Inmates of Belmont Workhouse, Sutton, on their way to prison
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Inmates of Belmont Workhouse, Sutton, on their way to prison
Inmates of Belmont Workhouse, Sutton, being escorted to prison after rioting and fighting with police. Date: 1910
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 14147498
© Mary Evans/Peter Higginbotham Collection
Belmont Escorted Inmates Prison Rioting Sutton Workhouse
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures a group of inmates from Belmont Workhouse in Sutton being escorted to prison after a day of rioting and violent clashes with the police in 1910. The image offers a poignant glimpse into the harsh realities of life in a workhouse during this period. Belmont Workhouse, located in Sutton, Surrey, was established in 1837 as part of the Poor Law Amendment Act, which aimed to provide relief for the destitute and able-bodied poor. However, living conditions were often harsh, with inadequate food, overcrowding, and strict discipline. The riot that led to this scene occurred on March 15, 1910, when tensions boiled over between the inmates and the workhouse staff. The cause of the unrest is unclear, but reports suggest that it may have been triggered by a disagreement over food rations or the imposition of new rules. As the situation escalated, the police were called in to restore order. However, the inmates, many of whom were already disgruntled and desperate, fought back with whatever means they had at hand. Rocks, bricks, and other projectiles were thrown, and the ensuing chaos lasted for several hours. Eventually, the police managed to regain control of the situation, and the ringleaders were taken away in handcuffs. This photograph shows some of the inmates being led away to prison, their faces etched with anger and resignation. The scene is a stark reminder of the social unrest and hardship that characterized life in the workhouses during this era. The photograph is a valuable historical record of a pivotal moment in the history of Belmont Workhouse and the wider social history of the time. It offers a poignant reminder of the human cost of poverty and the struggles faced by those who were forced to live in such institutions.
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