Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
- Board of Guardians / Poor Law Unions; 1837-1948
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Basis of the "New Poor Law". Previously, poor relief had been organised at the parish level. The New Poor Law grouped parishes into Poor Law Unions to better distribute the balance of poor rate payers and receivers within an area. In York, the system was not implemented until 1837. Board of Guardians were elected annually by property owners and rate-payers. The York Poor Law Union was founded with 32 urban and 48 rural parishes.
Not part of corporation but supported by a council officer: Clerk to the Guardians. Poor relief function transferred from Overseers of the Poor in 1837. Administration of institutions transferred to council Welfare Committee in 1948.
Places
Legal status
Established by Poor Law Amendment Act 1834. Dismantled by the National Assistance Act 1948.
Functions, occupations and activities
The Board of Guardians administered the Poor Law Unions. Each Poor Law Union must provide a workhouse. Outdoor relief was discouraged and provision made in a workhouse for those unable to support themselves through work. The guardians inherited the Marygate workhouse, and did not build a new one until 1849 due to opposition from the rural parishes. The guardians operated via a series of committees.
Mandates/sources of authority
Internal structures/genealogy
General context
Basis of the "New Poor Law". Previously, poor relief had been organised at the parish level. The New Poor Law grouped parishes into Poor Law Unions to better distribute the balance of poor rate payers and receivers within an area. In York, the system was not implemented until 1837. Board of Guardians were elected annually by property owners and rate-payers. The York Poor Law Union was founded with 32 urban and 48 rural parishes.
Relationships area
Access points area
Subject access points
Place access points
Occupations
Control area
Authority record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
VCH York, JBM How York Governs Itself.