Bristol Corporation of the Poor

Former poor relief body in England

Bristol Corporation of the Poor

Watercolour of St Peter's Hospital, Bristol, former headquarters of the Bristol Corporation of the Poor, 1894

Formation| May 19, 1696; 329 years ago (1696-05-19)
Dissolved| 17 October 1836
Type| Charitable organisation
Purpose| Poor relief
Headquarters| St Peters Hospital, Bristol

United Kingdom legislation

Bristol Workhouse Act 1695

Act of Parliament

Parliament of England

Long title| An Act for erecting of Hospitals and Workhouses within the City of Bristoll, for the better employing and maintaining the Poor thereof.
Citation| 7 & 8 Will. 3. c. 32 Pr.
Dates
Royal assent| 10 April 1696

The Bristol Corporation of the Poor was the board responsible for poor relief in Bristol, England when the Poor Law system was in operation.[1] It was established in 1696 by the Bristol Workhouse Act 1695 (7 & 8 Will. 3. c. 32 Pr.).[2][3] The main promoter of the act was a merchant, John Cary, who proposed "That a spacious workhouse be erected in some vacant place, within the city, on a general charge, large enough for the Poor, who are to be employed therein; and also with room for such, who, being unable to work, are to be relieved by charity."[4]

Upon establishment of the corporation the city aldermen chose four of the "honestest and discreetest inhabitants" from each of the twelve city wards to serve as "Guardians of the Poor".[5] This caused some resentment amongst the city churchwardens who had previously administered poor law funds and who withheld funds raised from the general rates.[6] The corporation raised funds by donation and established the first workhouse at a building called Whitehall, adjacent to the Bridewell.[7]

In 1698, the corporation bought the former home of merchant Robert Aldworth who had left £1,000 in his will for the establishment of a workhouse. This building became known as St Peters Hospital,[2] and stayed in use until the 1830s. It was destroyed in the blitz during World War II.[8]

By 1826, the corporation had acquired by donation a large number or properties and estates, bringing in a considerable income.[9] In 1836, following the passage of the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, Bristol Corporation of the Poor along with other municipal charities was transferred to the Bristol Charity Trustees, which later became Bristol Municipal Charities. This enabled them to buy the site of the defunct prison in Stapleton, hence founding Blackberry Hill Hospital.[10]

## Archives

[edit]

The majority of the records of the Bristol Poor Law Union were destroyed during the Bristol Blitz. However, some of the records had been transcribed and published by the Bristol Record Society before that time.[11] Bristol Archives holds the surviving archives of Stapleton Workhouse and Clifton Workhouse (Ref. 30105) (online catalogue).

## References

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1. ^ E. E. Butcher, Bristol Corporation for the Poor 1696-1898 (Bristol Historical Association pamphlets, no. 29, 1972), 23 pp.
2. ^ a b Manco, Jean (1 October 2006). "History of St Peter's Hospital, Bristol". Bristol Past. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
3. ^ Alistair Hudson, ed. (2003). New Perspectives on Property Law: Human Rights and the Family Home. Routledge-Cavendish. p. 291\. ISBN 978-1-85941-843-7. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
4. ^ Johnson, 4
5. ^ Johnson, 9-10
6. ^ Johnson, 12-14
7. ^ Johnson, 16-17
8. ^ "Bristol Workhouses". Rossbret Institutions Website. Archived from the original on 16 January 2003. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
9. ^ Johnson, 82-90
10. ^ "History of Bristol Charities". Bristol Charities. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
11. ^ E. E. Butcher (ed.), Bristol Corporation of the Poor, Selected Records, 1696-1834 (Bristol Record Society Publications., Vol. III, 1932)

## Cited works

[edit]

* Butcher E. E. (ed.), Bristol Corporation of the Poor, Selected Records, 1696-1834 (Bristol Record Society Publications., Vol. III, 1932)
* Butcher, E. E. Bristol Corporation for the Poor 1696-1898 (Bristol Historical Association pamphlets, no. 29, 1972), 23 pp.
* Johnson, James. Transactions of the Corporation of the Poor, in the City of Bristol, During a Period of 126 Years. Broadmead, Bristol. P. Rose. 1826

## Further reading

[edit]

Butcher, E.E., ed. Bristol Corporation of the Poor, 1696-1834. Bristol. Historical Association. ISBN 978-0-901388-07-0

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