Born in Bath in 1830, William Winckworth trained
as a teacher and taught in various schools in London before
returning to Bath at the end of 1855. He applied for the
vacant post of schoolmaster at the Bath workhouse, and
was asked to attend for an interview on 2 Janary 1856.
His diary for 1856 starts with this interview and goes on to
chronicle in detail the events of his professional and
private life day by day throughout the year. The
diary provides a fascinating insight into life in the
workhouse and in Bath at the time, as well as presenting
us with a picture of Winckworth himself.
Read a full transcription
of the diary
The first page of William Winckworth's diary
See a larger image of the page
here