Poor Laws and English Poor Relief (1601–1834)

1. Elizabethan Poor Relief Act passed

   Dec 19, 1601Labels: Elizabethan Poor, Parish, Churchwardens

   • Parliament UK
   • Poor Law 1601

2. Settlement and Removal Act tightens parish liability

   May 19, 1662Labels: Settlement Act, Parish, Removal

   • Poor Law 1662
   • Statutes Realm

3. Relief of the Poor Act introduces pauper badging

   Apr 16, 1697Labels: Relief of, Pauper Badges

   • Poor Relief 1696
   • Statutes Realm

4. Workhouse Test Act authorizes workhouse-based relief

   Mar 22, 1723Labels: Workhouse Test, Parish Workhouse

   • Poor Relief 1722
   • Workhouses

5. Gilbert’s Act promotes unions for indoor relief

   Jul 11, 1782Labels: Gilbert s, Parish Union

   • Gilbert s Act
   • Workhouses

6. Speenhamland meeting adopts bread-scale allowances

   May 6, 1795Labels: Speenhamland System, Magistrates

   • Berkshire Archives
   • Britannica

7. Poor Removal Act limits preemptive removals

   Jun 22, 1795Labels: Poor Removal, Settlement Law

   • Poor Removal 1795
   • UK Parliament

8. Vagrancy Act consolidates policing of poverty

   Jun 21, 1824Labels: Vagrancy Act, Criminal Law

   • Vagrancy Act
   • Legislation gov uk

9. Royal Commission on Poor Laws announced

   Feb 1, 1832Labels: Royal Commission, Poor Law

   • Royal Commission
   • National Archives

10. Commission evidence volumes begin publication

    Feb 1, 1833Labels: Commission Evidence, Poor Law

    • Royal Commission
    • National Archives

11. Poor Law Commissioners’ Report published

    Feb 1, 1834Labels: Poor Law

    • Liberty Fund
    • National Archives

12. Poor Law Amendment Act receives Royal Assent

    Aug 14, 1834Labels: Poor Law

    • PLAA 1834
    • National Archives