View report page

103
A singular instance of maladministration in the workhouse
was brought to light in 1750, when it was discovered
that out of 106 infants under 20 months old, 16 had been
discharged with their parents and 83 had died, leaving only
7 in the workhouse alive. The report of a Committee of
investigation attributed this great mortality "to the neglect
and bad management of the nurses," and advised, as a
remedy, the discharge of the nurses who were "most of them
capable of providing for themselves," and the removal of the
surviving children, with such others as might be admitted,
to "Country Nurses, not to exceed 2s. 6d. per week for
children that feed, and three shillings for sucking children,
the parish to provide proper clothing," until the infants
reached two years of age. The Vestry adopted the suggestions
of the Committee but gave the mothers the option
of nursing their own children at the above rates of payment.
The "boarding out system" propounded in the report
was not new. It had existed, as shown by the Overseers'
accounts of payments, in 1562—nearly two hundred years
previously.
An outbreak of fever, fifty years later, caused renewed
anxiety.
19 March, 1801.—Mr. Churchwarden Dawes reported that the
Vestries of the Joint Parishes upon an application from the
Board of Governors of the Poor had Resolved that a seperate
House should be procured for the reception of Persons afflicted
with Fever in order to prevent Contagion among those who
were admitted into the Workhouse and had appointed a Committee
for carrying the said Resolution into effect The
Committee being of Opinion that the Spot where the Coal Shed
stands in the Horsferry and belonging to the Parish of St.
Margaret would be the most eligible for the above Purpose
Had Resolved to apply to the Vestry of the Parish of St.
Margaret for leave to erect the necessary Premises & the
Church Wardens had at the request of the said Committee
Summoned this Meeting to Consider and determine upon such
Application Accordingly—Upon motion regularly made and
Seconded It was unanimously Resolved That the Church
Wardens & Overseers of the Poor of the Parishes of St.