Soundscape, 19 minutes and 33 seconds plus easy read summary.
By Becca Cooper, Laura Humphreys, Andy Pollin, Michael Scott, Eileen Stroughair from York People First and Stephen Lee Hodgkins.
In the newspaper ‘The Yorkshire Herald’, on Friday 24th November 1899 a meeting of the York Board of Guardians is reported. The Guardians discuss ‘comments made by the Inspectors of the Local Government Board respecting the treatment of imbeciles in the workhouse’.
York Union Workhouse is accused of, forcibly, cutting the hair of female inmates short and making them wear dresses made of tough, rip resistant, material. The inspectors also state that when asking a male inmate, a Charles Hudson for feedback, he appeared frightened and wouldn’t answer.
The Guardians dismiss the complaints and state that they keep female ‘imbeciles’ hair cut short for ‘cleanliness’, that they ‘furnish’ ‘these’ women with ‘those’ dresses to prevent them being ripped up and that ‘Charles’ will always answer them.
Location – The Marriot Room, York Explore, played on loop, 12th, 13th, 14th July, then online at sidbaility.net.
Description – The soundscape features voices and sound effects that explore the elements and implications of the newspaper article of 1899. The soundscape is accompanied by an easy-read summary displayed on A1 boards and three glass bell jars: the first containing a broken megaphone, the second a wig, and the third a mass of ripped-up materials.