Pennydelset Workhouse

"Experience 18th Century life in authentic workhouse conditions and learn a genteel craft.

Modern life is vastly different to life two centuries ago. Now those who wish to savour the 'good old days' can do so in a workhouse built in 1782. As far as possible and still conform to council regulations, we have recreated the rooms as they were in the mid 19th century.

Our en suite facilities consist of a washbasin and jug on a stand and a chamber pot under the bed. We still use the original iron framed beds but have modern mattresses with blankets and sheets.

Discipline is strict. Unfortunately we cannot use the birch or strap that was so readily used in the past but a rigid work regime will be imposed. Inmates will be expected to wear simple work clothes and no make-up. All will be expected to help with housework and do such chores as are necessary in a workhouse. Full board is provided and as far as possible the meals will be similar to those of yesteryear. Only fresh products will be used and everything home cooked

Send for details to:"



"You may be wondering why such a large workhouse was built in a tiny village." Margaret went through her spiel to the six ladies on their tour of the building. "It was built and paid for by Gyppeswick burghers as somewhere to put the destitute women that plagued the streets of the town. They funded it for forty years and at one time there were sixty women here. When the funding ceased and the number of inmates declined, they only used this east wing. The western end which is now private flats was just kept in sufficient repair to prevent major decay." Margaret showed them the workroom, the kitchen and finally the restored punishment room. After explaining the various devices and the sexual nature of some of the punishments she remarked, "If any of you get chalk marks against your name during the week you are here, then expect to pay a visit to this room on Saturday evening and have your bottoms birched." It wasn't a real threat because the course finished with lunch on the Saturday morning. The party returned to the lounge.

"You were all sent details of the arrangements for your stay and your corn dolly making course. I will introduce you to Sarah Hardwick the tutor later. When I finish this introduction, you will start your workhouse experience and this will continue until after coffee on Saturday when we will have a final one-hour informal session in here to discuss the event. During your stay you will address me as Ma'am and my husband who unfortunately is sorting out a boiler problem at the moment, as Sir. I will address you by your first name. Two of you, Janet and Kathy I see have already flouted the rules by wearing make-up. When you are dismissed you will go to your rooms and wash. You will then report to me in the kitchen in your working clothes before 5:30 ready to prepare vegetables for tonight's dinner. The rest of you should put on your working clothes but are free to wander around the house and gardens until dinner, which tonight is at seven o'clock. Sally, you will report to me twenty minutes earlier to clear and set the table. Is that understood?" There were several murmurs and one or two questions.

"I asked if my instructions were understood? I expect a 'Yes, Ma'am' as a reply. Not a debate. Now do you understand what you have to do?" snapped Margaret.

"Yes, Ma'am," chorused most of the six.

All the group of friends belonged to a craft society in Northwich, forty miles away and had decided it would be a lark to spend a week at the workhouse and find out a little of the life of women in olden times and learn a new craft. Most of them entered into the spirit of the experience. Only Shelly, a forty-four year old seemed to try and buck the rules. She had a bubbly joking personality and giggled when Margaret and Jeremy entered for dinner. Margaret was dressed in a long black dress with a leather tawse hanging from her waist and Jeremy in black suit and waistcoat with a red cravat. "Wow!" Shelly exclaimed, "Looks like we're in for a hard time on this course girls."

"And I think it will be your bum that feels the strap first," laughed Janet which produced giggles all round.

When dinner finished, Margaret gave out their work rosters for the week. "Breakfast in the morning is 8 o'clock. The two on morning kitchen duty will report here at seven. By the time you come down you will have washed, emptied your piss pot, made your bed and left your room tidy. All bedroom doors to be left wide open for inspection. Understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Once tonight's washing-up is done, you are free to read or talk until lights out at 10:30. Sorry fire regulations don't allow us to use oil lamps and candles but we have electrified equivalents. There is no television or radio here and those of you who have brought portables or mobile phones, please make sure they are turned off and not used at all during your stay. This was made clear to you in the brochure. Some evenings after eight, we allow a 'modern hour' when you can relax and talk freely to each other and to us. During that hour we will no longer be master and mistress.

