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Poor law union

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of individual parishes, which varied widely in their size, populations, financial resources, rateable values and requirements. From 1834 the parishes were grouped into unions, jointly responsible for the administration of poor relief in their areas and each governed by a
447:(as workhouses were generally known in Scotland) were organised at parish level. The Act permitted, but did not require, parishes to join to build and operate poorhouses. A union of parishes operating a single poorhouse was known as a Combination. 200:. A parish large enough to operate independently of a union was known as a poor law parish. Collectively, poor law unions and poor law parishes were known as poor law districts. The grouping of the parishes into unions caused larger centralised 733: 1164: 252:
has argued that the Poor Law system provided "a welfare state in miniature, relieving the elderly, widows, children, the sick, the disabled, and the unemployed and underemployed".
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Some parishes, many in the metropolitan area of London, were able to avoid amalgamation into unions because of earlier local acts that regulated their poor law administration. The
1263: 1038: 707: 1179: 395:, the impoverished west was redrawn to create more unions for easier administration and for computation of where suffering was most endemic. When the Irish 419:, poor law unions and rural districts were abolished in 1925 and the powers of boards of guardians transferred to the county councils' Board of Health. In 1268: 604: 1253: 1151: 514: 466: 1022: 424: 1258: 1212: 708:"History & Heritage > Poor Law Union > Poor Law Unions and their Records > The Establishment of the Poor Law System" 1108: 399:
was established in 1864, each union became a superintendent registrar's district, thus electoral divisions together formed a
387:. Electoral divisions returned members (guardians) to the board of guardians, to which ratepayers who paid higher rates had 1088: 412: 404: 204:
to be built to replace smaller facilities in each parish. Poor law unions were later used as a basis for the delivery of
1222: 861: 408: 312: 371:(ratings of rate payers). The name "union" was adopted from the English model although boundaries were unrelated to 1227: 1078: 587: 1207: 331: 289:
along with other members elected by rate-payers, with higher rate-payers having more votes. JPs were removed and
415:, with each rural district corresponding to the non-urban portion of a poor law union within the county. In the 1201: 1136: 926: 673: 579: 356: 1232: 350: 335: 1184: 1141: 1048: 897: 440: 380: 834: 315:
were set up based on the sanitary districts (and therefore indirectly on the unions). In 1930, under the
1043: 961: 951: 184: 67: 1174: 1169: 271: 1131: 1073: 372: 316: 213: 94: 359:, three Poor Law Commissioners divided Ireland into poor law unions, in which paupers would receive 683: 605:"History & Heritage > Poor Law Union > Poor Law Unions and their Records > The Union" 1159: 734:"Browse > Census > 1871 > Ireland > Alphabetical index to townlands of Ireland, 1871" 583: 396: 129: 907: 758: 1126: 854: 518: 392: 810: 630:
O'Brien, Gerard (November 1982). "The Establishment of Poor-Law Unions in Ireland, 1838–43".
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Blaug, Mark. "The Poor Law Report Re-examined." Journal of Economic History (1964) 24: 229–45
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was a geographical territory, and early local government unit, in Great Britain and Ireland.
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Poverty and Poor Law Reform in Nineteenth-Century Britain, 1834–1914, David Englander (2013)
971: 956: 946: 941: 936: 492: 319:, the poor law unions were finally abolished and their responsibilities transferred to the 8: 1116: 1007: 966: 179:
Poor law unions existed in England and Wales from 1834 to 1930 for the administration of
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stopped in 1894, but nobody actually receiving poor relief was allowed to vote.
