Statute Law Repeals - Law Commission - Ministry of Justice

GROUP 1 – GENERAL REPEALS
Crediton Workhouse Act of 1697
8.3 According to the long title of the Crediton Workhouse Act of 1697 4 the poor of the
parish of Crediton in Devon were “very numerous” and “doe dayly multiply and
idlenesse and debauchery increase for want of workhouses to sett them at work”.
The 1697 Act accordingly established a corporation of church governors and
other Crediton residents with powers to build a workhouse, compel the idle poor
to take up employment and to levy taxes on the local parish population to cover
the expenditure.
8.4 Two workhouses were built by 1700 pursuant to the 1697 Act, one in the town of
Crediton and one in the hamlet of Sandford. The establishment, however, of the
Crediton Poor Law Union in 1836 resulted in a new workhouse on a site to the
west of Crediton. This new workhouse superseded the 1697 Act workhouses
which ceased to operate. The closure of these workhouses and the abolition of
parish-run poor relief by the Local Government Act 1929 means that the 1697 Act
has long been unnecessary.
Tiverton Workhouse Act of 1697
8.5 The Tiverton Workhouse Act of 1697 5 established a corporation comprising local
officials and other inhabitants within the town and parish of Tiverton, Devon. The
corporation was empowered to build a workhouse and take the necessary steps
to compel the idle poor to work. The costs were to be met by taxes levied on the
local inhabitants.
8.6 A workhouse at Tiverton was indeed built pursuant to the 1697 Act. It was
opened in 1704 and a Parliamentary report of 1777 6 recorded that it
accommodated up to 400 residents. However, Tiverton Poor Law Union came
into existence in November 1835 and a new union workhouse was built in 1836-
38 on the site of the old workhouse building in Belmont Road. The closure of the
old workhouse and the abolition of parish-run poor relief by the Local
Government Act 1929 mean that the 1697 Act has long been unnecessary.
Subsequently the workhouse buildings were used as a hospital 7 for the care of
elderly people.
Exeter Workhouse Act of 1697
8.7 The Exeter Workhouse Act of 1697 8 was passed to provide relief for the poor
living in the city of Exeter. The 1697 Act established a corporation comprising
local officials and other inhabitants of Exeter with power to make bye-laws for the
better employment of the poor of the city. The corporation was also empowered
to build a workhouse and collect taxes to pay for its upkeep.
4 9 Will.3 c.17.
5 9 Will.3 c.18.
6
Report from the Committee appointed to inspect and consider the returns made by the
Overseers of the Poor, 15 May 1777.
7 Belmont Hospital (now closed).
8 9 Will.3 c.33.
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