Poor Law Unions

Poor Law Unions were administrative regions in 19th-century England established to manage and oversee the provision of relief and support for the impoverished. Created by the Poor Law Act of 1834, each Union was centered around a workhouse and comprised several parishes working together. These unions aimed to organize aid efficiently, reduce costs, and discourage dependency by providing workhouse shelter in exchange for work. They played a key role in social welfare during that period, shaping how assistance was delivered to the poor across different regions.