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A History of the Irish Poor Law: In Connexion with the Condition of the People
643: 375:. A union was named after the town on which it was centred, usually where its 1247: 388: 290: 245: 986: 161: 1012: 981: 360: 260: 241: 233: 180: 787: 651: 264: 249: 1058: 976: 376: 364: 212:
outside urban areas from 1875. Poor law unions were abolished by the
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of all births, marriages and deaths which became law from 1837 and
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Their areas were espoused for other functional districts, such as
255:
The functions of poor law unions were exercised by boards of
702: 700: 697: 1264:Defunct types of subdivision in the United Kingdom 869: 1245: 461: 459: 425:Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Service 759:"Adaptation Of Children's Act 1908 Order 1925" 855: 456: 16:Early local government unit in UK and Ireland 666: 629: 1023:Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor 862: 848: 638:(90). Cambridge University Press: 97–120. 1269:1834 establishments in the United Kingdom 835:Poor Law Unions at visionofbritain.org.uk 808: 785: 672: 379:stood. Unions were defined as groups of 1213:Timeline of the English Poor Law system 586:). Enacted on 31 July 1838. Act of the 220:to county and county borough councils. 216:, which transferred responsibility for 1254:Local government in the United Kingdom 1246: 285:Until 1894 the guardians consisted of 248:after the Second World War. Historian 843: 423:, poor law unions survived until the 282:to include these parishes in unions. 561:. Victorianweb.org. 12 November 2002 559:"The implementation of the Poor Law" 469:. Eh.net. 7 May 2002. Archived from 223: 495:. Victorianweb.org. 8 November 2002 405:Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 13: 1223:List of poor law unions in England 584:1 & 2 Vict., c. 56 of 1838 244:until the emergence of the modern 14: 1280: 828: 515:"British social policy 1601–1948" 467:"Encyclopedia: English Poor Laws" 1228:List of poor law unions in Wales 1079:Outdoor Relief Prohibitory Order 906: 1259:Poor Law in Britain and Ireland 1208:Historiography of the Poor Laws 802: 779: 751: 726: 332:List of English Poor Law Unions 1202:Christmas Day in the Workhouse 1137:Huddersfield workhouse scandal 927:Vagabonds and Beggars Act 1494 870:Poor laws of the British Isles 623: 597: 580:Poor Relief (Ireland) Act 1838 573: 551: 542: 533: 507: 485: 357:Poor Relief (Ireland) Act 1838 191:was the responsibility of the 1: 1233:List of Irish poor law unions 450: 403:or registrar's district. The 351:List of Irish poor law unions 336:List of Welsh Poor Law Unions 1185:National Assistance Act 1948 1049:Poor Law (Scotland) Act 1845 714:. An Chomhairle Leabharlanna 611:. An Chomhairle Leabharlanna 517:. .rgu.ac.uk. Archived from 441:Poor Law (Scotland) Act 1845 381:poor law electoral divisions 367:extracted by local poor law 7: 1044:Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 962:Relief of the Poor Act 1782 952:Relief of the Poor Act 1696 788:"The Workhouse in Scotland" 430: 185:Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 68:Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 10: 1285: 1165:Royal Commission (1905–09) 344: 340: 329: 272:Metropolitan Poor Act 1867 187:the administration of the 1193: 1150: 1132:Andover workhouse scandal 1107: 1074:Outdoor Labour Test Order 1031: 995: 919: 904: 875: 644:10.1017/S0021121400017545 413:urban and rural districts 317:Local Government Act 1929 214:Local Government Act 1929 154: 138: 117: 103: 95:Local Government Act 1929 87: 73: 63: 53: 42: 26: 21: 813:. The Workhouse Web Site 811:"Poorhouses in Scotland" 790:. The Workhouse Web Site 632:Irish Historical Studies 493:"The Poor Law: overview" 302:rural sanitary districts 1160:Liberal welfare reforms 1142:Union Chargeability Act 1039:Royal commission (1832) 409:administrative counties 397:General Register Office 391:. During and after the 232:laid out the system of 130:Rural sanitary district 1127:Local Government Board 876:Poor laws by territory 118:Additional status 1152:Decline and abolition 809:Higginbotham, Peter. 