A report on Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 and English Poor Laws

Out-door relief: Poor people coming to a workhouse for food, c. 1840

Although many deterrent workhouses developed in the period after the New Poor Law, some had already been built under the existing system. This workhouse in Nantwich, Cheshire, dates from 1780.

A "Poor Law Bastille": 1835 model design of a workhouse to hold 300 paupers...

The Poor Laws in the aftermath of the Black Death (pictured), when labour was in short supply, were concerned with making the able-bodied work. (also see: Sturdy beggar)

... 'classified' (men, women, girls, boys) and segregated accordingly

The Old Poor Law or Elizabethan Poor Law is sometimes referred to as the "43rd Elizabeth" as it was passed in the 43rd year that Elizabeth I (pictured) reigned as Queen.

One of the "Somerset House Despots": Sir Thomas Frankland Lewis, Chairman of Poor Law Commission 1834–39

Advertisement for builders to build a new Workhouse in north Wales, 1829

Nassau William Senior argued for greater centralization of the Poor Law system.

Infighting between Edwin Chadwick and other Poor Law Commissioners was one reason for an overhaul of Poor Law administration.

David Lloyd George, architect of the Liberal welfare reforms which were implemented outside of the Poor Law system and paved the way for the eventual abolition of the Poor Law.

Punch criticized the New Poor Law's workhouses for splitting mothers and their infant children.

It completely replaced earlier legislation based on the Poor Law of 1601 and attempted to fundamentally change the poverty relief system in England and Wales (similar changes were made to the poor law for Scotland in 1845).

- Poor Law Amendment Act 1834

By 1820, before the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act workhouses were already being built to reduce the spiraling cost of poor relief.

- English Poor Laws

6 related topics with Alpha

Workhouse

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Institution where those unable to support themselves financially were offered accommodation and employment.

The 'Red House' at Framlingham Castle in Suffolk was founded as a workhouse in 1664.

"The workroom at St James's workhouse", from The Microcosm of London (1808)

Former Cleveland Street workhouse, London W1, photographed in 1930. It later became part of the Middlesex Hospital.

Contrasted Residences for the Poor (1836), by Augustus Pugin. He was critical of Kempthorne's octagonal design shown above.

The Carlisle Union Workhouse, opened in 1864, later part of the University of Cumbria

St Mary Abbots workhouse, Kensington, London

Dinnertime at St Pancras Workhouse, London, 1911

A group of children at Crumpsall Workhouse, 1895–97

Ripon Union Workhouse, completed in 1855, replaced an earlier Georgian era workhouse. It now houses a museum.

Thomas Allom's design for St Mary Abbots workhouse in Kensington, London, is noticeably different from those produced by Sampson Kempthorne a decade earlier.

Watling Street Road Workhouse, Preston, built in 1865–1868

Eventide: A Scene in the Westminster Union (workhouse), 1878, by Sir Hubert von Herkomer

The New Poor Law of 1834 attempted to reverse the economic trend by discouraging the provision of relief to anyone who refused to enter a workhouse.

So keen were some Poor Law authorities to cut costs wherever possible that cases were reported of husbands being forced to sell their wives, to avoid them becoming a financial burden on the parish.

Act for the Relief of the Poor 1601

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Act of the Parliament of England.

The Act for the Relief of the Poor 1601, popularly known as the Elizabethan Poor Law, "43rd Elizabeth" or the Old Poor Law was passed in 1601 and created a poor law system for England and Wales.

These changes were implemented in the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834.

Poor law union

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Geographical territory, and early local government unit, in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Prior to the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 the administration of the English Poor Laws was the responsibility of the vestries of individual parishes, which varied widely in their size, populations, financial resources, rateable values and requirements.

Nassau William Senior was an advocate of the centralization of the Poor Law system.

Royal Commission into the Operation of the Poor Laws 1832

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Group set up to decide how to change the Poor Law systems in England and Wales.

The recommendations of the Royal Commission's report were implemented in the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834.

The writers of the report suggested radical changes to English Poor Laws:

A family support centre in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, which provides assistance to families with children.

Welfare

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Type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter.

Distributing alms to the poor, abbey of Port-Royal des Champs c. 1710.

An office of the Social Insurance Institution (KELA) in Seinäjoki, Finland

President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, 14 August 1935.

A chart showing the overall decline of average monthly welfare benefits (AFDC then TANF) per recipient 1962–2006 (in 2006 dollars).

This system was substantially modified by the 19th-century Poor Law Amendment Act, which introduced the system of workhouses.

The United Kingdom has a long history of welfare, notably including the English Poor laws which date back to 1536.

George Nicholls, by Ramsay Richard Reinagle

George Nicholls (commissioner)

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Sir George Nicholls (31 December 1781 – 24 March 1865) was a British Poor Law Commissioner after the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act.

At Farndon Nicholls started the first savings bank; and looked into the poor laws and their administration.