed by the rantings of lunatics. Tramps were frequent visitors throughout the year, being kept separate from the other inmates in “Casual Wards." Before they could enter the premises they had to report to the local police station to obtain a form of authority. Upon arrival the tramp was obliged to take a bath, then given an evening meal, bed and breakfast, along with a meal voucher which could be exchanged at a local shop for a small amount of bread and cheese to provide lunch on the following day. Before leaving Clutton Workhouse in the morning, each tramp had to perform a task such as chopping firewood, or cracking stones, fetched from the local quarry. A number of these tramps were educated people who had either fallen on hard times, or chose to live an alternative lifestyle. If the workhouse conditions were sub-standard, some tramps would inform the government inspectors, who valued information obtained from these “Spies .”
Other inmates included orphaned children, un-married mothers with small children who had been disowned by their families, unemployed men and women, and recently released convicts.
Each workhouse was expected to be partially self-supporting. In it 's heyday, Clutton Workhouse operated it's own bakery, laundry, and small farm. A chapel was provided to look after the spiritual needs of the inmates, and a schoolroom to allow education of the children. The workhouse could also boast a small hospital. For many years the whole workhouse operation was run with less than 10 paid staff who were responsible for around 150 inmates. Clutton fared better than many of the town workhouses. People in a rural community always tended to be more caring. Farmers occasionally donated surplus produce for the inmates, whilst the local gentry regularly provided seasonal treats in the form of entertainments, or gifts of items such as tobacco.
Source - The Story Of Our Village – Clutton. Published by Clutton WI. 1971
In the days of the workhouse, vagrants were allowed to pass the night there. It was a familiar sight, about 8.30 am. to see 30 or 40 old men coming away from the workhouse and going to Mr. Chivers’ shop with their vouchers, obtained at the police station, for food.
They had to work to earn their food and lodgings and many of them were employed at stone cracking.
Homeless children were also cared for at the workhouse and used to attend Clutton Council School. They were well cared for, the little girls always wearing clean white pinafores and black knitted stockings. Other children looked with envy when they unpacked their dinners, which consisted generally of bread and cheese and an apple.
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Cambrook House
Clutton History Group
Cambrook House
Clutton History Group
Eric Brain collection
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Thursday 27 October 1853, Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette
Another case of a similar nature has happened at Clutton and again the sufferer is an old man. Silas Sage, aged 68, had been drinking to excess for several days, and at last fell down several times in the road, on one occasion striking his head. He was conveyed in a wheelbarrow to his home, a miserable place, which he held for his life at a rental of sixpence a week, laid upon a heap of hay, and then left. The next day he was removed to the workhouse, at the instance of Mr. Perrin, the surgeon of the Union, and died there from exhaustion of the system produced by drunkenness.
Sunday 26 March 1864, Bath Herald
WANTON ATTEMPT TO FIRE THE CLUTTON UNION WORKHOUSE. On Sunday last, between six and seven o'clock in the evening, a diabolical attempt was made by an Irish tramp to set fire to the Clutton Union Workhouse. It appears that he was admitted about that time though an order of the relieving officer of Clutton, and placed in the ward appropriated by the guardians for tramp. Shortly after, the porter observed smoke coming from the direction of the ward, and on proceeding to ascertain the cause, found the tramp with the beds (which are filled with straw) ripped open and on fire, and busy in stripping up the bedclothes, &c., and putting them on the fire. The porter gave the alarm, and the fire was at once extinguished, without doing further damage than destroying the and bedclothes. He was a stranger in the neighbourhood, and stated that he came from Bristol, and on being questioned by the master of the workhouse be swore violently, and said “he intended to burn down the house." He was given over to the Temple Cloud police, and on the following morning taken before Capt. Scobell, a magistrate for Somerset, where the master attended and preferred a charge of destroying the property of the Guardians, under the Vagrancy Act.
Saturday 1 March 1873, East Somerset Telegraph and General Advertiser
PAULTON MAGISTRATES CLERK’S OFFICE Elizabeth Biggs late an Inmate of the Clutton Union Workhouse was brought up in custody charged with smashing 126 panes of glass in the windows of the Workhouse there. She was sentenced to 3 calendar months imprisonment to hard labour. She was further charged with wilfully damaging the windows of the Police Station at Temple Cloud when this Virago was removed from the Workhouse after committing the damage aforesaid. She was further sentenced to 2 calendar months imprisonment with hard labour. This Lass has been many times convicted, and in prison for similar offences, and it was alleged as a fact by one of the officers of the Union that already £500 had been incurred through her. She pretends to be insane, but the Asylum Authorities refuse to acknowledge her as fit and proper object for their care.
Saturday 19 December 1874, Bristol Times and Mirror
A CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO THE CLUTTON GUARDIANS On Sunday morning the porter at the Clutton Union Workhouse had occasion to open the lodge gate, when he was somewhat surprised to see outside a large trunk with a hole in the lid. The box was found addressed to “The Lodge Keeper, Clutton Union,” and it was at once taken to the master, who, on opening it, found it to contain a beautifully
dressed bouncing boy, about six months old, “alive and Kicking.” The little foundling was lying comfortably on a little bed, fitted into the box, and beside it, written in a female hand, was a note containing the following :- “Please take care of my baby. The child has no father, and the mother has no milk.” The police are investigating the case.
Friday 1 August 1884, Western Gazette
Servants &c. Wanted
Nurse wanted, for the Clutton Union Workhouse. Wages £16 per year, with board and Lodgings. Application to be made to the Master, Clutton Workhouse, near Bristol.
Thursday 26 May 1892, Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette
FUNERAL OF THE LATE MASTER OF THE CLUTTON UNION WORKHOUSE. The funeral of Mr. J. N. Dury took place on Saturday, and was attended by a large number of sympathising friends, among whom were the Rev. J. B. H, Hawkins and Mr. George Gibbons, vice-chairmen of the Clutton Board of Guardians ; many of the Guardians of the Union; Messrs. G. York, E. Salmon, and A. Hannay, relieving officers; W. Tapp, labour superintendent; and many others. Mrs. Mogg, Farrington Gurney, sent her private carriage. The coffin was of polished oak, panelled with massive brass furniture, and on the breast-plate wag engraved “James N. Dury. Died May 14, 1892, aged 61 years." The coffin was borne in an open hearse, and was covered with beautiful floral tributes, of which there were sufficient to fill another carriage. These were taken charge of by the relieving officers. The shops were closed, and the blinds of private residences drawn, en route to the church during the service. Deceased had filled the post of Master of the Workhouse for 36 years, to the satisfaction of all with whom he was connected.
Wednesday 9 November 1898, Bristol Mercury
Temple Cloud Police Court
Before Col. Scobell (in the chair), Messrs C. A. Kemble and Henry Hippisley.
A LESSON TO TRAMPS.
James Willoughby, Thomas Watson, and John Green three tramps, were each charged with failing to perform their allotted task of work at the Clutton Union Workhouse. Each of the defendants pleaded not guilty. The Bench, however, considered the case proved, and taking into consideration certain threats used, they sentenced each of the defendants to one calendar month's hard labour at Shepton Mallet.