The material below is taken from the web page . Unless otherwise indicated, content is copyright Peter Higginbotham and may not be re-published without permission.


 
Ancestry UK

Gilbert's Act

Thomas Gilbert's Act — For the Better Relief and Employment of the Poor (22 Geo. III c.83) was passed in 1782. It aimed to organize poor relief on a county basis with each county being divided into large districts corresponding to a Hundred (an old administrative unit within a county) or other large group of parishes. Such unions of parishes could set up a common workhouse although this was to be for the benefit only of the old, the sick and infirm, and orphan children. Perhaps most significantly, able-bodied paupers were not to be admitted but found employment near their own homes, with land-owners, farmers and other employers receiving allowances from the poor rates to bring wages up to subsistence levels.

Gilbert's Act also introduced significant changes in the administration of poor relief. Gilbert Unions were controlled by a board of Guardians, one from each member parish, elected by ratepayers and appointed by local magistrates. This represented a major shift in power from the parish to the landed gentry. The Guardians' work was to be supervised by a Visitor, also appointed by magistrates. The Act also provided model rules for the running of a workhouse.

Although groups of parishes — notably in East Anglia — had formed Local Act incorporations prior to Gilbert's Act, it made the formation of such unions much simpler and cheaper to undertake. Around a hundred Gilbert's Unions were eventually formed.

You can read the full text of Gilbert's Act

Next section

.

Bibliography

[Top of Page] [Home Page]

Ancestry UK
* * * Amazon US For US readers Amazon US * * *

Unless otherwise indicated, this page () is copyright Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.