The dark past of Rotherham

Taken from items within the Rotherham Poor Law Union (Workhouse) collection, the documents on display, from the Rotherham Archives and Local Studies archive collection, include a workhouse birth register, copies of photographs of the Rotherham Workhouse building, newspaper articles and a colour copy of a minute book frontispiece.

These documents bring to life what the workhouse buildings would have looked like, and what it might have been like to have been an inmate living in the workhouse.

The collection of documents will be on display until June 13 in the Rotherham Archives and Local Studies Service at Clifton Park Museum.

The archives and Local studies service is also hosting an Archives Skills workshop on Friday May 10, from 10am until noon.

This workshop will give participant the opportunity to get hands on with original archives, and discover and learn about the Workhouse and Poor Law in Rotherham.

Resources available to look at will include Workhouse registers, charity and poor relief records, minute books of the boards of guardians, creed registers, registers of births and wage and account books.

The workshop costs £4. To book call 01709 336633.