Aberdeen poorhouses
Open-knowledge reference entry
Like most cities and towns across Scotland, Aberdeen and its twin city of Old Aberdeen had poorhouses to complement the provision for the poor and need provided by the church, the merchants and the trades. A Poor Hospital was founded in 1741. This replaced the "Correction House" dating from the 1636/7
The House of Correction
A workhouse or what was known as a House of Correction was founded on the initiative of Provost Jaffrey from a patent granted by Charles I in 1636/7 for vagrants and delinquents, giving lodging and employment for those connected with the Cloth Trade. The building, in what is now Correction Wynd (NJ 94107 06250) adjacent to Union Street, was built at a cost of 2000 merks. The record of the Council decision, dated 8 February 1637 is as follows: “ ...ane correctioun hous salbe erected within the same burghe, and the tred of making of bredcloath, carseyis, seyis, ... for advancing the wertew and suppressing the vyce amongst the commons...”
The Council laid down a very detailed plan for the funding, the building of the poorhouse and drew a wide group of likely beneficiaries: “ ...all vagabonds, strong and sturdie beggares, idle and maisterles persones strong in bodie and habill to work, servants disobedient to maisteris, children disobedient to parentis, leud leivars, pyikers, commoun scoldis, and wncorrigible harlottis, not amending be the discipline of the kirk, ...” The work ethic was "srtrict Puritan" with: “...ane habill man to attend the saids prisoneris, and hald thame at wark, and to cans ane of his sei-vands evcrie Sabboth day reid jiraycris unto thame...” The facility catered for 20 "...vagabonds, strong and sturdie beggares...(etc).." and 10 "obstinate sinners" set to "soul cleansing work". The cloth work and the punishing regime was abandoned in 1711. Almost certainly as the trade in cloth had declined and there was not sufficient benefit to the merchants. From the account of the Council it would appear that the hospital/ poorhouse/ "prison" served a dual purpose: first, it provided some care of the poor and needy in a secure institution; second, it allowed merchants and tradesmen access to cheap labour. It is likely that the merchants needs were greater than the needs of the poor.
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