Shelly arrived late for breakfast. "I believe Miss, I told you quite clearly the time you had to arrive for breakfast. Did I not?"

"Yes Margaret. er Ma'am."

"You have to forgo breakfast now and."

"I don't eat breakfast anyway," responded Shelly truculently.

For a few moments there was silence except for a few nervous giggles from Kathy and Mary. "Well we seem to have a troublesome one here. I think perhaps we will have to use the punishment chair." Only the night before, Jeremy had brought out the heavy oak chair from the punishment room and placed it in the kitchen. "Bend over the back and clasp the front legs."

"Ooow! The strict mistress is going to spank me," laughed Shelly as acted up her part. "Supposing I don't want to bend over?"

"I'm sure your friends will assist as they don't want their week spoiled by not having things really authentic. You will help won't you ladies?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Laughter a giggles from the women.

Still laughing Shelly bent over the back and leaned forward. "Is my botty about the right height for you Ma'am?" However she was a little taken aback when Margaret quickly caught her wrists and fastened them to the front legs and soon after strapped her ankles to the rear.

"Don't go away Shelly I think we need to inspect your room before we decide on your punishment. Keep an eye on her Jeremy please." Margaret led the way, "Follow me ladies, I will check your rooms at the same time." Sally and Janet's rooms were tidy. Kathy had to be reprimanded because her door was closed. Mary blushed beet red when Margaret pulled her half filled pee pot from under the bed. "These are self emptying Mary. You empty them yourself."

As everyone anticipated Shelly had not had time to make her bed, tidy the room or empty her pot. Margaret decided to play the severe mistress when they returned to Shelly. She was groaning about the undignified and uncomfortable position she'd been placed in. "Shelly you are a disgrace, not only do you turn up late for breakfast, your room is like a pig's sty and you have hardly washed your face or combed your hair properly. For arriving late you will receive four strokes of the strap and for not leaving you room tidy you will get two chalks marks against your name. That means four strokes of the birch on Saturday evening. However, because of regulations, I will commute the strapping and instead have the chair with you bent over it, taken into the punishment room and left there with the door locked. You will be left in complete darkness for one hour."

"No! No! Please no. Give me the strap. Don't be a bitch and leave me like this any longer," begged and pleaded Shelly.

"That language has just increased the time to one and a half hours, Shelly. You were told how to address me. Years ago it would have doubled your strapping."

"Sorry Ma'am. Please don't put me in the dark. Please don't leave me bent over like this. Give me the strap. I won't say anything." Shelly continued to plead. "It won't happen again."

"Ma'am?" It was Stella who spoke. Margaret knew she and Shelly had the same address and they came in Stella's car. "It's alright to give her the whacks. She sort of expected it. We talked about it before we came. I think she was deliberately late. Normally she's up before me." There were murmurs of "Yes, give her the strap," from the other ladies again accompanied by more giggles and laughter. To them it was a joke but Margaret could also see excitement in their eyes.

Somewhat against her better judgement Margaret asked, "You're sure you are willing to take eight with the strap Shelly?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Just get it over with."

Turning to the others Margaret went on, "You realise that if I give Shelly a dose of the tawse, you are almost duty bound to receive it to for any misdemeanours of yours?"

For a moment there was silence then Kathy who had booked the week for the group spoke. "I think we should all enter into the true spirit of this week and take our punishments as did the women a hundred years ago. Perhaps I should add a proviso, that because we will leave here at the end of the week and return to husbands and work, no punishment should leave permanent marks or be so severe we have to take time off from our jobs."

"If you're all sure about this?" Margaret questioned the others, "I can agree with that." The others, some reluctantly it seemed, nodded their agreement. "Jeremy?"