786:Higginbotham, Peter. 682:. J. Murray. p.  590:. Retrieved from 304:established in 1875. 287:justices of the peace 263:, but also including 125:Registration district 972:Overseer of the poor 957:Poor Relief Act 1722 947:Poor Relief Act 1662 942:Poor Relief Act 1601 937:Poor Relief Act 1597 439:was reformed by the 437:Poor Law in Scotland 383:, in turn groups of 259:, partly elected by 1117:Poor Law Commission 967:House of correction 594: on 6 May 2016. 1109:Changes after 1834 1099:Scottish poorhouse 1069:Board of guardians 913:Nantwich workhouse 764:Irish Statute Book 592:Irish Statute Book 298:civil registration 278:c. 6) allowed the 240:from the reign of 198:board of guardians 146:Board of guardians 1241: 1240: 914: 883:England and Wales 473:on 5 January 2010 276:30 & 31 Vict. 238:England and Wales 230:English Poor Laws 224:England and Wales 218:public assistance 189:English Poor Laws 170: 169: 88:Abolished by 58:England and Wales 35:Poor law district 1276: 1180:Interwar poverty 1054:Less eligibility 912: 910: 864: 857: 850: 841: 840: 823: 822: 820: 818: 806: 800: 799: 797: 795: 783: 777: 776: 774: 772: 755: 749: 748: 746: 744: 730: 724: 723: 721: 719: 704: 695: 694: 692: 690: 674:Nicholls, George 670: 664: 663: 627: 621: 620: 618: 616: 601: 595: 577: 571: 570: 568: 566: 555: 549: 546: 540: 537: 531: 530: 528: 526: 511: 505: 504: 502: 500: 489: 483: 482: 480: 478: 463: 421:Northern Ireland 417:Irish Free State 236:that existed in 32: 19: 18: 1284: 1283: 1279: 1278: 1277: 1275: 1274: 1273: 1244: 1243: 1242: 1237: 1218:Poor Relief Act 1189: 1175:Minority Report 1170:Majority Report 1146: 1103: 1084:Poor law unions 1027: 991: 932:Tudor poor laws 915: 911: 902: 871: 868: 831: 826: 816: 814: 807: 803: 793: 791: 784: 780: 770: 768: 757: 756: 752: 742: 740: 732: 731: 727: 717: 715: 712:AskAboutIreland 706: 705: 698: 688: 686: 671: 667: 628: 624: 614: 612: 609:AskAboutIreland 603: 602: 598: 578: 574: 564: 562: 557: 556: 552: 547: 543: 538: 534: 524: 522: 521:on 20 July 2007 513: 512: 508: 498: 496: 491: 490: 486: 476: 474: 465: 464: 457: 453: 433: 353: 347:Irish poor laws 345:Main articles: 343: 338: 325:county boroughs 321:county councils 313:urban districts 309:rural districts 226: 208:from 1837, and 183:. Prior to the 166: 150: 134: 113: 99: 83: 64:Created by 38: 30: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1282: 1272: 1271: 1266: 1261: 1256: 1239: 1238: 1236: 1235: 1230: 1225: 1220: 1215: 1210: 1205: 1197: 1195: 1191: 1190: 1188: 1187: 1182: 1177: 1172: 1167: 1162: 1156: 1154: 1148: 1147: 1145: 1144: 1139: 1134: 1129: 1124: 1122:Poor Law Board 1119: 1113: 1111: 1105: 1104: 1102: 1101: 1096: 1094:Book of Murder 1091: 1086: 1081: 1076: 1071: 1066: 1064:Workhouse test 1061: 1056: 1051: 1046: 1041: 1035: 1033: 1029: 1028: 1026: 1025: 1020: 1015: 1010: 1005: 1003:Outdoor relief 999: 997: 996:Relief systems 993: 992: 990: 989: 984: 979: 974: 969: 964: 959: 954: 949: 944: 939: 934: 929: 923: 921: 917: 916: 905: 903: 901: 900: 895: 890: 885: 879: 877: 873: 872: 867: 866: 859: 852: 844: 838: 837: 830: 829:External links 827: 825: 824: 801: 778: 750: 725: 696: 665: 622: 596: 572: 550: 541: 532: 506: 484: 454: 452: 449: 432: 429: 373:civil parishes 363:paid for by a 342: 339: 280:Poor Law Board 225: 222: 174:poor law union 168: 167: 165: 164: 158: 156: 152: 151: 149: 148: 142: 140: 136: 135: 133: 132: 127: 121: 119: 115: 114: 112: 111: 107: 105: 101: 100: 98: 97: 91: 89: 85: 84: 82: 81: 77: 75: 71: 70: 65: 61: 60: 55: 51: 50: 44: 40: 39: 37: 36: 33: 31:Also known as: 27: 24: 23: 22:Poor law union 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1281: 1270: 1267: 1265: 1262: 1260: 1257: 1255: 1252: 1251: 1249: 1234: 1231: 1229: 1226: 