Gilbert's Act
The Poor Relief Act of 1782 An Act for the better Relief and Employment of
the Poor, is sometimes known as Gilbert's Act, after its sponsor Thomas Gilbert.
It provided a simple procedure for groups of parishes to set up a common
workhouse for paupers other than able-bodied adults. It also introduced some
significant changes in workhouse administration, including management by a Board
of Guardians appointed from the member parishes, and regulated by a Visitor. The
Act also included a set of standard rules under which workhouses were to
operate.Gilberts
Act of 1782 allowed parishes to join together to form unions and provide relief.
It stated that only the ‘impotent poor’ should occupy a workhouse, all other
able bodied people should be encouraged to to work and take outdoor relief.
the Poor, is sometimes known as Gilbert's Act, after its sponsor Thomas Gilbert.
It provided a simple procedure for groups of parishes to set up a common
workhouse for paupers other than able-bodied adults. It also introduced some
significant changes in workhouse administration, including management by a Board
of Guardians appointed from the member parishes, and regulated by a Visitor. The
Act also included a set of standard rules under which workhouses were to
operate.Gilberts
Act of 1782 allowed parishes to join together to form unions and provide relief.
It stated that only the ‘impotent poor’ should occupy a workhouse, all other
able bodied people should be encouraged to to work and take outdoor relief.
- Gilberts
Act also gave more leverage to the land owning farmers, the main source of
labour in parishes and payers of poor tax.
- It gave ‘the principle of the right to vote according to the amount of property
occupied’.
- Thus, land owning farmers, who were employing many of the parish men, were able to
exercise their control and take advantage of the poor relief system.
- They often paid low wages, allowing the poor relief to supplement the income of their
workers.