The Lamerton Workhouse Orphanage

by S G Read

  ‘Why should I punish you? You worked as hard as anyone.’

  ‘They do punish her a lot sir.’ Six added.

  ‘Did they whip you?’

  ‘No sir.’

  ‘How did they punish you then?’

  ‘The whip used to bend me over the small tub.’ She pointed to the one she meant. ‘And do it from behind; the master used to take me in there and do it on the bed!’

  ‘Well you are not to be punished but I do need your help number seven, so come with me.’

  She obeyed without question and followed him to the bottom of the stairs where he picked up the things he had left there and then on to the door to his room where he stopped.

  ‘Number Six make sure the work gets done properly and we will not fall out.’

  ‘Yes sir.’ The boy answered.

  Andrew went into his rooms with the girl following. He showed her how to wash number forty one’s wounds and re bandage them then took her upstairs to where the babies were and let her wash and change any which needed it while the old woman still slept. The old woman woke while number Seven was working and scolded her before she saw Andrew.

  ‘Get back to your work seven before I call the whip!’ She cried.

  ‘The whip has gone home and so can you.’ Andrew answered from next to her.

  ‘Who the hell are you?’

  ‘The new beadle and your employee up until now; go home and do not come back.’ Andrew retorted.

  ‘I live here.’

  ‘Not any more! Pack your belongings and go.’

  The woman ranted and raved but was eventually evicted from the work house causing the children to cheer.

  Andrew turned back to face them and they stopped immediately.

  ‘Was she that bad then?’ He asked.

  ‘Yes sir.’ Number Six answered.

  ‘Then cheer all you like as long as you get the work done!’

  They cheered again then all went back to work.

  Andrew left number seven looking after the babies and went out to see what was at the rear of the building as number forty one was still asleep. He came across a boy taking hot coals from the fire he had obviously been stoking and walking unsteadily up the steps to spread them on the path. Next to him was a huge mass of brambles growing from a large clump of roots.

  Andrew looked for his number.

  ‘Number forty I am the new beadle and from now on the hot coals will be dumped in the brambles as near to the root as you can get them.’

  ‘Yes sir.’ He started to shovel up the ones he had just dumped.

  ‘Leave them, the next ones will do.’ Andrew said softly and walked past him only to find more brambles. He turned, walked back inside past the working children and out into the stables. On his horse he had a sword, one he had won from a cavalry officer at cards; it would be useful in making a path. He found old number seven in the stable pretending to fight a battle with it.

  ‘Careful old seven it is sharp.’ Andrew warned and took it from him before examining the horse. ‘Very good almost as good as if I had done it.’ He gave the young man a penny. ‘For your good work but make it better next time!’

  The young man just looked at the penny as Andrew walked back inside to swashbuckle his way through the undergrowth. A narrow path ran away to his right so he followed it trimming back any encroaching vegetation as he did so. He found a stream and it was obvious that the water used to wash the clothes came from it as the bank was well used and there was a bucket attached to a rope nearby. He could see the top of the waterwheel and chopped his way to it, making sure he did not fall into the stream as he went. He met the corner of the wall before he reached the waterwheel and it was easier to travel from there on. The stream had an old sluice which was meant to raise the water level to make water pour over the wheel but the sluice was rotten and broken as were the boxes on the waterwheel. He pictured it running in his mind and wondered if there was any way of using it to wash the clothes. If they mended the sluice the boy getting the water would find it a lot easier as the water level would then be near the top of the stream. He decided to look inside the mill to see what it was like and made his way to the door. That was on the side which nearest the main building. He had to clear a way to it and force the door open but he was determined to get inside.

  The roof was leaking and some wood was rotten but it did not look bad to his untrained eye. He walked back out to the stable to collect the dirty clothing he had worn down here, passing the burning bramble bush as he went.

  ‘Old number seven is there a carpenter about who will come and work here?’

  ‘Yes sir, Mr. Hodgson is a carpenter.’

  ‘How do I get word to him?’

  ‘He lives a mile down the road sir, the master usually sends a runner.’

  Andrew looked at the young mans leg. ‘Obviously not you. How did you hurt your leg?’

  ‘I was on the corner and got pulled into the water, I didn’t want to let go or I would have been whipped.’

  ‘What did they do?’

  ‘Nothing sir, made me work on even though I hurt my leg, my friend number four tied a piece of wood along it so I could work.’

  Andrew shook his head in disbelief and walked inside again. The washing was complete and the children were cleaning the large wash tubs, long rectangular wooden boxes which held the water to wash and rinse the clothes. Several children were inside scrubbing the tubs and Andrew left them to it and walked out the back to inspect the burning bramble bush.

  By now it was three burning bramble bushes as number forty took the job to heart, spreading the coals round where they would do the most harm to the brambles. Andrew used the sword to cut down more and let them fall into the flames. There was a lot of work to be done out here before they could make it useful and even then he had no idea what they would do with it, he just knew that the brambles had to go. As it grew dark he cut down more brambles using the fire to light his work. When all of the brambles from that patch were gone he walked back inside to complete silence, the children were in bed on their straw mattresses and most were asleep. Some had watched him as he cut down the brambles but were now back in bed. A rat ran in front of him and he killed it with the sword automatically. He killed two more before the rest scurried out of sight and stood his ground waiting for them to dare to come out again. He used the shovel to bring in hot coals from the fire to drop into the hole in the mud floor they had come through to discourage them from returning for a while then went into his rooms.

