| INTRODUCTION The Problem of the Poor | 7 | ||
| 1 The World of the Workhouse | 12 | ||
| 2 The Life Behind Doors | 41 | ||
| 3 'Harnessed to the House' | 65 | ||
| 4 'Fit for Purpose': the Able-bodied Poor | 89 | ||
| 5 Suffer the Children... | 124 | ||
| 6 Sick Bodies and Old Bones | 149 | ||
| 7 Casual Encounters at the 'Spike' | 182 | ||
| 8 Closing the Doors At Last | 200 | ||
| CONCLUSION Learning from the Poor Law | 225 | ||
| APPENDIX Workhouse Museums | 228 | ||
| APPENDIX Workhouse Records | 229 | ||
| Select Bibliography | 231 | ||
| Index | 236 | ||
| Acknowledgements | 240 |
