Record details
| Saddest object | |
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This object has some of the saddest associations in the collection. |
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| Northampton Museum and Art Gallery | |
| Straitjacket | |
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It was used in a time when there was limited understanding of how to treat people with mental illness. This straitjacket came from Hardingstone workhouse. The very long sleeves are passed around the front of the body and tied at the back to restrain the patient. People with mental illnesses were often treated very badly in the past, cast out of society or locked up without treatment in degrading conditions. Because of the cost and limited numbers of asylums, those that weren’t admitted were looked after by their families or ended up in the terrible conditions of the workhouse. Hardingstone Union Workhouse was built in 1838-39. It was designed to house 130 people. The first of these were admitted on 25th May 1840. Many of them were unemployed lace workers. |
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| 1875 – 1900 | |
| Width 1310mm x height 610mm | |
| This object is currently stored safely due to its fragile nature and conservation requirements. Watch out for it as it is used for temporary display. |