The Workhouse Children

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  Arriving where the men stood in a group, Cara and Martin stopped and the men doffed their caps. They all knew who this young woman was.

  At Cara’s nod, Martin spoke up loudly.

  ‘Gentlemen.’ Out of work they may be, but their dignity was still intact. ‘This lady is Miss Cara Flowers.’ All eyes turned to her and she nodded in response. ‘Miss Flowers is looking for men to work a plot of land she has purchased.’ The clamour of men pushing and shoving almost took Cara off her feet. ‘Gentlemen please!’ Martin shouted and the men settled once more. Standing aside, Martin gave Cara the floor.

  ‘Good morning gentlemen,’ she called.

  As one they chorused their reply almost like children in a classroom. ‘Good morning Miss Flowers’.

  Cara joined in their laughter as they nudged each other before she went on, ‘As Mr Lander said, I need land workers. I have a large section of waste ground which I feel could be put to good use. It will need to be cleared first then it is my intention to section it off into allotments for growing vegetables. There is sufficient land there for around fifty small plots.’ Cara watched as the men scanned the group, each making a quick head count. ‘Now my proposal is this… I will pay each man a small wage to clear and work the land. When the plots are up and running and the produce can be harvested and sold, each man will then pay me a small rent for their plot.’

  ‘Miss Flowers,’ a man yelled, ‘the winter ain’t far away, not much is gonna grow then!’

  ‘Gentlemen, once you are allocated your plots it will be up to you what you do with them. I will pay you a small wage whilst you get them up and working, but I hope to be paid rent by next summer.’ She smiled.

  Cara watched the men laugh and mutter as her words sunk in.

  ‘Miss Flowers,’ the man who had spoken previously pushed to stand in front of her and took off his flat cap. ‘We all know who you are and of the good work you’ve been doing regarding the workhouse…’ Cara smiled and nodded. ‘I, for one, would be glad to take up your offer. Sam Yale at your service, ma’am.’ Giving a small bow, he laughed as the other men jostled him.

  ‘Thank you Sam, then you are hereby the foreman of any who wish to take up my offer and work the allotments.’ A cheer rang out. ‘Now gentlemen please give your names to Sam, so I am able to sort out your first wages which you will receive today.’ Another cheer went up as Cara passed a notebook and pencil to her new foreman. She watched as Sam noted down all the names including his own. Her mind was in turmoil, was she doing the right thing? Well, it’s too late now, it’s done, she thought.

  ‘Miss Flowers,’ Sam Yale said eventually, ‘we have fifty names on the list, but there’s two men left standing.’

  ‘Sign them up, Sam, we’ll sort something out,’ Cara said with a smile. ‘Then get them, with any tools they have, over to Proud’s Lane. The quicker they start, the better. Oh and Sam, my house is The Laburnums and I will give you the wages to hand out each week if you would be good enough to collect them.’

  ‘Thank you, Miss Flowers, on behalf of us all, thank you!’ Sam shoved his cap back on and yelled his orders to the rest. Men shot off in all directions to collect their tools, grateful thanks flung over their shoulders as they went.

  Cara and Martin chatted excitedly as they returned to her home to sort out the men’s wages.

  ‘I know this is a huge risk I am taking, Martin, I’m not even sure the land will be suitable for growing produce. Only time will tell. However, at least I have put some of the unemployed to work.’

  Looking at Martin, she added, ‘That’s one in the eye for the esteemed Mr Joseph Purcell!’

  *

  Martin Lander was settling down to his tea in his small house and considered himself an extremely lucky man. Cara Flowers had consented to walk out with him. She was, at last, his sweetheart and he loved her. He was on top of the world and his face was fixed in a constant smile.

  Throwing more coal on the fire, Martin was startled by a knock on his front door. Answering, Martin was surprised to see who stood on his doorstep.

  ‘Dr Cooper! Please, come in.’ Martin stood aside to allow the man entry.

  ‘Forgive my visit to your home, Mr Lander, but I felt the need to come.’ The older man dropped into the chair offered.

