The Workhouse and Firvale Infirmary

I spent three days in Sheffield during my visit to England in May in order to track down information on the old workhouse, infirmary, and Sheffield Children's Homes. It was only through online investigation that I discovered that the Firvale Infirmary, where John Wildgoose went for treatment and care after he was invalided out of the army, was a part of the huge Sheffield Workhouse. Here's a link to a very good website that gives a good glimpse into the workings of the place.

I can only surmise why John was forced to go into a workhouse infirmary instead of some other type of care that could've allowed the family to stay together. I do know that John's family (mother, siblings, etc.) lived in Sheffield and that's why Firvale was chosen. Walter's letters mention that his father was paralyzed from the sunstroke but don't go into detail about treatment/prognosis at the infirmary. (He was just a young boy, after all, and probably had no idea what his father was going through.) According to Walter, the boys did visit their father on Sundays:

We used to go to father each Sunday now, as he asked for this favour, as he wanted to have little talks with us, as he must have got lonely in the Infirmary. He asked us how had we got on at school, also at Sunday school. We went to Sunday school each Sunday afternoon and the teacher used to give us a text card, and these, we showed them to Father. He always gave Bert and I a penny, and we treated it with much respect, as we took it to school the following morning to be put in our Penny Savings Book.

Walter never mentions any of his father's relatives - no talk about cousins, aunts, or grans - so I don't know if they had much contact. He also doesn't talk about the "workhouse" aspect of the infirmary or the Sheffield Children's Homes. (Walter, Harry, and Bert were situated in Ivy Cottage on the grounds of the workhouse.)

A more comprehensive website about English Poor Laws and the workhouse can be found here.

The Central Studies Department of the Sheffield Library has wonderful resources and a very helpful staff.