THE Worcester Workhouse was desperately struggling to keep going at this time exactly 200 years ago, judging by a large public notice in the Journal of 1801.
"A special meeting has been held of the Directors of the Worcester House of Industry to take into consideration the State and Circumstances of this Establishment.
''The Directors, fully sensible of the arduous situation to which they are appointed, and anxious to do justice between the Public and the Poor, feel themselves called upon to state to the Wardens and Paymasters, the difficulties the Institution labours under from the increased numbers of the poor, their general want of employment and from the peculiarly unhealthy winter just passed, added to the unparalleled high price of provisions.
"We must therefore demand the immediate payment of overdue Poor Law precepts from several parishes in this city and also sums due from parishes in other parts of the country for our relief of their poor who are aliens to our city.
''We also appeal for increased subscriptions from the public."
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