Norfolk: Poor Law

(Unions, Incorporations and Workhouses)

The relief of the Poor after the Dissolution of the Monastries was covered by Poor Law Acts in the reign of Elizabeth I in 1601. Further Acts followed in the next 250 years. Villages could build poorhouses (from 1732) and this was done in some parishes. These local Incorporations are indicated by "-I" in their names.

Gilbert's Act 1782 Unions

Gilbert's Act 1782 enabled parishes to group together forming a union (which are listed later) to build workhouses. These are indicated by "-GU" in the name.

Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834

This replaced the parish basis of poor relief. Poor Law Unions were brought in with Boards of Guardians. A number of Incorporations chose not to join the new Unions although some did in later years.

List of Towns & Parishes A - Z

• The column headed "Pre 1834" refers to the relevant "Gilbert Union" or "Incorporation" or "Parish Workhouse" with links to additional information.
• The column headed "Post 1834" gives the new "Union" joined or old "Incorporation" which the place stayed with (or joined in some cases eg. Bylaugh)

Notes

• 1. Houses of Industry was the term used before 1834 and then most of them became known as Union Workhouses even though some maintained their Incorporation status. Some places are listed twice eg. "West Acre" is also under "Acre, West" for completeness and searching purposes.
• 2. Welney (created as a separate parish in 1862 from Upwell) was situated partly in Norfolk and partly in Cambridgeshire until Sept 1895 but all under the Downham Union. The Cambridgeshire part was then transferred to Norfolk and became the parish of "West Welney". In some directories "West Welney" is found described under Welney.
• 3. People from Mendham might be found in the wrong Unions records. Some may even have ended up in the Suffolk unions of Hoxne (which lists the full history including the split for poor law purposes) or Hartismere when they should have gone to Depwade or vice-versa.

See also the Workhouses before 1834 page and the Post 1834 Unions page

Copyright © Mike Bristow.
February 2011