The workhouse that inspired Oliver Twist: New documentary reveals skeletons and remains of kitchen being unearthed at central London site that gave Charles Dickens the idea for his most famous novel

It’s a scene burned into the consciousness of millions from its numerous TV and film adaptations.

After finishing his bowl of porridge, Oliver begs Twist, thin and shaking, for some more.

Now the real-life workhouse that inspired Charles Dickens’ most famous novel has come into the spotlight of experts investigating its misery-laden past.

A new documentary on streaming platform HistoryHit reveals how archaeologists unearthed skeletons in the cemetery of the former workhouse, which stands on Cleveland Street in central London.

The site also contains the remains of the workhouse kitchen, complete with an industrial oven that fed the poor and sick for decades.

During his own poverty-stricken early years, Dickens twice lived in a house just yards away from the asylum, which was home to hundreds of Victorian Londoners too poor to support themselves.

The author’s second novel – initially published as an 1837 serial – is full of clues to how its Cleveland Street location inspired the workhouse where young Oliver spent his early years.

A tallow maker’s shop that once stood near the institute and opened in the late 1970s is named after its owner Bill Sykes – the name Dickens chose for the central villain of his novel.

The HistoryHit program – hosted by Blackadder star Tony Robinson – reveals how the Cleveland Street workhouse was massively overcrowded.

A visiting doctor noted that it was designed to house 300 people, but could hold at least 500 people.

Above the gate stood a statue of an old man pointing out the words: ‘Avoid laziness and intemperance.’

The site – including the original Grade II listed workhouse – is now being redeveloped to house 50 apartments and commercial spaces.

It remained a workhouse until 1873, when it became the Central London Sick Asylum.

It later became the outpatient clinic of Middlesex Hospital, which closed in 2006.

It’s a scene burned into the consciousness of millions from its numerous TV and film adaptations. After finishing his bowl of porridge, Oliver begs Twist, thin and shaking, for some more. Above: John Howard Davies as Oliver in the 1948 film

The site also contains the remains of the workhouse kitchen, complete with an industrial oven that fed the poor and sick for decades

The site – including the original Grade II listed workhouse – is now being redeveloped to house 50 apartments and commercial spaces

The original workhouse building still stands and is now being redeveloped

Robinson says in the program: ‘This remarkable excavation sheds new light on the shocking reality of the lives and deaths of those forced by poverty and disease to live in the workhouse that overlooked the cemetery behind it.

“It’s a workhouse that’s about the most infamous thing you can imagine.

‘That building and the people who lived there were the inspiration behind Charles Dickens’ great novel of poverty, horror and the workhouse, Oliver Twist.’

Clair Cogar, director of archeology at Iceni Project, says: ‘As archaeologists we start at the top, the most modern recent layers, and slowly peel these back to reveal the previous story of the workhouse.

“And what we see is the evolution of life and building, changing and developing, based on the increasing numbers of poor people who came here.”

Prisoners who died while inside were buried in the specially constructed cemetery.

But because they had no money for a proper burial, they were buried close together to save money and space.

Many of the dead suffered from problems such as rickets, where the bones warp due to poor nutrition.

Archaeologist Joanna Hameed says: ‘These are the poorer population, so they can’t really afford lavish burials, so they just stacked them on top of each other to save space and of course costs.

It remained a workhouse until 1873, when it became the Central London Sick Asylum

An archaeologist shows the remains of a skull with filed teeth

“So that’s why we find them in such high piles.”

She adds, “We want to give these people a voice and make them stand out in history.”

When the excavations are completed, the remains are reburied on consecrated ground.

The former kitchen has been found elsewhere on the site. The remains of the oven still show tiles that have turned black from years of use.

Mrs Cogar says: ‘We actually have the workhouse kitchen with this incredibly large industrial oven that was used to feed the poor and sick people who lived here.

‘At its busiest, this cookhouse could potentially have fed several hundred people. It’s not built to be comfortable, it’s built to be incredibly functional.”

Dickens’ own family fell into poverty when his father was sent to prison for debts.

The author had to leave school at the age of twelve and was sent to a black factory to do manual work, where he stuck labels on bottles of shoe polish.

The Dickens family’s first home was very close to the workhouse in Cleveland Street.

The original building still stands and bears a blue plaque explaining its connection with Britain’s best-loved author.

Dickens lived there from 1815 to 1816 and then for another three years from 1828 to 1831.

In 2011 it was threatened with demolition as part of a project to replace it with affordable housing.

When the excavations are completed, the remains are reburied on consecrated ground

Experts are seen at work uncovering the remains of a former prisoner at the Cleveland Street workhouse

However, activists came together to save the building and it was given monument status.

Dickens’ early struggles inspired the sharp commentary on poverty that formed the basis of Oliver Twist and also appears in his other novels.

He later wrote of his youth: ‘No words can describe the pain of my soul.

“I felt as if my early hopes of becoming a prominent and learned man were crushed in my breast.”

Oliver Twist has been adapted dozens of times for TV and the big screen.

The 1948 film of the same name, starring John Howard Davies as Oliver, received critical acclaim from critics and viewers.

Great digs! Digging Charles Dickens’ Workhouse with Sir Tony Robinson is available at History Hit.