3 Restricting relief
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Samantha A. Shave
Abstract
The second chapter about ‘enabling acts’ examines the impact of Sturges Bourne’s Acts of 1818 and 1819. Sturges Bourne’s Acts permitted parishes to employ an assistant overseer whose main task was to inspect the poor and distribute relief, and allowed for the appointment of a Select Vestry to take charge of policy decisions and relief claimants. The chapter first examines why and when the policies were adopted in southern England. These permissory acts allowed parishes to tighten up the distribution of poor relief. As such whilst the retrenchment of relief provision was an inevitable consequence of the Act, the sheer variety of ways in which it was implemented is examined in the chapter. It is argued that the reforms re-drew the distinction between ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’ poor, ultimately changing individuals' and families' entitlement to relief under the old poor laws.
Abstract
The second chapter about ‘enabling acts’ examines the impact of Sturges Bourne’s Acts of 1818 and 1819. Sturges Bourne’s Acts permitted parishes to employ an assistant overseer whose main task was to inspect the poor and distribute relief, and allowed for the appointment of a Select Vestry to take charge of policy decisions and relief claimants. The chapter first examines why and when the policies were adopted in southern England. These permissory acts allowed parishes to tighten up the distribution of poor relief. As such whilst the retrenchment of relief provision was an inevitable consequence of the Act, the sheer variety of ways in which it was implemented is examined in the chapter. It is argued that the reforms re-drew the distinction between ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’ poor, ultimately changing individuals' and families' entitlement to relief under the old poor laws.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i 1
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures viii
- List of tables x
- Acknowledgements xi
- Permissions xiii
- List of abbreviations xiv
- Introduction 1
- 1 A policy process approach to the poor laws 17
- 2 Gilbert’s Act 56
- 3 Restricting relief 111
- 4 Policies from knowledge networks 150
- 5 Policies from scandal 197
- 6 Conclusion 248
- Appendix 268
- Select bibliography 279
- Index 289
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i 1
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures viii
- List of tables x
- Acknowledgements xi
- Permissions xiii
- List of abbreviations xiv
- Introduction 1
- 1 A policy process approach to the poor laws 17
- 2 Gilbert’s Act 56
- 3 Restricting relief 111
- 4 Policies from knowledge networks 150
- 5 Policies from scandal 197
- 6 Conclusion 248
- Appendix 268
- Select bibliography 279
- Index 289
