Louie Harvey circa 1930

One reason for being involved in Jenny’s project is autobiographical. My Nana-in-hospital (that’s what we called her as children) was sent to Tattingstone Workhouse (Samford Union) that became St Mary’s Hospital, to give birth to my mum. Mum must have stayed with her until she was about 2 years old because by the time she was three Mum was in Grundisburgh children’s home. Hence I have always had a fascination for workshouses. So much so that I have made two performance projects: Looking for the Tallyman (1998) and The Last Women (2009), drawing on workhouses as stimulus. Here I am again working on another piece inspired by workhouses.

Nana-in-Hospital circa 1968

By Carran Waterfield in The House, Working diary - The House on September 9, 2014