"If they are all agreed, then I don't see why not, although I am not certain they really know what they are agreeing to. They may wish to change their minds after you've dealt with Shelly."

"Ladies gather round where you can see. Most punishments were given in front of everyone as an example to of what could happen to them. The same now applies to you." Margaret raised the hem of Shelly's skirt and pulled it high over the woman's back to reveal a plump bottom barely covered by thin cotton knickers. "This is going to hurt Shelly. I know that from personal experience. In fact this is the first time I've been on the handle end of the tawse." Standing to one side she cracked it across both of Shelly's bum cheeks.

"Aaaaghh!" Even though Margaret hand not put her full force behind the blow it stung Shelly far more than she anticipated.

Margaret raised her arm give take another stroke when Stella stepped forward. "One moment Ma'am. We need to see the result of each strap mark and to be authentic she should take it on the bare bum." Stella yanked Shelly's knickers down to below her knees. Positioned as she was everyone had a clear view not only of the red stripe but of Shelly's dark bush, her cunt and arsehole.

"Stella, you bitch."

"What did I say about your language Shelly?" Margaret snapped.

"Sorry, please no more."

"That will be for Stella to decide when I've finished but as you don't seem very recalcitrant I will put a little more power into the ones I'm giving you."

"CRACK!" The tawse laid another red stripe over the white buttocks and elicited another scream from the recipient. "CRACK!" "CRACK!" "CRACK!" Shelly was sobbing now and pleading for Margaret to stop. This wasn't how she imagined the tawse would feel. During the pause, which Margaret allowed Shelly to recover a little, she looked at the other ladies. All seemed to be breathing heavily and the faces of many were flushed red. By the time she had completed the eight Shelly was sobbing loudly and some of her friends were about to step in and stop any further punishment. Somehow Margaret's look managed to prevent them and she handed the tawse to Stella.

"Two from you to finish," she ordered. Stella hesitated, uncertain as to whether she should or shouldn't use the tawse on her friend. Then her mind said, "You'll never get the chance again," and she laid on two quite light strokes in quick succession. "Undo her ankles Stella please." Margaret undid her wrists and helped her Shelly stand. "It's over Shelly. Now you know what it really feels like to be punished. Mind you that is far less than some of the strappings I've had so think yourself lucky you've got off lightly. Your slate is wiped clean and we will do what we can to minimise the pain. Stella will help you to your room."

"While every one is here," Jeremy called for attention, "I think you will all understand this has put a totally new dimension to your week here. Watching you ladies as Shelly received her punishment, I could see you were flushed with, shall we call it 'excitement?' Always before we have played pit-a-pat with life in the Workhouse. Today for the first time we approached realism. Ladies you must decide whether you wish to continue with this more realistic week or whether we should revert to verbal reprimands or giving extra chores to you. If you wish it to be real, you are all at risk of being bent over the chair and baring your bottoms for the strap or worse. You have to decide. I suggest that we get this kitchen cleaned up quickly before your tutor arrives and then in the period after lunch and before the afternoon session starts, you all get together in the lounge and agree which way you wish to go. Kathy, you seem to be the leader or organiser of this group, perhaps you would like to act as spokesman for them." Kathy nodded.

Stella led Shelly to her room, laid her face down on the bed and again bared her bottom. Margaret followed a few paces behind carrying a white towel. "Wet this with cold water Stella, and place it over her bottom. Rinse it after five minutes and then I'll come back with some cream and a couple of Anadin's. Turning to Shelly she spoke quietly. "The next half an hour will be the worst. After that it will hurt when you move or sit down hard. When the painkillers kick in, try and move about. I'll come and talk to you again in a bit. Don't be too hard on me. Remember you asked for it and it could have been far, far worse."

She was heartened when Shelly smiled weakly and said, "I'll believe you, Thousands wouldn't!"

Half an hour later, Margaret returned to Shelly's bedside. "Go to your lesson now Stella. It will start in a few minutes. I'll stay with Shelly for a bit until she's ready to move. Guess we're not being very authentic again. After a little tickle like that, she would probably have been raped and sent be back to work."

