What Were The Origins Of The Workhouses In England And Wales?

Prior to the Dissolution of the  Monastries in the reign of Henry VIII the almshouses and hospitals belonging to monastries had dispenced Alms and help to the poor.
Members of Guilds were often looked after by their Guild if the need arose.

There was a lack of understanding of unemployment as a social and economic problem.
Many of the unemployed were harshly treated and ignored unless they became a problem.

The fore-runner of the workhouse was the Bridewells, established c 1576 to cope with vagrants and 'vagabonds'. They became known as Houses of Correction where people laboured to maintain themselves.
By the begining of the C19 the migration of workers to the towns increased all social problems. The Poor Rates were so high that the government encourage the establishment of workhouses in parishes in order to cope with the poor, particularly the unemployed and their dependents. Workhouses lasted into the C20.