Piece
See MH 82/12
Catalogue reference: MH 82/49
Date: 1954 Sept 16-1956 Nov 15
See MH 82/12
Item
Folios 411A-417. Letter from William Alcock Dockrell, Liverpool, to the Poor Law...
Catalogue reference: MH 12/5969/200
What’s it about?
This record is about the Folios 411A-417. Letter from William Alcock Dockrell, Liverpool, to the Poor Law... dating from 16 Oct 1852 in the series Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and.... It is held at The National Archives, Kew.
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Full description and record details
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Reference (The unique identifier to the record described, used to order and refer to it)
- MH 12/5969/200
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Date (When the record was created)
- 16 Oct 1852
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Description (What the record is about)
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- Content
- Folios 411A-417. Letter from William Alcock Dockrell, Liverpool, to the Poor Law Commission, complaining of conditions in the workhouse. He states that he is known to Earl Talbot, Earl of St Germans, The Duke of Newcastle and Sir Thomas Freemantle. He has been the proprietor of a hotel in Dublin, the Egmont Arms Hotel, Kanturk, Cork, The Navy Hotel, Queenstown, and the Carbury Arms Hotel, Bruff, Limerick. He states that he was forced to seek medical relief in the workhouse after he lost all his property, his wife died leaving him with an only child who is ill and a dying mother living in [Caik]. He complains about the conduct of Doctor Bradley who would accompany Doctor Leather, House Surgeon, and George Carr, Governor of the Workhouse. He claims that Bradley 'who is of extraordinary frightful appearance' would 'accost' the patients and speak roughly to them. He would also order the sick to work and put them on a reduced diet believing that the other doctor, Eddones, was 'extravagent' in the diet he prescribed. Dockrall described the behaviour of Doctor Bradley as 'that of a Dangerous Lunatic'. Dockrall also complains of bad language used by people in the wards and calls for someone with authority to keep watch, as people fall asleep with pipes in their mouths while in beds made of straw which would be a fire risk. He describes the 'disgusting' meals allotted to the inmates. He also complains of the expensive poor rates. Also included is a letter from Dockrell to the editor of The Liverpool Mercury, urging people to vote carefully in the election for town counsellors for the Vauxhall Ward at the vestry board. He describes the poor medical relief in the workhouse and urges everyone to 'Sobriety industry and economy' in order to stay out of the workhouse. He cites the case of James Langan who sought medical relief with a bad cold and cough but who died, and also another case of a labourer from Ormskirk who was brought into the workhouse but later died. He states that there was no inquest or means of informing his family. He asks 'what would Lady Franklin or the mothers and wives who accompanied Lord Franklin say'. He also mentions the establishment of an Emigrant House for those coming to and leaving Liverpool. He also recommends the use of Iceland moss or Carrigeen moss for colds, sore throats etc. He also refers to the Earl of Shaftesbury, Lord Claude Hamilton [Lord E Howard] Lord Ethrington [Sir Ralph Howard] [C Coghrane]. Annotated: Report to Mr Farnell [H B Farnall, Poor Law Inspector]. 'I am of the opinion that no notice should be taken of this letter'. Farnell. Note from the Board advising that although ' the allegations are, it is true, vague and ill expressed, they would like to hear Farnell's opinion of Doctor Bradley and others mentioned. Farnall proposes sending copy of letter to the Liverpool Select Vestry. The Board recommends sending original letter with request for it to be returned. Also ' Acknowledge and write that the complaints will receive attention'. Paper Number: 38532/1852.
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Held by (Who holds the record)
- The National Archives, Kew
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Legal status (A note as to whether the record being described is a Public Record or not)
- Public Record(s)
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Language (The language of the record)
- English
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Closure status (Whether the record is ‘open’ (available to the public) or ‘closed’ (not available due to a legal exemption))
- Open Document, Open Description
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Record URL
- https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C10556887/
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Series information
MH 12
Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and...
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This record is held at The National Archives, Kew
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Within the department: MH
Records created or inherited by the Ministry of Health and successors, Local Government...
90,136 records
Within the series: MH 12
Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and...
243 records
Within the piece: MH 12/5969
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You are currently looking at the item: MH 12/5969/200
Folios 411A-417. Letter from William Alcock Dockrell, Liverpool, to the Poor Law...
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