Notice

Notice issued by the private poor house 'Marlborough House', Peckham. The notice is printed with details of the workhouse facilities and includes a list of the 'allowance of provisions' given to each 'pauper' that included 'good beef or mutton, best wheaten bread'. Also listed are the weekly terms/costs for adults, children, lying-in women & burials. The opening paragraph states ..'the House is very airy, and has separate wards and grounds for male and female paupers. The aged, the infirm, and the deserving poor, are treated with tenderness; those able to work are put to suitable employment'. The notice is on a folded sheet & dated 10 October 1829. A hand written note on the bottom gives additional information e.g. 'the children are in a separate establishment at Norwood'. The notice, when folded incorporates an envelope addressed to The Church Wardens & Overseers of the Parish of St James, Garlickhithe. Private poor houses were run competitively as businesses under contract from local authorities. Such notices would be sent to parish overseers of the poor to encourage them to send local paupers to their poor or workhouse. The printing and publication of dietary rations was a requirement for such promotional material and had to satisfy recognised scales of rations.