"You're not going to hurt her more, are you Ma'am?" Stella looked concerned.

"No Stella. I'll bring her down in a bit."

When they were alone Margaret questioned Shelly as to her motives. "You more or less asked for the strapping Shelly, and you became quite wet especially at first. Were you stimulated by it? Tell me the truth now. Remember I have been through it too." She raised her dress and lowered her knickers to show Shelly the now fading cane stripes that Jeremy applied the previous weekend. "I asked or at least acquiesced to having them because I get stimulated sexually by it. It stimulates Jeremy too so we can satisfy each other. What about you?"

"Yes," Shelly said slowly, "Stella and I do it but she's a bit timid. We only spank or use a slipper but she never seems to want to hurt me like I want it. I didn't expect you to go as far as you did though. It hurt much more than I expected. Or perhaps I didn't know what to expect."

"Stella services you afterwards?"

"Yes, or we do each other."

"I'll service you if you like and then maybe we'll go down and have a cuppa. That's not authentic either but still." Margaret gently opened the woman's thighs and massaged her mound and clit and when Shelly started to moan with arousal, Margaret placed her mouth over the displayed cunt and licked and sucked her to a climax. Later Shelly walked painfully down to the kitchen and then to the workroom where she preferred to stand to work. Her companions greeted her with some concern at first but then reverted to good natured banter. "What colour is your bum now Shelly?" "Did the little dragon kiss it better?" "Will you want a warm breakfast tomorrow?" Shelly responded with her usual good humour. The poor tutor didn't really know what to make of it all.



"What have you decided Kathy?" Jeremy asked.

"Can I talk freely, not as an inmate?"

"Yes, this is 2004 now not 1853."

"If we are given reassurances that when we leave here on Saturday, we won't be permanently harmed or need to stay away from work on Monday we voted 5 to 1 in favour of keeping to the realistic workhouse regime. We felt that the fear of getting punished might add a little excitement to the week and would certainly make it different from all the other craft weeks we've spent together."

"Did Shelly vote against it?" Margaret asked.

"No. In fact she argued strongly in its favour. Perhaps she hopes to see others punished like she was."

"I hope she also knows she could receive another dose too," interrupted Jeremy.

"That was pointed out to her. But it was Janet who voted against it. She didn't want to go with it. I think it was because she has never been beaten and couldn't bear to show her bottom in public. We pointed out that most of us hadn't been beaten either and she would have to go along with the majority decision. If she refused any punishment she deserved, the rest of us would be duty bound to assist you in carrying it out. I think she actually wants it but needs to be forced."

"I guess everyone will have to be on their best behaviour now or my strap will get some more use," grinned Margaret.

"That was another point that was raised," Kathy went on, "We don't know all the rules so we might inadvertently break them. Perhaps you could go through them this evening and until then only heed the ones we've been told of so far, Like not swearing and being on time for meals and doing our roster jobs. Also Shelly mentioned there was a journal giving some of the punishments that were carried out here. Perhaps you could allow us to read it and find out what life was really like." Margaret had mentioned the journal to Shelly when she was comforting her earlier but hadn't mentioned the true nature of the content.

"I don't think I dare let you all read it," Margaret answered, "Many of you would find it disgustingly pornographic. It was written in code because the practices that went on were not only illegal then, they are today. The Saturday punishments were inflicted in front of guests who raped and used the services of the other woman here and paid for the pleasure so this place was almost a brothel. The master collected the money to help pay the running costs. Perhaps I should just read you some of the less public punishments that Alice used on the women here, perhaps soon after that special chair was made."

"Some of us might like the more salacious bits," laughed Kathy.

"You'd have to lie naked between us in bed for that and have a sore arse and tender titties," Jeremy laughed also but Margaret knew there was a serious invitation included it. Kathy picked up on it.

"Promises, promises!" Kathy giggled.