1224: 1221: 1219: 1216: 1214: 1211: 1209: 1206: 1204: 1203: 1199: 1198: 1196: 1192: 1186: 1183: 1181: 1178: 1176: 1173: 1171: 1168: 1166: 1163: 1161: 1158: 1157: 1155: 1153: 1149: 1143: 1140: 1138: 1135: 1133: 1130: 1128: 1125: 1123: 1120: 1118: 1115: 1114: 1112: 1110: 1106: 1100: 1097: 1095: 1092: 1090: 1087: 1085: 1082: 1080: 1077: 1075: 1072: 1070: 1067: 1065: 1062: 1060: 1057: 1055: 1052: 1050: 1047: 1045: 1042: 1040: 1037: 1036: 1034: 1030: 1024: 1021: 1019: 1016: 1014: 1011: 1009: 1006: 1004: 1001: 1000: 998: 994: 988: 985: 983: 980: 978: 975: 973: 970: 968: 965: 963: 960: 958: 955: 953: 950: 948: 945: 943: 940: 938: 935: 933: 930: 928: 925: 924: 922: 918: 909: 899: 896: 894: 891: 889: 886: 884: 881: 880: 878: 874: 865: 860: 858: 853: 851: 846: 845: 842: 836: 833: 832: 812: 805: 789: 782: 767:. 27 May 1925 766: 765: 760: 754: 739: 735: 729: 713: 709: 703: 701: 685: 681: 680: 675: 669: 661: 657: 653: 649: 645: 641: 637: 633: 626: 610: 606: 600: 593: 589: 588:UK Parliament 585: 581: 576: 560: 554: 545: 536: 520: 516: 510: 494: 488: 472: 468: 462: 460: 455: 448: 446: 442: 438: 428: 426: 422: 418: 414: 410: 406: 402: 398: 394: 390: 386: 382: 378: 374: 370: 366: 362: 358: 352: 348: 337: 333: 328: 326: 322: 318: 314: 310: 305: 303: 299: 294: 292: 291:plural voting 288: 283: 281: 277: 273: 268: 266: 262: 258: 253: 251: 247: 246:welfare state 243: 239: 235: 231: 221: 219: 215: 211: 207: 203: 199: 194: 190: 186: 182: 177: 175: 163: 160: 159: 157: 153: 147: 144: 143: 141: 137: 131: 128: 126: 123: 122: 120: 116: 109: 108: 106: 102: 96: 93: 92: 90: 86: 79: 78: 76: 72: 69: 66: 62: 59: 56: 52: 48: 45: 41: 34: 29: 28: 25: 20: 1200: 1083: 1032:New Poor Law 1008:Speenhamland 987:Buttock mail 920:Old Poor Law 815:. Retrieved 804: 792:. Retrieved 781: 769:. Retrieved 762: 753: 741:. Retrieved 737: 728: 716:. Retrieved 711: 687:. Retrieved 678: 668: 635: 631: 625: 613:. Retrieved 608: 599: 575: 563:. Retrieved 553: 544: 535: 523:. Retrieved 519:the original 509: 497:. Retrieved 487: 475:. Retrieved 471:the original 434: 393:Great Famine 354: 306: 295: 284: 269: 254: 227: 206:registration 178: 173: 171: 162:Civil parish 155:Subdivisions 46: 1013:Labour Rate 982:Poor relief 898:Isle of Man 738:HISTPOP.ORG 361:poor relief 265:magistrates 242:Elizabeth I 234:poor relief 181:poor relief 1248:Categories 1089:Opposition 451:References 445:Poorhouses 401:dispensary 389:more votes 369:valuations 355:Under the 330:See also: 261:ratepayers 250:Mark Blaug 210:sanitation 202:workhouses 139:Government 1059:Workhouse 1018:Roundsman 977:Poor rate 660:163411266 427:in 1948. 385:townlands 377:workhouse 365:poor rate 257:guardians 104:Abolished 888:Scotland 676:(1856). 652:30008402 565:14 March 525:14 March 499:14 March 477:14 March 431:Scotland 407:divided 307:In 1894 193:vestries 54:Location 43:Category 893:Ireland 817:7 March 794:7 March 341:Ireland 74:Created 658:  650:  47:Ad hoc 1194:Other 771:6 May 743:6 May 718:6 May 689:6 May 656:S2CID 648:JSTOR 615:6 May 411:into 49:board 819:2011 796:2011 773:2016 745:2016 720:2016 691:2016 617:2016 567:2010 527:2010 501:2010 479:2010 435:The 349:and 334:and 323:and 311:and 228:The 110:1930 80:1834 684:423 640:doi 443:. 1250:: 761:. 736:. 710:. 699:^ 654:. 646:. 636:23 634:. 607:. 458:^ 327:. 267:. 172:A 863:e 856:t 849:v 821:. 798:. 775:. 747:. 722:. 693:. 662:. 642:: 619:. 582:( 569:. 529:. 503:. 481:. 274:(

Index

England and Wales
Poor Law Amendment Act 1834
Local Government Act 1929
Registration district
Rural sanitary district
Board of guardians
Civil parish
poor relief
Poor Law Amendment Act 1834
English Poor Laws
vestries
board of guardians
workhouses
registration
sanitation
Local Government Act 1929
public assistance
English Poor Laws
poor relief
England and Wales
Elizabeth I
welfare state
Mark Blaug
guardians
ratepayers
magistrates
Metropolitan Poor Act 1867
30 & 31 Vict.
Poor Law Board
justices of the peace

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