It is getting time for us to think about preparations for the great Christmas feast. This is my first here, but others have said it is the best day of the year. I have been given orders to buy supplies for cook to make all sorts of wonderful confections.

The plan is to serve at 2 p.m. a dinner of roast beef, potatoes both roast and boiled, plum pudding, best cheese, and one pint of porter each.

But I was told things were not always quite like this. When the new union workhouses (of which this is one) were set up by the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, things were rather different. The Poor Law Commissioners ordered that no extra food was to be allowed on Christmas day (or any other feast day). The rules also stated that "no pauper shall be allowed to have or use any wine, beer, or spirituous or fermented liquors, unless by the direction in writing of the medical officer."

By 1840, the Poor Law Commissioners revised their rules to allow extra treats to be provided, so long as they came from private sources and not from union funds.

Following the Queen's marriage to Prince Albert in 1841, the Victorian celebration of Christmas took off in a big way, with the importing of German customs such as Christmas trees and the giving of presents. Dickens' A Christmas Carol also raised the profile of the event. In 1847, the new Poor Law Board who succeeded the Poor Law Commissioners relented further and sanctioned the provision of Christmas extras from the rates.

Apparently it now is also the custom for local dignitaries to visit their union workhouse and dispense food and largesse.

The workhouse dining-halls will be decorated with evergreens, mottos and guilded stars and Prince of Wales plumes and entertainments organised. The chapel will also be decorated with holly and over the Communion-table will be a cross of Christmas berries. On the walls will go the words "Emmanuel, God with us". One ounce of tobacco will be given to each man, snuff to the old ladies, and oranges and sweets to the children.

After tea, which will be comprised of cake and bread and butter, a capital magic lantern display will be given followed some ancient ditties, sung by the old people, and those who like will be allowed to join in a dance.

There is a poem which Sam found for me which relates experiences in another Workhouse at Christmas time, and I will add it in here. It doesn’t list an author but he no doubt had personal experience. As you read it, you have to imagine a pause before the last line – when the audience may well have already thought of what they feel is an appropriate rhyming ending for the verse.


It was Christmas Day in the workhouse
The merriest day of the year
The paupers and the prisoners
Were all assembled there

In came the Christmas pudding
When a voice that shattered glass
Said, "We don't want your Christmas pudding
So stick it
there with the rest of the unwanted presents"

The workhouse master then arose
And prepared to carve the duck
He said "Who wants the parson's nose
And the prisoners shouted
"you have it yourself sir"

The vicar brought his bible
And read out little bits
Said one old crone at the back of the hall
"This man gets on
very well with everybody"

The workhouse mistress then began
To hand out Christmas parcels
The paupers tore the wrappers off
And began to wipe their
eyes, which were full of tears

The master rose to make a speech
But just before he started
The mistress, who was fifteen stone
Gave three loud cheers and
nearly choked herself

And all the paupers then began
To pull their Christmas crackers
One pauper held his too low down
And blew off both his
paper hat and the man's next to him

A steaming bowl of white bread sauce
Was handed round to some
An aged gourmet called aloud
"This bread sauce tastes like
it was made by a continental chef"

Mince pie with custard sauce was next
And each received a bit
One pauper said "The mince pie's nice
But the custard tastes like
the bread sauce we had in the last verse !"

The mistress dishing out the food
Dropped custard down her front
She cried "Aren't I a silly girl"
And they answered "You're a
perfect picture as always ma'am !"

"This pudding ", said the master
"It's solid, hard and thick
how am I going to cut it ?"
And a man cried "Use your
penknife sir, the one with the pearl handle"

The mistress asked the vicar
To entertain his flock
He said "What would you like to see ?"
And they cried "Let's see your
conjuring tricks, they're always worth watching"

"Your reverence may I be excused ?"
Said one benign old chap
"I don't like conjuring tricks
I'd sooner have a
carol or two around the fire"

So then they all began to sing
Which shook the workhouse walls
"Merry Christmas!" cried the master
And the inmates shouted
"Best of luck to you as well sir !"