Reference
PUBZ
Title
DIRECTORS OF THE POOR OF TOWN OF BEDFORD
The Act of 34 Geo. III, c. xcviii (1794), which operated as from 1796, created the Incorporated Guardians of the Poor of Bedford, thereby superseding the Overseers of the five Bedford parishes. Twelve of the Guardians were to be appointed Directors, and these were authorised to erect a House of Industry. The Poor Law Act of 1834 [4 & 5 Wm. IV c. lxxvi] and subsequent acts at first encouraged and then compelled rural parishes to form themselves into unions, and the north Bedfordshire parishes joined the Bedford Union on terms approved by the Poor Law Commissioners. The rural parishes could now sell their own Poor Estate property, and maintain their poor in a workhouse provided by the Bedford parishes. The Governors of the House of Industry, who acted under the Bedford Poor Act, had no poor law functions after the new Poor Law Acts came into force, but they were not dissolved, and received a rent charged on the House of Industry and paid by the Bedford Union under a scheme of the Poor Law Commissioners. This rent was intended to compensate the Bedford parishes for providing the Workhouse for the whole Union, and after meeting expenses, the money was paid over to the Overseers of the Bedford parishes for the relief of the poor rate. When Overseers were abolished, it was paid to the Corporation for the benefit of the General Rate Fund.
Date free text
1792 - 1839
Production date
From: 1792 To: 1839
Scope and Content
The Directors of the House of Industry Estate still own the old House of Industry [late known as Bedford St Peter's Hospital and now called Bedford Hospital North Wing] and certain other property. The Hospital Board pays rent for the premises.In September 1958 the Clerk to the Directors of the House of Industry Estate is Mr R O Watson of Messr Conquest, Clare and Binns, 30a Mill Street, in whose care should be the surviving minute books.]
Reference
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