  He checked on number forty one before he made himself a bed out of the two armchairs and the footstool. He settled down to sleep with a large glass of the previous beadle’s brandy. It was not as comfortable as it might be but a second glass of brandy did the trick and he slept.

  Chapter 2

  The door opening woke him and he saw number seven walk over to number forty one. The girl in the bed moaned at being disturbed which was a good sign. He waited until she left then washed in the bowl before he dressed. When he walked out into the workroom the children were washing clothes. All the fit children were working there except number Seven and number forty who had other things to do. He walked out the back to see what it looked like in daylight after his swordsmanship and found number forty stoking the fire.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ Number forty said worriedly and cringing away from him.

  ‘What are you sorry for?’ Andrew asked.

  ‘Being late lighting the fire but the water was still hot enough to start.’

  ‘Well that is alright then have you had anything to eat?’

  ‘No sir Mrs. Hunt made the gruel in the mornings.’

  Andrew turned and walked back inside to find old number seven waiting for him.

  ‘Mr. Boyle is at the gate, should I let him inside sir?’

  ‘No leave him out there for now.’ Andrew answered and walked into the office to see how much money Zachariah was paid per week. He looked through the records and saw payments to him of £
4 per week not a lot. He took a £1 note from his pocket and walked out to where Zachariah stood fuming.

  ‘Here is £1 which is your usual wage less three for number forty one. Come back in a week and if she recovers I will pay you the rest. After that stay away.’

  He walked back inside ignoring the comments Zachariah was shouting and sought out number seven.

  ‘Do you know how to make the gruel?’ He asked.

  ‘Yes sir.’

  ‘Well make some up, the same amount Mrs. Hunt made for now.’

  ‘Yes sir; shall I finish changing her?’

  ‘Yes finish what you were doing. Has she no number?’

  ‘No sir, not until they start working.’

  Andrew shook his head in contempt of the previous beadle and walked back down to see how the work was going. It was obvious that the children needed everyone who were working to keep the washing going so he sought out number forty outside.

  ‘Do you know where Mr. Hodgson the carpenter lives?’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  ‘Good, run down to his house and ask him to call here at his earliest convenience, I will look after the fire.’

  Number forty ran as though his life depended on it while Andrew fed the fire and used the sword to cut down more brambles, in between feeding the fire. When he returned number forty was in Mr. Hodgson’s cart. He led the carpenter to where Andrew was working.

  ‘Not a sight I see round here too much?’ The carpenter declared when he saw Andrew shovel coal into the flames.

  ‘I can imagine.’ Andrew answered. ‘Andrew McDay at your service, you must be Mr. Hodgson?’

  ‘Bill Hodgson at your service what can I do for you? I can see the tubs are alright as they are using both of them.’

  ‘Come with me Bill.’

  Andrew showed him the sluice which needed repair and the wheel which needed a lot of repair then took him inside and discussed how the could make the wheel do some of the work.

  ‘The main gearing cog looks as if it can be made to work but you will have to get the worm as that is nearly rusted away. I have also seen some tubs at a laundry in Exeter which are half of large vats and have a sort of paddle in them which is driven by a steam engine we could do that here with the water wheel.’

  ‘It sounds good but cost is always going to be the controlling factor here for a while.’

  ‘You can buy the vat for a few pounds, there is one in Tavistock the owner wants gone: I can cut it in half but I will need to find out how to make the rest work before I can get it working.’

  ‘Let us get the wheel up and running before we spend too much money.’

  ‘I’ll get started right away. I see you are clearing the land are you going to grow your own vegetables?’

  ‘It does seem a waste of a piece of good land otherwise but I must confess I know nothing about growing things.’

  ‘I grow all my own vegetables and have a few to sell when work is scarce, I’ll help if you want me to.’

  ‘I will very grateful Bill. Do you know anyone who can come in and cook some food for the children? I found Mrs. Hunt drunk with the babies in a terrible state so I sent her on her way.’

  ‘So I heard. I was in the pub last night and Zachariah was having a good go at you for throwing him out.’

  ‘I didn’t throw him out, just made him work at the tub, while number six held a pistol on him, after he had nearly killed number forty one.’

  Bill burst into laughter. ‘Now that I will spread round the pub; that cowardly bully wants bringing down a peg or two. When I go to get the wood I need I will talk to the Mrs. Hodgson she will know who is about who needs work and is worth taking on.’

  Bill walked out and number seven walked down to where he stood, she was covered in gruel.

  ‘The food is ready but it isn’t very good.’ She admitted.

  ‘I am sure you did your best.’ Andrew answered seeing all the gruel on her dress.

