Catalogue description INCORPORATION OF THE POOR

The archives of the Incorporation of the Poor and the Board of Guardians were housed at St Peter's Hospital and were destroyed by enemy action in the Second World War. All that survived are listed below

Up to the 17th century the relief of the poor had been provided by the voluntary offerings of the charitable, and later by the levying of poor rates in the various parishes. Nevertheless, the burden of the maintenance of the poor continually increased and caused considerable anxiety by the end of the 17th century. Under the leadership of John Cary, a scheme was drawn up in 1696 which established in Bristol the first Board of Guardians, authorised the providing there of the first workhouse in England, and the raising by rate from a group of parishes of funds to provide for the maintenance of the poor. The authority was styled "The Governor, Deputy Governor, Assistants and Guardians of the Poor of the city and county of Bristol" and its work was "the regulation, management, maintenance and employment of the poor of the city". It consisted of the Mayor, aldermen and 48 guardians. Two years after the establishment of the Corporation of the Poor, the old mint was acquired as a workhouse, to be known as St Peter's Hospital. In about 1832 Stapleton Institution was acquired to provide additional accommodation.

Under the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, the Clifton Union (from 1877 Barton Regis) and Bedminster Union were constituted. In about 1837, owing to the extension of the boundaries parts of these two Unions were included within the city, although they each retained separate headquarters and administration, Barton Regis at Eastville and Bedminster at Flax Bourton. By the Bristol Corporation Act of 1897 there was one Union for the entire city with its headquarters at St Peter's Hospital which ceased to be a workhouse. In 1902 the Barton Regis Union was dissolved and the workhouse at Southmead taken over by the Bristol Board of Guardians. The administration of the Guardians continued until 1929 when, under the Local Government Act of that date, this body ceased to function and was replaced by a committee of Council known as the Public Assistance Committee.