  Over tea, the doctor explained the reason for his unannounced visit and Martin listened carefully.

  ‘The cook has left the workhouse. The Townsend child died of food poisoning and her mother was shut away in the lunatic asylum.’

  Martin realized this echoed what Bertha Jenkins had divulged.

  ‘The inmates are suffering cruelty and starvation. I have now resigned my post there too!’

  Martin’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ‘Why are you telling this to me, Dr Cooper?’

  ‘People need to know, Mr Lander. I’m not sure what can be done, but the regime at the “Spike” needs changing, if nothing else. It needs changing soon before there are more deaths! I wondered, with you being a lawyer, whether you could help… legally?’

  Martin shook his head, ‘I’m not sure how I can help. However, as you probably already know, Cara Flowers is hell-bent on getting as many people out of the workhouse as she can. She’s buying up property and land to house the workers and find them employment. I think she would be most interested to hear news of your resignation and also your views on the workhouse.’

  After the doctor left, Martin considered what he’d been told. The doctor’s words regarding cruelty and starvation had not been new to his ears. He was surprised, however, that the doctor had resigned his post as medical officer to the workhouse. The institution no longer had a doctor to call on and the ramifications of that fact alone were a great concern.

  And there was of course the matter of the cook’s resignation. So who was cooking the inmates’ meals? Were they even getting cooked food? Who would take care of any who fell ill? What was Tulley doing about getting replacement staff? Or did that fall to the Board of Guardians?

  Martin pondered the situation for the rest of the evening. He needed to consult with Cara, this could be the loophole they were looking for!

  ‘They must have a doctor, cook and school master on their books, it’s the ruling set down by the Parish Union,’ Dr Cooper said to Cara as they sat by the fire in her parlour.

  Dr Joshua Cooper had arrived unannounced and had explained to the young woman about the Townsend girl dying of food poisoning, the inmates being overworked and underfed, and his resignation as medical officer for the workhouse.

  Cara glanced at Martin, who nodded his agreement with the doctor’s words.

  ‘So what will happen now? I’m not sure why you have come to me with this, Dr Cooper.’ Cara was puzzled.

  ‘Maybe this could be taken to the Local Government Board… if they were informed of how the place is falling apart, half the staff missing and hardly any inmates left in there…’ The doctor’s words poured out.

  ‘Oh! Would it be possible? Would they close it down?’ Cara’s excitement grew as she looked at Martin.

  Shaking his head, Martin answered, ‘There’s only one way to find out!’

  Cara was elated that she might finally have a chance to bring the ‘Spike’ to closure. Dashing into the hall, she picked up the telephone, requesting the operator connect her with the Local Government Board office.

  Concluding her conversation, Cara replaced the telephone on the hall table. She threw her arms in the air and danced a little jig on the hall tiles. She had just made an appointment with Mr. Isaac Ballard, the Chairman of the Local Government Board for one week hence.

  *

  Cara sat in the parlour going over the figures the way Gracie had taught her to do. Keeping a check on the ‘downstairs’ household accounts was one of the jobs the cook undertook in the absence of a butler, and night after night she had drilled it into Cara, for which the girl had been grateful. Now she could manage her own accounts regarding the workhouse project. She realized she still had
more going out than was coming in, but it was hardly a drain on the resources she had inherited. The rent from ‘Cara’s Cottages’ was paid on time and she now had rent trickling in from Gozzard Street, Chapel Street, Brook Street and Hare Street but she saw she was still not profiting. Then again, she thought, this was not about making a profit, it was about aiding the poor people of the town. Their smiling faces more than made up for the financial shortfall. Nevertheless, to make this a worthwhile venture and to enable it to continue, Cara needed to make a profit at some point. Happy with the state of play for the moment she returned her books to the bureau.

  Gathering her ‘family’, Cara said, ‘I fancy a trip out to visit our tenants.’

  Daisy and Charlie giggled as they pushed Gracie’s rump into a cab, making her splutter with indignation. Molly and Cara sniggered quietly.

