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Occupations in Cheltenham workhouse 1901 census
This extract is from the 1901 census for Cheltenham workhouse and really concerns social history. As well as the ‘usual’ jobs - such as laundress, general labourer, charwoman, etc, there’s a fly-driver, a sawyer, a brickmaker, Gentleman’s servant and a ‘Scavenger for the corporation’. However, most telling here is that many of these souls in the workhouse have the abbreviation ‘Ret’ – meaning retired – attached to them; a harsh reminder that most elderly folks ended up in the workhouse when they’re working days were over.
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