Statute Law Repeals - Law Commission - Ministry of Justice

Ratcliff Highway Act (1778)
6.48 This 1778 Act 86 was passed to authorise money arising from an ancient fund
known as the Orphans Fund 87 to be used to pay for the construction and
improvement of roads in the east end of London. The preamble to the Act
recorded that an Act of 1776 88 had authorised the construction and improvement
of certain roads in the Wapping area of east London (today within the London
Borough of Tower Hamlets) near the Ratcliff Highway 89 and Wapping Street. 90
The 1778 Act accordingly required the City of London to use the Orphans Fund
as security for the payment of £1000 to the Commissioners appointed by the
1776 Act.
6.49 The 1778 Act has long ceased to serve any useful purpose. Records held at the
London Metropolitan Archives show that by January 1824 all moneys outstanding
from the City of London under the terms of the Act had been paid. The 1778 Act
thereupon became unnecessary.
Goodman’s Fields Act (1778)
6.50 This 1778 Act 91 was passed to authorise money arising from the Orphan’s Fund
(as described earlier in relation to the Ratcliff Highway Act of 1778) to be used to
pay for the widening of certain streets that are today within the City of London
and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The preamble to the Act recorded
the need to widen several avenues leading into Goodman’s Fields. 92 The Act
accordingly required the City of London to use the Orphan’s Fund as security for
the payment of £1500 to the Commissioners appointed to carry out the road
widening work.
6.51 The 1778 Act has long ceased to serve any useful purpose. Records held at the
London Metropolitan Archives show that by January 1824 all moneys outstanding
from the City of London under the terms of the Act had been paid. The 1778 Act
thereupon became unnecessary.
86 18 Geo.3 c.49.
87 The Orphans Fund was established by an Act of 1694 (5 & 6 Will. & Mar. c.10) to replenish
an ancient fund run to support orphan children of Freemen of the City of London. So
valuable had the Fund become by 1760 (much of the Fund’s wealth came from receipts
from the duties on coal and wine imported into the City of London), the City was able to
use it as security for raising substantial loans to finance public building projects in the City.
The Fund was in effect wound up in 1832 when it was merged with the London Bridge
Approaches Fund.
88 17 Geo.3 c.22.
89
The Ratcliff Highway is the road running from the City to Limehouse and is today known as
The Highway.
90 Wapping Street is today known as Wapping High Street.
91 18 Geo.3 c.50.
92 Goodman’s Fields is today the area bounded by Prescot Street, Leman Street, Mansell
Street and Alie Street. The area was named after Roland Goodman who farmed the area
in the 16 th century.
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