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Extract from the 1601 Act for the Relief of the Poor
© Peter Higginbotham
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Work and Suffolk Workhouses |
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The Old Poor Law
By the Poor Law Act of 1601, the parish was made the unit responsible for the care and employment of the poor. Every household and land occupier was rated (rather like Council Charge) and the money paid into a parish fund. Two villagers, usually farmers or tradesmen, were elected each Easter, as Overseers, to administer the Poor Law, the parish fund and the needs of the poor.
The Poor
The Act classified the poor into three groups: the first group, the helpless, who through age, infirmity, short-term illness, accident or personal crisis, were unable to work or fend for themselves — these had to be cared for by the parish. The second group were those who were able-bodied but unemployed — these had to be found work, so they could provide for their families. The third group were those who could, but would not work — these were to be punished in Houses of Correction.
Parish Workhouse
An engraving of a Salisbury workhouse by Peter Hall, undated
© John Chandler |
In practice most parishes provided for the helpless and able-bodied unemployed, by means of out-relief — the giving of money, food, fuel, clothing and medical care in their own homes. A minority of parishes placed their helpless in a ‘poor house’, rather like modern sheltered accommodation.
By 1776 less than 20 % of Suffolk parishes had a workhouse, in which the poor were maintained in exchange for work — usually spinning and weaving. An inventory of Assington workhouse in 1808 shows that the 23 paupers were provided with 18 spinning wheels, two reels and a loom to work on. At Long Melford, in 1802, the 29 paupers were employed in wool combing and spinning. During that year they produced 644lbs of combed wool ready for spinning and 84lb of spun yarn.
Words: Clive Paine
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