Metropolitan Poor Law Unions

Until 1834 the local authority responsible for poor relief was the parish. After the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act, all except the largest parishes were forced to combine into poor law unions which elected Boards of Guardians which took over responsibility for poor relief. Some London parishes which had before 1834 obtained local acts of Parliament to regulate their administration of poor relief were able to continue their existing arrangements until 1867, when the Metropolitan Poor Act forced all London parishes to come under the control of Boards of Guardians.

Metropolitan parishes and unions were those falling within the Metropolis: London and those parts of neighbouring Middlesex, Essex, Surrey and Kent which had become increasingly urbanised. Valuation was the process of determining how much rates (local tax) should be paid by each property owner in an area.