  He walked over to number six. ‘When this one is in for rinsing you can stop for food.’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  He followed number seven to the dining room and stood by the large pot with the gruel in it.

  Running feet announced the arrival of the hungry children and he waited until they were sitting before he said grace then one line at a time the children walked up for their food, one scoop of gruel. Andrew joined the line after the last child with two bowls, one for him and one for number seven. When they had all been fed there was gruel left over.

  ‘What happens to that usually?’ Andrew asked.

  ‘It is warmed up tomorrow.’ Number seven answered.

  ‘Well that stops now. Do they always sit in the same seats?’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  ‘Good, call up the first line again and dish out more food until it is gone. Remember where you get to when you run out and you can start with them tomorrow.’

  Number seven smiled. ‘Yes sir.’

  Andrew did not stay for second helpings, as it was pretty awful but went to find something to eat in his room. While he was eating an apple in there, number seven knocked the door.

  ‘Come in.’

  She walked in with a bowl of gruel for number forty one and Andrew was surprised to see the patient sit up and eat it. Seven fed her then walked out again with a curtsy on the way out. Andrew walked over to the girl in the bed.

  ‘How do you feel?’

  ‘Alright I think, he didn’t hit me so much this time. Do I have to work today?’

  ‘No not today; we will let your wounds heal a little longer.’

  With that she settled down in his bed to sleep, she was making the most of it and Andrew scratched his head. He had imagined her dying of her wounds and not being up and around in two or three days.

  The work resumed and Bill Hodgson started work. He cut wood for the sluice and made it fit as snug as he could to stop the water pouring through as it was now. The stream started to fill up when it was finished and he started on the waterwheel. He built a wooden platform over the opening to make sure he did not fall into the water below. At the moment the stream was still filling up but it would soon overflow the sluice. With his platform built he started on the first wooden box. To make the wheel go round the water dropped into the first box and the weight of the water carried it forward so that the next one filled up thus driving the wheel round. He had to repair each box as he came to it but had to make sure the water did not start pouring into the top one before he was ready, that was why the two top sections of the sluice were still out.

  Andrew watched him work for a little while but soon went back to clearing the land to be ready to do whatever they wanted to do with it. Sometimes he went in to help and other times found old number seven working along side the other children, things in the work house had already changed for the better. They were getting a little more food each day and no beatings.

  Andrew forced himself to go through the books to see where the money would come from to pay for these improvements and found several people owing them money. He never owed anyone any money and vowed never to but some of these debts were months old. He walked out to where Bill was eating his lunch sitting on the platform.

  ‘They seem a lot happier in there Mr. McDay.’

  ‘So they do Bill. How long do you let people owe you money?’

  ‘A rhetorical question; I hope.’ Bill answered.

  ‘I have some unpaid accounts and wondered which ones to chase for payment.’

  ‘I expect payment after a month.’ Bill declared. ‘Older ones want chasing.’

  ‘I will chase the older ones then.’ Andrew answered and returned to his office to make notes.

  One outstanding dept was for a tidy sum and it was for Lady Lamerton and Andrew made a note to chase it. He found others to chase and the income generated would pay for the repairs but when he looked through the other papers in the bureau he found a map with the work house on it. Lady Lamerton featured on it, she owned the field next door
and a plan formed in Andrews mind. He shelved the chasing of that account for now but chased the others to such an extent that when the next washing arrived, he turned it away until the account was cleared. As they were cheaper and nearer than the opposition, the accounts were soon cleared and the washing came back for washing.

  A tap on the door made him look up and Bill stood in the open doorway.

  ‘All done?’ Andrew asked.

  ‘Yes we need to get the vat here next for me to cut in half.’

  ‘I will pay you up to date so that I know where we stand, I am not one to be in debt.’

  Bill walked over and Andrew counted out his money.

  ‘Thank you Mr. McDay, a pleasure working for you. I have had no luck with a nurse or someone to look after the babies but we will keep asking.’

  ‘Thank you for your good work Bill can I hire your cart to collect the vat in?’

  ‘It is not big enough but John Potter the farmer has a wagon big enough. Him and his boy will bring it for a few shillings.’

  ‘How do I ask him?’

  ‘I’ll go by to buy some food later in the week I can ask him then for you, if you want me too?’

  ‘Yes please, tell him I will pay him when he brings it here.’

  ‘I will and I will let old number seven know it is coming, he likes to know these things.’

  Bill left with his money and Andrew walked out to see his handy work. The wheel was repaired and going round with the weight of the water now pouring into it and he walked back round to see inside. The main cog was missing for cleaning and the shaft just turned aimlessly. They needed a worm gear to take the power where they wanted it and then some sort of drive to clean the clothes but it was all above Andrew’s head. With the water at the top of the stream bank getting water was a lot easier for number forty. He watched him stoke the fire to keep the water hot.

  ‘Is it easier getting water now number forty?’ He asked.

  ‘Yes sir, no more buckets now.’

  ‘How do you get it then?’

  ‘I turn this pipe to point down and it just comes out.’ Number forty demonstrated. ‘Mr. Hodgson said it was because of gravity, whatever that is.’