The Workhouse was a building made to house the poor. They were built all over the country as a result of the 1834 New Poor Law's introduction. This act of Parliament said that people who were very poor, old, sick or unemployed should be looked after in a Workhouse. These buildings were often very large and grew to be feared by the poor and old.

The workhouse would provide food, drink and work for it's inmates. There were often strict rules and the people running the establishments were often cruel.