Minutes, Selkirk Night Asylum for the Homeless Wandering Poor
- Reference:GB 1097 D8
- Dates of Creation:17 Jan 1843-27 Jun 1887
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:1 item
Scope and Content
Following a public meeting in January, 1843, it was decided that a night asylum for the houseless [homeless] wandering poor should be established, run by a committee and funded by public subscription. A house was rented for the purpose, bed frames and bedding were purchased and John Murray and his wife were appointed as Keepers. The inmates were to be given a breakfast and supper of oatmeal porridge, with a mid-day meal of brose, or scones - if they were 'sickly'. 'Treacle Beer' was allowed. Inmates were allowed to make tea or coffee and to use their own food. Application for a ticket for accommodation was to be between 10 am and 3 pm in winter and 6 pm in summer. Members of the committee were designated to issue the tickets. By March of that year there had been 127 men, 31 women and 36 children as inmates, with a total of 387 meals provided. Funds were always a problem and in 1848, admissions were restricted to the aged, infirm and those with children - able-bodied single men who were travelling the country in search of work had to be excluded, as there were insufficient funds, as the alternative would have led to the closure of the institution. In 1881 the Parochial Board decided that the shelterhouse in Back Row should be demolished and that they would rebuild the premises to be run by themselves. The Directors wound up the institution, paid off John Cockburn, the current Keeper and passed the bedding, furnishings and balance of the funds to the Parochial Board. The papers of the Institution were also to be lodged with the Parochial Board.
www.scan.org.uk/catalogue (accessed on 17/01/11) See entry in SPL1/6, 13 Dec 1933 - gifted to Selkirk library committee, formerly owned by William Fowler.
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