Catalogue

The 1851 is the first census that is reliable especially regarding the ages, even so many parents had no idea how old their children were as birthdays were not celebrated as they are now.
Not only useful for family research, but this census gives an insight to the very nature of workhouses, the break-up of families just to survive. A study of each location of birth gives data regarding areas of poverty or unemployment. Other areas can be identified as wealthy. The grouping of ages also gives remarkable results for students of humanities. Lastly the gender balance in certain areas can be identified.

Newcastle under Lyme was only a small workhouse in comparison with that of The Spittles for Stoke-upon-Trent Union. Nevertheless, the enteries are interesting to both those who tracing their family tree but also the student of social histories or humanities as the census records, if used correctly can identify a number of family structures and frequently the circumstances which drove them into the workhouse to become dependent upon the poor law.