“Monasteries were the first organisations to provide care for the poor. Workhouses had their origins in the 1597 Poor Law Act, where parishes were responsible for their own poor. In small parishes the Vestry, consisted of 2 churchwardens, 2 overseers for the poor and a constable to carry out their orders. These posts were filled by local people, but as they were unpaid no one wanted to do this for very long. Towns had alms-houses for those unable to work and a corrective establishment for those unwilling to work. Each parish levied a poor rate according to the value of your property, which was collected by the overseers. This was collected twice a year with the overseers trying to calculate how much money would be needed for the coming months. Charities frequently existed to help the poor, often where richer members of the community provided for the poor after their death. Alms might also have been collected at Holy Communion. From the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards life became much harder for the poor. Few new workhouses were built to meet growing demand, the cost of food rose enormously, and an economic depression followed. New Poor Law Act of 1834 gave more central organisation. To try and curb misuse of relief, the outdoor poor were offered the Poor Law Test, which meant they were offered the workhouse or nothing at all. Locally the workhouses then came under the Union of Maidstone. The overseers were replaced by Guardians of the Poor Law Board. “
Poor Law
by