To provide work and accommodation for people who would otherwise be causing a nuisance on the streets.
In Victorian times, rich and middle class people employed servants to do the house work.
maids
Servants.
The worst job in victorian times was the job in the work house because the machines could kill you straight away!!!
Wealthy households in Victorian times would typically have maids and butlers.
if they did not do as they were told they had to eat pig guts
servent
servent
i just works
work houses
In a Victorian work house children, adults and elderly went to work in a workhouse if they were poor or badly ill. If they broke the rules then they would be put in a cage in a dark room, fined of even put into prison!
see related link below