  The day was spent visiting each house to see how the people were faring before they finally arrived in Hare Street. Cara was astounded at how quickly the men and women had licked the buildings into shape. Small gardens of wild flowers had sprung up around the dwellings which the children tended lovingly. The grime had been scrubbed off the outside of the houses and the windows gleamed. Roof tiles had been replaced. How on earth had they managed it? It appeared the men had bartered their services in exchange for tiles, paint… anything that was needed to make their houses habitable. The tradesmen eager to help when they knew these men were Cara’s new tenants.

  Wally Webb, her foreman overseeing the work, came to greet her as they arrived.

  ‘Cara,’ he said eagerly, ‘we have something to show you.’ Leading the small party to the end of the street to the old factory, Wally spread his arms. The whole building had been transformed. Cara gasped at the sight of it. The clean brickwork and shiny windows were just the beginning. Walking inside, Cara gasped again. Whitewashed walls, tiled floors, folded back shutters allowing the light to flood the rooms, everything was sparkling clean.

  ‘Oh my…!’ These were the only words she could manage as she walked from one room to the next. The upstairs rooms had been cleaned and painted and Cara beamed her delight as she wandered around the building.

  Wally spoke quietly, ‘All you have to do now is decide what to do with the place!’

  ‘Thank you Wally, thank you all.’ Cara laughed as she stepped out onto the street once more. ‘What a wonderful surprise, I had no idea you were working on this place too!’

  The applause and whistles from the men filled her ears and she returned their applause before spreading her arms wide to encompass them all.

  Twenty-Two

  Joseph Purcell was worried as he travelled to the workhouse. He had a nagging at the back of his brain that told him his position as Chairman of the Board of Guardians was in jeopardy. He had tried to shake the feeling off, but it persisted. His prestige and reputation would be in tatters if Cara did manage to succeed in her quest. He watched the people of Bilston as the cab drove down the cobbled streets and narrow lanes. Was it his imagination or were heads held higher as folk ambled about? The ‘Bread Line’ of a few weeks ago had disappeared in one fell swoop, Cara Flowers having set all the men to work. He realized she was now attacking from both ends – she was treating cause and symptom! If this carried on, she might well achieve her goal and see the workhouse closed down. Then he would lose his position as Chairman of the Board. Not only that, but he would not have had a chance to woo Cara and settle his fortune.

  The horse trotted up Mount Pleasant before turning onto Wellington Street. This was the wealthier side of town, the street where the doctors and businessmen set up their offices. Purcell noted with pleasure the nameplates on the buildings; Hipwood Accountants; Josiah Colley, Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages; Bowen’s Solicitors; Robinson, M.R.C.S. Eng. Surgeon. This was the part of town Purcell was happy to be in; where he felt he belonged.

  The carriage veered off onto the dirt track and as it passed ‘Cara’s Cottages’, Purcell’s journey was all but at an end. The children waved as the carriage trundled past and he gave a quick wave in return before leaning back on the seat. That would keep them happy and onside, but he did not want the cab driver to see him associate with the families living there.

  Marching through the gate held open by the porter, Joseph strode into the workhouse, down the corridor and into the boardroom, taking his usual seat at the head of the large table. Before long the other members arrived for their fortnightly meeting, followed by Tulley and his wife, who were still wearing their arm slings.

  As Tulley beamed a greeting which was returned with a scowl, he realized this meeting was not going to be a pleasant one.

  Joseph Purcell began with, ‘What the hell is going on, Tulley?’

  Fred looked from the Chairman to his wife who shook her head. He could see she would be no help at all.

  ‘I don’t know what you mean sir,’ Tulley mumbled.

  Purcell’s head rocked back and forth slowly as he said, ‘Let me spell it out for you, shall I?’ Tulley nodded, wisely saying nothing. ‘This damned woman, Flowers, has all but emptied this place and no one is taking up the tickets offered by the Relieving Officer! She has set over fifty men from the “Bread Line” to work! She is buying land and property all over the town! This institution has no cook and no medical officer… and now I hear on the grapevine that the schoolmaster has quit also!’

