What is the connection between these pictures?

Jeremy Paxman hosting University Challenge

Bradford, a mill town in Yorkshire

Framlingham Castle, Suffolk

Insert photograph of Jeremy Paxman

Were the Paxman family better off for migrating to Bradford, Yorkshire in the

1830’s?

Were the Paxman family better off by migrating from Framlingham in Suffolk to Bradford in West Yorkshire in the 1830s?

Bradford

Framlingham

Jeremy Paxman, a BBC journalist, presenter of ‘Newsnight’ and question master on ‘University Challenge’ researched his ancestors.

Photograph of Jeremy Paxman

Photograph of University Challenge

Photograph of BBC News logo

Paxman discovered that his ancestors were relying on money given to the poor from the Poor House in the grounds of Framlingham Castle during the 1830s.

Early painting of Framlingham Castle

What was Framlingham Castle like?

Framlingham castle was built in the early middle ages as the stronghold of the Bigod family.

The family successors became the powerful Howards, Dukes and Earls of Norfolk.

Aerial photograph of Framlingham Castle

The Bigod’s and Howards had often challenged the power of the king from their castle at Framingham.

Colour illustration of inside the curtain wall of Framlingham Castle or other similar castle

Framlingham Poor house

By 1635 the castle was no longer needed by the Howards and so it was sold by the family to Sir Robert Hitcham, a prominent lawyer and politician.

He died the following year, requesting in his will that the castle be pulled down so that a poor house could be built.

Colour portrait of Sir Robert Hitcham

Fortunately, the castle was not demolished. After thirty years, in 1664, a brick poorhouse was built.

In 1729 the building was extended to take in more of the local people who were unable to support themselves.

Colour contemporary aerial photograph of inside the curtain wall of Framlingham Castle showing the brick workhouse

Black and white photograph of the brick workhouse building

The New Poor Law of the 1830s

The government had set up union workhouses in 1834 and 1835. The Poor Law Commissioners realised that there were thousands of unemployed agricultural workers and labourers who were unable to support themselves and had no means of finding a job.

Map showing plan of Cosford Union Workhouse

Colour painting of a Union Workhouse

Thomas Paxman’s dilemma

Thomas Paxman was a shoemaker but this was a seasonal job as business was not regular. Each week he would go to the Poor House and tell the overseer how much he had earned and to ask for ‘out relief’.

The money came from the Poor Rates- a tax on every house owner in the parish.

Poor Rate Notice

It must have been very humiliating for Thomas Paxman to rely on parish relief but at least he was able to keep his family out of living in the workhouse. Other families with no income went into the workhouse.

Colour illustration of cartoon - ‘Just Starve Us Workhouse’

Black and white engraving of girls working in a workhouse laundry

In 1835 the Poor Relief system in Suffolk was to be reorganised. Thomas Paxman faced stark

choices……

Protest?

Entering a Union Workhouse?

Emigrating abroad?

Migrating north to a factory town?

Black and white engraving of emigrants on a ship bound for Australia

Black and white engraving of children in a workhouse

Black and white engraving of agricultural labourers setting fire to a hayrick

http://www.historyhome.co.uk/pictures/swing.gif

Black and white engraving of northern cotton mill

What did Thomas Paxman choose? In this investigation you will explore each of these options and discover what actually happened to the Paxman family.