I went to Brixworth yesterday afternoon. It's a large village between Market Harborough and Northampton famous for its Saxon church. (The spire is a 14th-century addition.)
A low winter sun and bare tree branches always make for shadows that look like they are out of a folk horror film.
There is a horrible irony about the village. It's workhouse was notorious:
Soon after the Workhouse had opened the Secretary of State had to send a Bow Street Runner to Brixworth to investigate the strict policy being adopted by the Guardians regarding the payment of "out relief" to the poor and needy of the parish. Brixworth became known as the "dark portion of rural England" due to its almost complete withdrawal of "out relief".
Conditions inside the building were often criticised too as being prison like and spartan and Mrs Briddon, one of the cooks, described the food as meagre and tasteless. It was an institution feared by the old and needy, a place where families were split up and accommodated in single sex dormitories.
The surviving central block of the workhouse – it used to be considerably larger – now houses a cafe. I always feel guilty when I order my avocado toast and latte there.
I am surprised to learn that Brixworth was big enough to justify its own workhouse - was it much bigger in those days? Or taking in people from a larger catchment area?
ReplyDeleteAfter 1835, one workhouse would serve a number of parishes, and Brixworth workhouse served a particularly large number - see here for details.
ReplyDelete(Very interesting - thanks for the link.)
ReplyDelete