Statute Law Repeals - Law Commission - Ministry of Justice

Queensborough Poor Relief Act of 1767
8.22 The purpose of the Queensborough Poor Relief Act of 1767 23 was to raise money
for the relief of the poor living in the parish of Queensborough on the Isle of
Sheppey in Kent. The Act authorised the local churchwardens and overseers of
the poor to levy rates on every inhabitant of that parish to provide for the needs of
the local poor. The abolition of parish-run poor relief by the Local Government Act
1929 means that the 1767 Act has long been unnecessary.
East and West Flegg Poor Relief Act of 1775
8.23 The East and West Flegg Poor Relief Act of 1775 24 was passed to provide relief
for the poor living in the hundreds of East and West Flegg. This was an area on
the eastern side of Norfolk near Rollesby. The 1775 Act appointed guardians of
the poor with power to build and run a workhouse and levy poor rates to cover
the expenditure.
8.24 The workhouse was duly built in 1776 near Rollesby. It was enlarged in 1818 and
1834 by which time it could accommodate 400 persons. The workhouse closed in
the late 19 th century. 25 The closure of the workhouse and the abolition of parishrun
poor relief by the Local Government Act 1929 mean that the 1775 Act has
long been unnecessary.
Mitford and Launditch (Norfolk) Poor Relief Acts of 1775 and 1801
8.25 The Mitford and Launditch (Norfolk) Poor Relief Acts of 1775 26 and 1801 27 were
passed to provide relief for the poor living in an area comprising 50 Norfolk
parishes between Swaffham and Dereham including Gressenhall. The 1775 Act
appointed guardians of the poor with power to build and run a workhouse to
accommodate poor people and to raise the necessary finance by means of loans
and levy of poor rates. The 1801 Act amended the 1775 Act to ensure that the
rates burden was borne fairly amongst the various parishes.
8.26 The authorised workhouse was built at Chapel Farm, Gressenhall in 1777 at a
cost of £16,242. The workhouse buildings were altered in the mid-1830s to meet
the demands of the new poor law. Today the workhouse is used as a museum.
8.27 The abolition of parish-run poor relief by the Local Government Act 1929 means
that the 1775 and 1801 Acts have both long been unnecessary.
Forehoe Poor Relief Acts of 1776, 1814 and 1833
8.28 No fewer than three Acts were passed to provide relief for the poor living within
the hundred of Forehoe in Norfolk (near Wymondham).
23
7 Geo.3 c.72.
24
15 Geo.3 c.13.
25
The building was later used as a court house and as a hotel before becoming used as a
private residence.
26
15 Geo.3 c.59.
27 41 Geo.3 c.lxiii.
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