![Picture](/uploads/4/5/7/7/45772233/8458430.jpg?270)
Dunshaughlin Workhouse was originally built after the Poor Law Union came into operation on 4th April 1839; prior to the Great Famine, which many people incorrectly attribute to the foundation of the Workhouse (Barrett, 2008; P. Lynch, personal communication, January 16, 2015). On the 20th May 1839, a meeting was held in the Courthouse in Dunshaughlin (Barrett, 2008), where the plans to develop and build the workhouse were put into motion. To oversee the work, and to organise the future running of the workhouse, a board of thirty four guardians was appointed. Some of these were elected, others were ex-officio, however it was clearly stated that the “number of ex-officio guardians shall never exceed 1/3 of the number of elected guardians” (Nicholls, as cited in Barrett, 2008, p.16). This number of guardians was allocated based on the population of Dunshaughlin at the time, which was 20,985 people (Barrett, 2008).
Contention over Building
The workhouse in Dunshaughlin was under construction for less than two years before the first people were admitted. While construction work was taking place, the Board of Guardians continued to meet together to discuss the running of the workhouse, while an appointed Inspection Committee was responsible for overseeing the construction of the workhouse and ensuring that satisfactory progress was being made (Barrett, 2008; P. Lynch, personal communication, January 16, 2015). The Inspection Committee filed several complaints regarding the building of the workhouse, with regard to the speed of the building and the materials which were being used (Barrett, 2008; Pennethorne, 1844). Despite these complaints, and further protests that the workhouse was not complete, Dunshaughlin Workhouse was officially declared “fit for the reception of paupers” on 13th May 1841 (Barrett, 2008, p. 16; Pennethorne, 1844; Minute Books, May 13, 1841). Four days later, on 17th May 1841, the workhouse admitted the first inmates (Pennethorne, 1844; O'Connor, 1995). The workhouse was built on five acres of land, with the total cost of both building and fittings being calculated at £5850 (O'Connor, 1995).
The Numbers
Originally, the workhouse was built to house 400 inhabitants (O'Connor, 1995). A steady increase in demand for space began to appear, and additional accommodation for 71 inhabitants was provided (O'Connor, 1995). However it wasn't until the Great Famine hit Dunshaughlin, in 1846, (Barrett, 2008), that there was a noticeable shortfall in space. The workhouse was not designed to deal with a national epidemic such as the Famine. When concerns began to be raised about overcrowding (Barrett, 2008), the Board of Guardians made several decisions in order to try and rectify the situation. Previously, fever patients had been treated in a hired house, where there was space for 25 patients (Barrett, 2008). Due to the need for change, a fever hospital was erected on the north of the site, designed to take in 60 patients (Barrett, 2008). This part of the building has now been demolished (P. Lynch, personal communication, January 16, 2015; R. Barrett, personal communication, January 21, 2015). Furthermore, space for inmates was increased by renting stables in March 1847, designed to house a further 497 people (Barrett, 2008). It can be presumed however, that the workhouse actually housed many more.
Contention over Building
The workhouse in Dunshaughlin was under construction for less than two years before the first people were admitted. While construction work was taking place, the Board of Guardians continued to meet together to discuss the running of the workhouse, while an appointed Inspection Committee was responsible for overseeing the construction of the workhouse and ensuring that satisfactory progress was being made (Barrett, 2008; P. Lynch, personal communication, January 16, 2015). The Inspection Committee filed several complaints regarding the building of the workhouse, with regard to the speed of the building and the materials which were being used (Barrett, 2008; Pennethorne, 1844). Despite these complaints, and further protests that the workhouse was not complete, Dunshaughlin Workhouse was officially declared “fit for the reception of paupers” on 13th May 1841 (Barrett, 2008, p. 16; Pennethorne, 1844; Minute Books, May 13, 1841). Four days later, on 17th May 1841, the workhouse admitted the first inmates (Pennethorne, 1844; O'Connor, 1995). The workhouse was built on five acres of land, with the total cost of both building and fittings being calculated at £5850 (O'Connor, 1995).
The Numbers
Originally, the workhouse was built to house 400 inhabitants (O'Connor, 1995). A steady increase in demand for space began to appear, and additional accommodation for 71 inhabitants was provided (O'Connor, 1995). However it wasn't until the Great Famine hit Dunshaughlin, in 1846, (Barrett, 2008), that there was a noticeable shortfall in space. The workhouse was not designed to deal with a national epidemic such as the Famine. When concerns began to be raised about overcrowding (Barrett, 2008), the Board of Guardians made several decisions in order to try and rectify the situation. Previously, fever patients had been treated in a hired house, where there was space for 25 patients (Barrett, 2008). Due to the need for change, a fever hospital was erected on the north of the site, designed to take in 60 patients (Barrett, 2008). This part of the building has now been demolished (P. Lynch, personal communication, January 16, 2015; R. Barrett, personal communication, January 21, 2015). Furthermore, space for inmates was increased by renting stables in March 1847, designed to house a further 497 people (Barrett, 2008). It can be presumed however, that the workhouse actually housed many more.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/7/7/45772233/2950153.png?515)
School in the Workhouse
There are many different aspects of life in the workhouse which could be used for investigative purposes in the classroom. For my investigation, I chose to look at education and the life of children in the workhouse. The school in Dunshaughlin Workhouse opened on the 21st October 1841, with the roll number 3143 (Barrett, 2008). The school accepted both boys and girls for three hours per day, during which they studied reading, writing and principles of the Christian religion (Barrett, 2008). In Dunshaughlin Workhouse there was both a schoolmaster, John Dwyer, and a schoolmistress, Bridget Kennedy (Barrett, 2008). They remained until 1948 (Barrett, 2008). There was fluctuation in pupil enrolment numbers:
1842 = 172 pupils
1843 = 150 pupils
1844 = 181 pupils
1845 = 143 pupils
1846 = 139 pupils
1847 = 194 pupils
1848 = 185 pupils
1849 = 227 pupils
It is worth noting that the high enrolment from 1847-49 was the time the Great Famine struck Dunshaughlin most severely.
Life for Children
The life of children in the workhouse was not ideal. There were strict regulations regarding diet, and each child was only allowed a carefully measured selection of food (Barrett, 2008). Along with strict dietary regulations, there were also strict rules regarding living arrangements. Children over two years old were housed separately, and rarely saw their parents (“The Workhouse has been,” n.d.). The Master and Matron of the workhouse strictly supervised the young children, and only allowed them outside for a certain number of hours per week for exercise (Barrett, 2008). These rules are very different to those which the majority of children live with today, therefore an investigation into the changes in lifestyle for children could take place in the classroom. This would come under the strand units “Homes”, “Housing” and “Schools and Education” in the strand “Continuity and change over time”. It would also help the children develop a sense of empathy. A school trip to a workhouse centre, or a workhouse would be beneficial for the children.
The life of children in the workhouse was not ideal. There were strict regulations regarding diet, and each child was only allowed a carefully measured selection of food (Barrett, 2008). Along with strict dietary regulations, there were also strict rules regarding living arrangements. Children over two years old were housed separately, and rarely saw their parents (“The Workhouse has been,” n.d.). The Master and Matron of the workhouse strictly supervised the young children, and only allowed them outside for a certain number of hours per week for exercise (Barrett, 2008). These rules are very different to those which the majority of children live with today, therefore an investigation into the changes in lifestyle for children could take place in the classroom. This would come under the strand units “Homes”, “Housing” and “Schools and Education” in the strand “Continuity and change over time”. It would also help the children develop a sense of empathy. A school trip to a workhouse centre, or a workhouse would be beneficial for the children.