Poor Law Hospitals

Poor Law Hospitals, established in 19th-century England, were public institutions created to care for those who couldn’t afford private medical treatment or lacked family support. Funded by local taxes, these hospitals primarily served impoverished and destitute individuals, often providing basic medical care and shelter. They were part of the broader Poor Law system, which aimed to ensure that needy people received assistance, though conditions could be crowded and challenging. Over time, many of these hospitals evolved or merged into modern NHS facilities, but historically, they played a key role in social welfare and public health for the poor.