St Ives Workhouse 1871 Census

St Ives Workhouse 1871 Census

Inmates of the Workhouse in 1871 included Alice Noble, aged 19 years and a domestic servant. Her one month old daughter Grace was born in the workhouse. Alice was one of seven unmarried mothers and children in the Workhouse.

Louisa Green had no other option but the Workhouse for herself and her four young children when abandoned by her husband. Twin sisters Ann and Martha Huggins, aged 8 years, were alone together in the Workhouse. George Gray, aged 16 years, described as an 'idiot'. And William Bass, aged 92 years, spent his last years in the Workhouse after a lifetime's work as a farm labourer. 

The 1871 census was taken on the evening of the 2 April. John Rayment was the master. Susan Biggs still the matron, aged 65 years and over 30 years in the post.

The number of inmates had reduced from 151 in 1861 to 118. The spread between ages and gender was similar, although the number of old aged inmates was the biggest category by some margin.

The category for unemployed halved from 1861. Again, the biggest category by far was those in the Workhouse through age, infirmity or soundness of mind.

Agricultural labourers and domestic servants continued to be high on the list of inmates' occupations. There was a large increase in those described as 'idiot', 'imbecile' or 'weak mind'.

To view details of the 1871 census, click here.