Workhouses & Poor Relief

The Southgate Almshouse/Poorhouse/Workhouse
The Northgate Union Workhouse

Debates over the working of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act

John Bowen’s Letter to His Late Majesty; containing a refutation of some of the charges preferred against the poor: with some account of the working of the new poor law in the Bridgwater Union, 1835

John Bowen’s Twelve Letters to the Times concerning the Poor Law Reform 1836-7

The Medical Men of Bridgwater Facts Connected with the Medical Relief of the Poor in the Bridgwater Union, 13 November 1837

John Bowen’s The union work-house and board of guardians system 1842

House of Lords Select Committee of 1838

Introduction by Tony Woolrich, 2021

List of Committee Members

List of Witnesses

Poor Law Parishes

Medical Districts

Documentation Requested by the Committee

General Index

Proceedings of the Committee:

Evidence to the Parliamentary Select Committee Poor Law enquiry

Day 1, 12 June 1838: Robert Underdown, p 525; Baruch Toogood p 532; John Evered Poole,p 544

Day 2, 14 June 1838: Robert Underdown, p 563; Abraham King 565; Joseph Addison,p 584; George Werry, p 589

Day 3, 15 June 1838: Evidence of Abraham King, p 599; George Warry, passim

Day 4, 18 June 1838: Horatio Nelson Tilsey, p 633;  Benjamin Beadon Ridduckn,pp 647, 683; Robert Young p 675

Day 5, 19 June 1838: Richard King Meade King, p 685; Robert Weale, p 706; John Stagg, p 720

Day 6, 28 June 1838: Jonathan Toogood, p 725

Day 7, 26 June 1838: Jonathan Toogood, p 753; James Franklin Waites, P 770; Mrs Mary Waites, p 782; Kitty Walker, p 785; James Newman,p 790

Day 8, 2 July 1838: Evidence of John Bowen p 795

Day 9, 5 July 1838: Hugh Chatley Standert, p839; Elizabeh Woolley, pp 851 & 871; Mary Date, p 855; Salome Stacey, pp 863 & 870; Catherine Stanbury,p 866; John Bowen,p 872

Day 10, 6 July 1838: Robert Weale, p 887; John Bowen, p 889

Day 11, 5 July 1838: John Bowen, p 915; Charlotte Allan, p 941

Day 12, 10 July 1838: John Bowen, p 945; William Baker, p 958; Charles Locock. M.D., p 979

Day 13, 17 July 1838: Evidence of Abraham King, p 985; James Gover p 1006; Rachel Philips, p 1016; Elizabeth Bray, p 1017; Amy Ellis, p 1020; Harriet Bindon, 1024; James Gover,1027; Robert Underdown, p 1029

Day 14, 19 July 1838: Evidence of Robert Underdown, p 1031; John Chinn p 1033; John Somers, p 41 George Warry, p 1066; Mary Reed, p 1077

 Day 15, 19 July 1838: Evidence of John Rodney Ward, p 1085; Rev Benjamin Pope, p 1106

 Day 16, 23, July 1838: Evidence of Robert Underdown, p 1113, John Rodney Ward, p 1114; John Trood, p 1144

Day 17, 24, July 1838: Evidence of Robert Jolliffe Colthurst, p 1163; Frederick Axford, p 1181; Rev Samuel Starkey, p 1199; Robert Beadon Buller, p 1216; Rev Noblett Ruddock, p 1221

Day 18, 26, July 1838: Evidence of Rev Noblett Ruddock, p 1231; George Warry, p 1237; Rev, Samuel Starkey, p 1253; Richard King Meade King, p 1254; Thomas Withy Inman, p 1257; Robert George Underdown, p 1276

Day 19, 27, July 1838: Evidence of Richard King Meade King, p 1277; Robert Weale, p1280; Rev Henry Parsons, p 1302; Reuben Craven Payne, p 1311


Postscript:

Bowen’s response: New Poor Law : the Bridgwater case : is killing in an union workhouse criminal, if sanctioned by the Poor Law Commissioners? A question raised on certain facts deposed to on oath before a late committee of the House of Lords, and humbly submitted to the serious and early consideration of both Lords and Commons by John Bowen. Publisher: London : Published


Also See:

Public Health in Bridgwater by Tony Woolrich

The Ragged School by Clare Spicer

The Bridgwater Workhouse by Peter Higginbotham (external site)