Casual Ward

We visit some interesting places on WI outings, and today's was no exception.
In 1906 Guildford built a Casual Ward as part of the existing Workhouse. This was designed to separate the 'undesirable' vagrants and their disruptive influence from the structured routine of the Workhouse. Tramps and vagrants could stay one night at the Casual Ward, or two if they were prepared to work. Today we were shown the cells where they stayed and where they worked, chopping wood or picking oakum. The conditions were truly horrible, very much worse than the neighbouring Workhouse.
The Workhouse was demolished not so long ago but 'The Spike' was saved by lottery funding. It made an interesting visit, but it wasn't as photogenic as I had hoped.