Indoor Relief

• Parliament was more drawn to the formal reform of the poor laws because of:

  • The ending of the American War of Independence (1782) led to soldiers returning home in need of work
  • The enclosure of great open fields, which although caused immediate employment opportunities, also caused long-term unemployment
  • The early stages of industrialisation causing an increase in the pressure on urban parishes
• Gilbert's Act 1782:

  This act meant parishes could combine into Poor Law unions to build/maintain workhouses if 2/3 ratepayers voted in favour. These workhouses were for the aged, sick and children and the parish guardian (replaced the overseer) was to find work for able-bodied workers. If work couldn't be found, outdoor relief could be provided. However, this act was permissive and parishes were slow to implement. By 1834, 924 parishes had combined into 67 Gilbert Unions.
• The Sturges-Bourne Acts (1818+1819):

  Also known as the Select Vestries Acts, the intention was to tie landowners and such to the administration of the poor laws. The first act focused on voting for select vestries, with those who's land is worth less than £50 had one vote, and every further £25 they had an extra vote until a maximum of 6. The second act instructed vestries to take account of an applicant's character/circumstances when deciding who should receive poor relief. By 1825, 46 vestries had been formed and had experienced a drop in the cost of relief.
• Less Eligibility and the Workhouse Test:

  In 1823, Nottinghamshire established a large Gilbert Union of 49 parishes. They wanted to make the conditions of the workhouse less desirable than the conditions outside, so that paupers feared the workhouse. Then, paupers would only enter the workhouse if they were desperate enough, causing families to be split up. The elderly, sick/disabled and children were exempt from this due to them being deemed worthy.