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Title
Date(s)
- 1807-1848 (Creation)
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Extent and medium
One box and two volumes
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Biographical history
Prior to 1834 Ireland did not have any kind of poor law system. Outdoor relief was provided through local parochial (Church of Ireland) boards. The Poor Law Act of 1834 divided Ireland into poor law unions. Each union was to have an elected Board of Guardians. The Board was responsible for building and administering workhouses and providing further care for the poor within its bounds. An Irish poor law union consisted of an area approximately ten miles in radius. Multiple townlands, usually with a large market town as its centre were found in each union. Although most unions were located within one county, some encompassed up to three counties. Large cities contained their own unions. By 1842, 37 workhouses were operation. In that year alone, more than 30,000 people sought relief. By 1846 there were 130 Irish poor unions housing 94,437 destitute people in its workhouses.
Archival history
GB 0097 COLL MISC 0511 1807-1848 collection One box and two volumes Castlebar Board of Poor Law Guardians
Westport Board of Poor Law Guardians
Cork Board of Poor Law Guardians
Prior to 1834 Ireland did not have any kind of poor law system. Outdoor relief was provided through local parochial (Church of Ireland) boards. The Poor Law Act of 1834 divided Ireland into poor law unions. Each union was to have an elected Board of Guardians. The Board was responsible for building and administering workhouses and providing further care for the poor within its bounds. An Irish poor law union consisted of an area approximately ten miles in radius. Multiple townlands, usually with a large market town as its centre were found in each union. Although most unions were located within one county, some encompassed up to three counties. Large cities contained their own unions. By 1842, 37 workhouses were operation. In that year alone, more than 30,000 people sought relief. By 1846 there were 130 Irish poor unions housing 94,437 destitute people in its workhouses.
Volumes 1-2. Westport Union, minute book of the Board of Guardians 1840-1846. Volumes 3-4. Castlebar Union, minute book of the Board of Guardians 1845-1847. Volume 5. Poor law account book. (No locality given but note on end paper "Cork") 1814-1823. Volume 6. General account of expenditure at the House of Industry, Cork.
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Output from CAIRS using template 14 and checked by hand on May 8, 2002 8 May 2002 Castlebar Castlebar Board of Poor Law Guardians Cork Cork Board of Poor Law Guardians County Cork County Mayo Disadvantaged groups Europe Government Hunger Income and wealth Income distribution Ireland Malnutrition Poor Poor Law administration Poverty Poverty alleviation Public administration Social problems Social welfare Western Europe Westport Westport Board of Poor Law Guardians Nutrition disorders Nutritional and metabolic diseases Pathology Diseases
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Volumes 1-2. Westport Union, minute book of the Board of Guardians 1840-1846. Volumes 3-4. Castlebar Union, minute book of the Board of Guardians 1845-1847. Volume 5. Poor law account book. (No locality given but note on end paper "Cork") 1814-1823. Volume 6. General account of expenditure at the House of Industry, Cork.
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Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
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English
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Printed handlist available
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- Disadvantaged groups
- Government
- Social problems » Malnutrition » Hunger
- Income and wealth
- Income and wealth » Income distribution
- Social problems » Malnutrition
- Disadvantaged groups » Poor
- Social problems » Poverty
- Income and wealth » Income distribution » Poverty alleviation
- Government » Public administration
- Social problems
- Social welfare
- Pathology
- Pathology » Diseases
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- English