Archaeologists uncover colourful walls and fireplaces of London workhouse

Discoveries suggest St Pancras workhouse that may have inspired work of Charles Dickens was intended to be place of comfort

Over its 200-year history, its premises were cramped and overcrowded, bleak and bug-ridden. However, when the St Pancras workhouse opened in 1809, it was meant to bring comfort to those who had fallen on hard times, site excavations have revealed.

Archaeologists from Mola (Museum of London Archaeology) have been astonished to uncover a significant portion of these original buildings" and incredible new details about the lives of the residents and masters".