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Archiver > UK-WORKHOUSE-HOSP > 2000-11 > 0974205838


From: Sheila Beatty Alexander <>
Subject: Re: [UK-W&H] ARCLID WORKH0USE, CHESHIRE
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000 06:43:58 -0600
References: <013e01c04db7$15c59c80$e4fa15cb@default>


Don't know if this helps, but my own experience was: My father, at the age of 2 (in 1912 NY)
was but in an asylum for "unteachable idiots and morons." The reason was he "cried all the
time and could not talk." Within a month or so they realized he did not belong there, but
because of red tape, etc., was kept in this institution for 5 years. So, if your situation
is similar, the person could be just out of the ordinary.
(My father had been recently traumatized by being taken from his mother).

Sheila Beatty
Arkansas, USA

Diana Lea wrote:

> Hello Fellow Listers,
>
> I am newly subscribed to this list in the hope that I can find someone
> who knows something about the above workhouse, which is on the
> outskirts of Sandbach in Cheshire. I have asked on
> the Cheshire List but received no response at all.
>
> What I want to know is if there is anywhere I could find records
> pertaining to the inmates of this workhouse.
>
> Also, could someone please explain to me what sort of medical conditions
> the word "imbecile" would cover. I know the dictionary definition and
> that an imbecile was not as seriously affected as an idiot, but my ancestors
> sister appeared to have always worked in the silk industry prior to, and
> during, her 'incarceration' after the death of her parents, so I wonder if her
> problem was something as simple as epilepsy, or perhaps, simply mild retardation.
>
> I know that this is probably quite unreasonable, but I am finding myself with
> feelings of real anger directed towards my great grandfather
> and his siblings that they didn't open up their homes to this sister when their parents
> died, to prevent her being put in the workhouse, and wonder sometimes just what
> sort of stock I am descended from! For this reason I would dearly like to know
> just what affliction she might have had, that no-one seemed to want her. She lived
> in the workhouse for the rest of her life, which at this stage I have found to be between
> 15 and 20 years!
>
> Many thanks in anticipation.
>
> Diana in Far North Queensland, Australia
>
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> post them to the list, so they can be preserved in the archives.
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