History/Victorians

Deserving or undeserving? This module gives KS3 pupils a unique insight into the lives of the Victorian poor. They study applications to the Mendicity Society, which co-ordinated poor relief in Brighton from 1872.

When someone asked for help, the Mendicity Society investigated the person's history to sort out the deserving poor from the undeserving beggars ('mendicants').  Eight of the Society's application forms have been transcribed for this lesson.