Death in the water

 Yet another unfortunate event happened in Cuckfield, this time in the grounds of the Cuckfield Workhouse.

This event in 1891 was reported in the various local papers

STRANGE DEATH OF A PAUPER 

An inquest was held at the Cuckfield Union Workhouse on the body of James Baker, 83, an inmate of the workhouse, who had been found dead in a quarry in the workhouse grounds.  Mr Baker had had recent operations to his eyes and was in the workhouse infirmary on the night in question.  There were 32 inmates in the Infirmary.  The night nurse was ill and the ward was in the charge of two nurses plus a man who sat up each night.  The two day nurses were in bed.  Evidence was given by Mr Howe, Master of the Workhouse, who identified the body; by Mrs Hall, who heard a noise in the quarry about midnight on the night in question, and by Joseph Hall and Joseph King, who got the body out.  The water was about ten feet deep in the quarry due to recent rains.  The body was fully dressed.  There was no direct evidence to show how the deceased got into the water.  It was a moonlit night but clouds were often obscuring the light.  Two inmates of the Infirmary said they had seen the deceased leave the ward in the night, fully dressed, and they told him to return to bed but he told them to mind their own business and .  Now one saw him leave the building.  The inquiry was adjourned until the following week, for the attendance of Dr A E Wells, who saw the body.

After the inquest it was later reported that the Guardians had it brought to their attention a rider attached to the inquest verdict.... "That the attention of the Guardians of Cuckfield Workhouse be called to the carelessness displayed in not having the doors of the Infirmary locked at night, and that the quarry be properly fenced in".  It was resolved that the porter of the Workhouse have strict orders given to him to lock all outer doors and gates every night at nine o'clock, and deliver the keys to the Master every night.  It was resolved that the stone pit be filled up as speedily as possible.