Four penny coffin

The four penny coffin (also referred to as a coffin house) is a Victorian term that described one of the first homeless shelters to be created for the people of central London. It was operated by the Salvation Army during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s to provide comfort and aid to its destitute clients.

The Salvation Army operated other homeless shelters in the area. These shelters charged the clients different amounts depending on the amenities offered. At the low end was a penny sit-up, where a homeless client could get food and shelter from the cold in exchange for a penny. He was allowed to sit on a bench all night, but was not allowed to sleep. For an additional penny, there was the "two penny hangover". It was like a penny sit-up except that a rope was placed in front of the bench. The client was allowed to sleep when he leaned on (or hanged over) the rope during the night. He was not allowed to lie down flat on his back and sleep. The rope was cut at daybreak in order to encourage the clients to wake up early and leave. For four pennies, a homeless client could stay at a coffin house. for covering. What made this unique is that it was the cheapest homeless shelter in London at that time, that allowed its clients to lie down on their back and sleep. The Salvation Army also offered shelters that allowed its clients to sleep on a bed for a much higher price. Hence, the coffin house was popular because it offered an economical and midrange solution for homeless clients looking for relief from the cold [Orwell, George (1933). Down and Out in Paris and London, Victor Gollancz. ISBN 0-15-626224-X] .

Compared with examples such as Glide Memorial Church and Raphael House this shelter in London was considered inadequate for these individuals. It was however considered an inexpensive and compassionate attempt to deal with the relatively new problem of homelessness. This shelter provided relief from the harsh London winters and helped provide new followers to the Christian faith.

References

*cite book | author=West,Rebecca | year=1996 | title=London| publisher= London Cresent Books, a division of Random House Value Publishing, Inc (Avenel)| id=ISBN 0-517-14268-6