New ITV Series Secrets from the Workhouse

[Merry]

Brian Cox was a bit scary when he asked the expert if she thought his ancestor was a malingerer!

[JBee]

OH said overacting!!!

[Olde Crone]

I wondered how Brian Cox knew his (great?) grandfather WASN'T a malingerer, lol. They had them then, just as we have them now. One of my relatives was recorded with the blush-making words "Would rather beg than work", which does sort of have a ring of truth to it.

OC

[Merry]

I wondered how Brian Cox knew his (great?) grandfather WASN'T a malingerer, lol

By the time he was outraged about that, he had forgotten he was previously cross with the same ancestor for apparently callously leaving his mother-in-law to live on the stairs! "Didn't they take her in?"

[kiterunner]

Talking of stairs, I don't think they explained that in Scotland "a stair" can mean the same as "a flight of stairs" does in England.

[kiterunner]

Looking through the census entries for Friend Carter (Fern Britton's ancestor), in 1881 at the age of 74, he was a Book Keeper:
1881 census ancestry

And in 1891 at the age of 84, a Cement Labourer!
1891 census ancestry

[Merry]

Exactly Kate. I couldn't understand why they showed Fern he was still a labourer at only 64 when he was still one at 84?

[Olde Crone]

Kite

Yes, in Scotland if you said "We live on the same stair" of a tenement block, you would mean you lived on the same floor.

OC

[GenieDi]

I wasn't overly impressed at all. Brian Cox got right on my nerves... A great concept poorly executed.

[Shona]

Originally Posted by Olde Crone

Kite

Yes, in Scotland if you said "We live on the same stair" of a tenement block, you would mean you lived on the same floor.

OC

We lived 'on a stair' in Scotland - ie, in a tenement. Hated the traipse 'doon the close' to the outside communal conveniences...three holes in a long wooden seat. I'd peep out the back to check if I could see any feet poking out from under the cludgie door.