School: Ceannanus Mór, Scoil na mBráthar
- Location:
- Kells, Co. Meath
- Teacher: An Br. M.L. Ó Séaghdha
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0703, Page 287
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- It is interesting to note that Workhouses were authorised by law as early as 1703 in Dublin and 1735 in Cork, and that it was not until the passing of the Act of 1838 the English Poor Law Commissioners who, as the central authority controlled the administration until 1847, were authorised by the joining together of townlands to form Unions throughout Ireland, to constitute Boards of Guardians for Unions, to cause to be erected in each Union a workhouse in which it was lawful to relieve such destitute Poor persons as by reason of old age or infirmity might be unable to support themselves by their own industry or other lawful means. For the purpose of administering the Act the Guardians were empowered to make and levy a rate over the Union area. To understand the meaning of the term relief in a workhouse, it is well to indicate the kind of institution a workhouse was. Kells Workhouse was erected in 1841 was much on the same plan as the majority of such buildings. The walls were unplastered the rooms unceilinged[?]. In its construction and fitting up a rigid economy was observed. One side of the house was allotted to males and the other to females.The classification on each side was roughly as follows:-The casuals or night lodgers ward
The able bodied
The Infirm
The School and Children ward
The Infirmary
The Lunatic ward
The standard of comfort in the body of the house was, in many instances very poor and the sanitary and bathing accommodation bad. The Infirmary was largely(continues on next page)- Collector
- Seamus Brennan
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Archdeaconry, Co. Meath
- Informant
- Mr Seán Brennan
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 53