In the mid 1800s extra housing was added, including children’s accommodation and a yard for stone breaking and in the last third of the century the whole workhouse, apart from one building, was rebuilt. During this period only the fit and healthy poor were admitted to the Workhouse in order to carry out heavy manual work. They were given only essential food and paid very little and conditions were still abysmal. Towards the end of the century the sick and elderly were once again admitted.1
Will Crooks, born in Poplar in 1852, is famous in the area for being a local MP, who fought for trade unions and the Labour cause. Crooks, born into poverty, had as a child been at the Workhouse himself along with his father, and some of his brothers and sisters.3 Shortly after being admitted to the Workhouse Crooks was sent to a local “Poor Law” School, a school set up by the Poor Law Authorities to educate children affected by poverty, illness, disability, unemployment etc.4 In adulthood, Crooks became Chairman of the Poplar Board of Guardians at the Workhouse and successfully campaigned for countless improvements in conditions to both the Poor Law and the workhouses, in particular the way children were treated.2 He also successfully fought for a reduction in working hours and the eradication of sweat shops. All of this is very understandable when you remember he had experienced the terrible workhouse conditions himself as a child. He was so successful in his endeavours that the Poplar Workhouse became a model for other Poor Law authorities2 and towards the end of the century the sick and elderly were once again admitted.1
In the early 1900s the Workhouse name changed to the Poplar Institution and the London Council took over its management in 1930. The buildings were bombed and badly damaged in the Second World War and the Workhouse was left in ruins for a long time before being knocked down in 1960.1
1. Peter Higginbotham, "Poplar, Middlesex London", website – The Workhouse http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Poplar, viewed 25 September 2006
2. Paul Tyler, "A Will Crooks MP, Local Activist and Labour Pioneer", website – Greenwich Industrial History, Volume 6 Issue 2 March 2003 http://gihs.gold.ac.uk/gihs30.html viewed 29 September 2006
3. John Simkin, “Will Crooks”, website - Spartacus Educational http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/TUcrooks.htm viewed 29 September 2006
4. For further information about the Poor Law see - London Metropolitan Archives “Information Leaflet No. 26, Poor Law Records in London and Middlesex” website - City of London http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/CCC46C5A-AA5A-434E-AB41-EBB25CB0C513/0/LH_LMA_poorlaw.PDF#search=%22history%20poplar%20poor%20law%20school%22 viewed 29 September 2006
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