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Hampstead born actor, presenter and writer, Stephen Fry’s search revealed his ancestors fell on hard times. His physicist and inventor father’s family were forced to face the grim reality of the workhouse. Unemployment, sickness, or infirmity meant the workhouse became the fate of many during the nineteenth century.
Workhouses were designed to be as repellent as possible, in order frighten off those who may consider applying for help. Beatings were frequent; food was scarce and the work was hard. Workhouses were set up by unions of six or so parishes, under the new Poor Law of 1834, but surprisingly the Poor Laws continued up until 1930.
Fry’s maternal ancestry guides him through his Jewish, Austrian born mother Marianne’s immigration to Britain. His paternal grandfather’s story is traced from Britain, through Vienna, ultimately leading to Surany in Slovakia.
The census is a great first port of call to investigate places of birth. The census will also help you discover whether or not your ancestor fell on hard times. It should indicate the place and name of the institution where your ancestor stayed and the name of the Poor Law Union, which administered the workhouse.
To find out more about Jewish settlement in Britain you may like to visit Moving Here
The National Archives also provides research guides, listing various further sources to help you with your search.
For more information about the poor and the Poor Laws see our online leaflet. To search for online for the location of surviving local records relating to the Poor Law visit www.a2a.org.uk
For more information about Anglo-Jewish history see our online leaflet