Statute Law Repeals - Law Commission - Ministry of Justice

8.29 The preamble to the Forehoe Poor Relief Act of 1776 28 recorded that the poor of
Forehoe “might be better and more comfortably maintained and supported, and
at a less Expence than they are at present, if a convenient Place was provided
for their Reception, and proper Materials and Utensils furnished for employing
such of them as are able to work”.
8.30 Accordingly the 1776 Act empowered local guardians of the poor to purchase
land on which to build a workhouse, to provide for the poor within that workhouse
and to levy local rates to pay for this. The arrangements in the 1776 Act for
raising the necessary finance were amended by the Forehoe Poor Relief Act of
1814 29 and the Forehoe Poor Relief Act of 1833. 30 The workhouse was duly built
in 1777 in Wicklewood, near Wymondham. It was used as an institution for the
poor until 1948 when it became an NHS hospital. 31
8.31 The abolition of parish-run poor relief by the Local Government Act 1929 means
that all three Acts have long been unnecessary and may now be repealed.
Hartsmere etc (Suffolk) Poor Relief Act of 1779
8.32 The Hartsmere etc (Suffolk) Poor Relief Act of 1779 32 was passed to provide
relief for the poor living in the hundreds of Hartsmere, Hoxne and Thredling in the
county of Suffolk. The Act authorised local guardians of the poor to build, furnish
and run a workhouse and to raise money to cover the costs.
8.33 In the event the workhouse authorised by the 1779 Act was never built. The
£16,000 required to erect the workhouse proved impossible to raise. Accordingly
the powers given by the 1779 Act were never exercised with the result that the
Act has been unnecessary for over 200 years.
Romford Poor Relief Act of 1786
8.34 The purpose of the Romford Poor Relief Act of 1786 33 was to build a new
workhouse for the poor living in the parish of Romford in Essex. 34 The existing
workhouse was considered “not sufficiently large and convenient for the
Reception and Employment of the Poor of the said Parish.” 35
8.35 The workhouse was duly built pursuant to the 1786 Act. It opened in 1787 upon
land in Collier Row Lane. The foundation of the Romford Poor Law Union,
however, led to its closure in 1836 and its demolition in 1840. The closure of the
workhouse and the abolition of parish-run poor relief by the Local Government
Act 1929 mean that the 1786 Act has long ceased to serve any useful purpose.
28 16 Geo.3 c.9.
29 54 Geo.3 c.xliv.
30 3 & 4 Will.4 c.cvii.
31
The hospital closed in 1974 and the site was subsequently redeveloped for residential
accommodation.
32 19 Geo.3 c.13.
33 26 Geo.3 c.28.
34 Romford today lies within the London Borough of Havering.
35 The 1786 Act, preamble.
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