Folios 154-156. Letter from Robert Weale, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, to the...

Folios 154-156. Letter from Robert Weale, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, to the Poor Law Commission, in which he states that he has received a letter, copy annexed. He says he has replied to the letter to the effect that he will attend at the Mansfield Poor Law Union guardians meeting, next Thursday to enquire into the subject.

The enclosed letter is from William Linwood, Presbyterian Minister, and editor of the Nottingham Review, Chesterfield Road, Mansfield, to the Poor Law Commission. He informs of a case of extreme hardship, which had been brought to his notice, with which both Winter the elder, the Workhouse Master and Winter, the younger, the Relieving Officer, appear to have been guilty of not only outstepping the boundaries of common decency, but treating an applicant for relief with downright brutality. Linwood states that the facts of the matter are that a man named Tallents, who has resided for several years in Scotland, but not sufficiently long enough in any one place, to obtain a settlement, was passed by the local authorities to Mansfield, his native town. He applied for admission to the Mansfield Poor Law Union Workhouse, however there appears to be some doubt in a point of law, whether he has a claim on Brampton Moor, Nottingham, or Mansfield, but he has sought relief until this point can be settled.

Linwood states that he has been treated by Winter, Workhouse Master, in the coarsest and most unseemingly manner, Winter stating that he had no business here, that he was a vagrant and should only be treated as such. However, he (Tallents) sought an interview with the Mansfield Board of Guardians, and after waiting on several of them and enduring much abuse at the hands of Winter, he succeeded in obtaining relief. It was decided by the board on 1 July 1847, he should be received into the Mansfield Poor Law Union Workhouse, until the point was settled. Winter the younger was ordered to deal with his case accordingly. Linwood says that, on Tallents going into an adjoining room, he was, again, abused by Winter and jeered at by his son, who threatened to send him to Southwell House of Correction the following morning. He was then sent to Bingley, the workhouse porter, but was followed by Winter, the elder, who ordered the vagrant yard door be locked against him. From 12 noon until 7pm he was kept standing in the open yard, although he had told them he was suffering from severe rheumatic pains in is limbs. Until 8pm he was left without food. Linwood further states that during the night Tallents was lodged with the vagrants and the next morning was kept in a place without a fire, so cold and languid, that he left the workhouse. Linwood asks whether such conduct should be tolerated, and respectfully calls for the Commission to investigate the case, together with another, which the Commission will find in the Nottingham Review, dated 2 July 1847. He claims that these are but two out of many instances of petty despotism, which occur weekly at the Mansfield Poor Law Union Workhouse. Linwood states that Tallents is ready to substantiate every word of the above statement and he relies on the Commission looking into the matter with their usual impartiality.

Annotated: acknowledge, the Commissioners will wait for a report from Mr Weale on the subject.

Paper Number: 14382/B/1847.

Poor Law Union Number: 337.

Counties: Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.