  Fred Tulley spluttered, ‘Ar well, I was going to tell you about that, sir.’

  Ada’s snort at not being told this information either was loud in the quiet of the room. Fred shot her a nasty look, which she returned with an even nastier one.

  ‘Were you? As it happens, the whole bloody town is aware of it… before I was myself!’ Purcell was livid.

  Tulley shuffled from foot to foot clearly uncomfortable. Ada sniggered at his discomfort.

  Purcell set his eyes on the woman, ‘Then we come to you, Mrs Tulley.’ Ada snapped to attention at his words. ‘You, I believe, have refused to cook for the inmates.’

  ‘Well, I can’t rightly do it, sir… not with this.’ Ada lifted her arm held in the sling and winced as she cradled it with the other.

  ‘I see. So, are you telling me these people are not receiving hot food?’ Purcell asked.

  Ada shook her head, saying, ‘The inmates are cooking, sir.’

  Purcell nodded once, seemingly satisfied with her answer. Ada relaxed a little and aimed a sly grin at her husband.

  ‘We have been unable to find anyone willing to undertake the vacant posts here; no doctor, cook or schoolmaster, so what do you propose we do about that?’ Purcell had put the onus squarely on the shoulders of the Tulleys.

  Unable to find an answer Fred shuffled his feet again as he looked down at the floor.

  The Chairman’s eyes bored into the burly Master. ‘You do realize this could lead to closure and you two will be out on your ear?’ He jabbed an index finger at husband and wife.

  ‘It ain’t that bad,’ Tulley spoke up, ‘it just needs that lazy Relieving Officer to work a bit harder!’ He certainly had no intention of taking the blame.

  ‘It’s nothing to do with the Relieving Officer, Tulley!’ Purcell’s voice rose an octave. ‘This is to do with Cara bloody Flowers!’

  Fred looked at Ada, who shrugged her shoulders and winced in pain. Closing his eyes tight, he then returned his attention to the Board members who were whispering quietly.

  Purcell glared at the Master again, saying, ‘We are in agreement that the Flowers woman is not breaking any law, therefore our hands are tied. The best we can do is allow her no more visits to the inmates. You, Tulley, will ensure she never enters this workhouse again!’

  ‘How?’ Fred asked. ‘What will I say if she telephones for another appointment?’

  ‘You refuse her, man! I’m sure you pair of conniving…’ A dig in the ribs from his colleague halted Purcell’s words. Nodding at the man, he resumed. ‘I’m sure you two can get your heads together and come up with plenty of reasons
as to why Miss Flowers should be kept outside the gates of this institution!’

  With that, the Board rose as one and filed out of the room, leaving Tulley staring open-mouthed at his wife.

  *

  Wally Webb watched in awe as six sets of bunk beds were delivered to the old ‘factory’ in Hare Street, two for each of the three bedrooms. It was a tight squeeze, but after much pushing and shoving, the beds were finally in place. Another huge range arrived for the kitchen and planks of wood were dropped in the yard. The wives set about making up the beds with the linen delivered at the same time. Wally instructed a couple of men to manoeuvre the range but quickly realized it would need more to get the massive thing into place. Yet others were already working with the delivered wood. He was told there were cupboards, tables and chairs to be made as well as a large counter. Cara informed him she was turning the factory into a bakery!

  *

  ‘Yes, good morning, I’d like to place an order please,’ Cara said into the telephone. ‘I will need this order on a regular basis and invoices to be sent to me. Oh, my name is Cara Flowers.’

  ‘Certainly, Miss Flowers, what is it you will need and in what quantities?’ the voice filtered into her ear.

  ‘I am opening a bakery at the end of Hare Street, so I would be glad if you could deliver flour there. I’m hoping it will be a success naturally, so I need to ensure we have plenty in stock.’ Cara went on to give her quantity order.

  ‘Of course, I take it there will be breads, pastries, cakes…?’

  ‘Yes,’ Cara said quickly, ‘my bakers will be doing the ordering once we’re up and running so they will be in a better position to know what is needed from week to week. This call is to set up an account initially and order the first supplies.’