Statute Law Repeals - Law Commission - Ministry of Justice

Salop Poor Relief Act of 1792
8.48 The Salop Poor Relief Act of 1792 47 was passed to provide relief for the poor in a
group of parishes in Shropshire. 48 A corporation was established, to be known as
“The Guardians of the Poor of the united Parishes of Atcham and others, in the
County of Salop.” This corporation was empowered to purchase land or buildings
for use as a workhouse, and to raise the necessary funds by means of loans or
levying rates.
8.49 A workhouse was built at Cross Houses in Atcham pursuant to the 1792 Act. It
was taken over by the Atcham Poor Law Union in 1836 and subsequently ceased
to be used as a workhouse. During the First World War the buildings were
converted to hospital use (becoming known as the Berrington War Hospital). 49
The abolition of parish-run poor relief by the Local Government Act 1929 means
that the 1792 Act has long been unnecessary.
Bishopsgate Poor Relief Act of 1795
8.50 The purpose of the Bishopsgate Poor Relief Act of 1795 50 was to repeal and
replace an Act of 1772 51 that had proved inadequate to provide relief for the poor
living in the parish of St Botolph Bishopsgate in the City of London. The 1795 Act
appointed trustees with power to build a workhouse on land recently purchased
and to levy rates to cover the cost of running the workhouse and providing for the
poor.
8.51 There is no clear evidence to show that any new workhouse was built pursuant to
the 1795 Act. 52 In any event the abolition of parish-run poor relief by the Local
Government Act 1929 has meant that the powers in the 1795 Act have long been
unnecessary.
Lincoln Poor Relief Act of 1796
8.52 The Lincoln Poor Relief Act of 1796 53 was passed to provide relief for the poor
living in the various parishes of the City of Lincoln. The 1796 Act appointed
directors, drawn from the ranks of the local guardians of the poor, to purchase
land or buildings for use as a workhouse and to levy rates to meet their
responsibilities under that Act.
47 32 Geo.3 c.95.
48 These parishes were Atcham, Wroxeter, Berrington, Cund, Eaton Constantine, Kenley,
Leighton, Ussington, Upton Magna and the Chapelry of Cressage.
49 Later the Cross Houses Hospital was established using the same buildings. In 2004 the
site was redeveloped albeit retaining part of the original structure.
50 35 Geo.3 c.61.
51 12 Geo.2 c.79.
52 However there was an existing workhouse in Rose Alley (Bishopsgate) so it is possible
that this workhouse (which closed in 1847 with the construction of Liverpool Street railway
station) was enlarged to meet the needs of the local poor.
53 36 Geo.3 c.102.
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