BOTTISHAM

It is interesting to compare with the urban workhouses of two towns so widely dissimilar in many ways as Cambridge and Royston, the workhouse of an energetic rural parish.

In 1786 it was decided that the earlier poorhouse at Bottisham was useless from the point of view of work, and that it was therefore necessary to “erect and establish a workhouse, the poor being numerous and at this time very chargeable”. The expense was to be met by a rate. Six adjoining cottages were acquired at Lode and the needful alterations undertaken. The old poorhouse was retained, and one or two aged pensioners who were boarded-out with parishioners were left undisturbed. All poor who were capable of work, however, were offered the house, and the payment of rents by the parish ceased.

A Master was appointed at wages of about £ 1 per month. His duties at this date were strictly supervisory. There were fifteen paupers in the house in 1787.

If the food purchased by the overseer always reached its correct destination the diet was generous. About 3 lb. of beef per person seems to have been consumed weekly. Limited quantities of beans, eggs, milk, pork, potatoes and ale, and considerable quantities of “seconds” and “thirds” flour appear in the accounts. A suspiciously liberal supply of cheese came from the dairy of Mr Watson, the overseer, whilst the barrels of beer were purchased from Mr Rayment, the other overseer.