Saint George the Martyr Poor Law Parish x Saint George the Martyr Board of Guardians Saint Mary Newington Poor Law Parish x Saint Mary Newington Board of Guardians Southwark Poor Law Union x Southwark Board of Guardians x Saint Saviour's Poor Law Union x Saint Saviour's Board of Guardians

Saint George the Martyr Poor Law Parish x Saint George the Martyr Board of Guardians Saint Mary Newington Poor Law Parish x Saint Mary Newington Board of Guardians Southwark Poor Law Union x Southwark Board of Guardians x Saint Saviour's Poor Law Union x Saint Saviour's Board of Guardians

Poor relief was based on the Act for the Relief of the Poor of 1601 which obliged parishes to take care of the aged and needy in their area. Parish overseers were empowered to collect a local income tax known as the poor-rate which would be put towards the relief of the poor. This evolved into the rating system, where the amount of poor-rate charged was based on the value of a person's property. Early workhouses were constructed and managed by the parish. However, this process was expensive and various schemes were devised where groups of parishes could act together and pool their resources. As early as 1647 towns were setting up 'Corporations' of parishes. An Act of 1782, promoted by Thomas Gilbert, allowed adjacent parishes to combine into Unions and provide workhouses. These were known as 'Gilbert's Unions' and were managed by a board of Guardians.

Under the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, the Poor Law Commission was given the power to unite parishes in England and Wales into Poor Law Unions. Each Union was to be administered by a local Board of Guardians. Relief was to be provided through the provision of a workhouse. An amendment to the 1834 Act allowed already existing 'Gilbert's Unions' or Corporations of parishes to remain in existence, although they were encouraged to convert themselves into Poor Law Unions. Although there was some reorganisation of union boundaries, particularly in London, the majority of Unions created under the 1834 Act remained in operation until 1930. In March 1930 a new Local Government Bill abolished the Poor Law Unions and the Board of Guardians. Responsibility for their institutions passed to Public Assistance Committees managed by the county councils - in the metropolis either the London County Council or the Middlesex County Council.

Saint Saviour's Poor Law Union was formed in February, 1836. Its constituent parishes were Saint Saviour's and Christchurch, both in Southwark. Saint George the Martyr parish and Saint Mary Newington parish became part of the Saint Saviour's Union in 1869. The Saint Saviour's Union was renamed Southwark Union in 1901.

Saint Saviour's Workhouse was situated on Marlborough Street, while Saint George the Martyr had a workhouse on Mint Street. Saint Mary Newington had a workhouse on Westmoreland Road. The Union also constructed an Infirmary on Champion Hill, Dulwich. It is now Dulwich Hospital.

Source of information: Peter Higginbotham at The Workhouse website.