For two centuries, the shadow of the workhouse hung over Britain. The recourse of only the most desperate, dark and terrible tales of malnutrition, misery, mistreatment and murder ran like wildfire through the poorer classes, who lived in terror of being forced inside the institution-s towering walls. This book contains 365 incredible tales of fires, drownings, explosions and disasters, infamous scandals such as the Andover affair - where inmates were forced to eat the bones they were supposed to be crushing to ward off starvation - and sickening tales of abuse, assault, bodysnatching, poisonings, post mortems and murder. Accompanied by 70 rare and wonderful illustrations, this book will thrill, fascinate, sadden and unnerve in equal measure. DID YOU KNOW? In the early hours of 31 August 1888, the mutilated body of Mary Ann Nichols - the first generally accepted victim of Jack the Ripper - was discovered in Buck-s Row, Whitechapel, just a little way from the Whitechapel workh
