Why did people fear the workhouse?

Answer 1

Because, you probably would die as soon you would get there and they would strip you clean and cut off your hair. In the Union workhouses, people would starve so bad that they would eat animal and human flesh (Yum!). They also rarely ate chunky porridge and small amounts of cheese. :)

Answer 2

Many were assigned there because they owed money or had gotten into trouble of some sort. Young women who were considered "uncorrectable" were often sent. In Ireland the Catholic nuns ran the laundries and young women who were sent there spent their life being abused and washing clothing. These were still open as late as the 1970's.

Answer 3

Because the work was tough and men and women were separated.