Norfolk Poor Law

Norfolk Incorporations and Gilbert Unions
During the eighteenth century, many Norfolk parishes formed groupings to jointly manage poor relief. Some of these were established through Local Acts of Parliament which set up local "Incorporations" to administer relief and operate a workhouse. All together, seven Norfolk Incorporations were formed in this way: 1712 Norwich 1764 Loddon &amp; Clavering 1775 East &amp; West Flegg, Mitford &amp; Launditch 1776 Forehoe 1785 Tunstead &amp; Happing 1806 Buxton This was part of the Aylsham Union which also included a House of Industry at Oulton (3.5 miles NW of Aylsham). House of Industry located at Buxton was for Brampton, Burgh St.Mary, Buxton, Hevingham, Marsham, Oxnead, Skeyton, Stratton Strawless, Swanton Abbot. This House of Industry was located to the S.E of Buxton about 0.5 mile outside the village and was subsequently demolished.

Gilbert's Act of 1782 allowed groups of parishes to set up a common workhouse for the old, the sick and the infirm. This provided a much cheaper procedure than was involved in promoting a Local Act. The Gilbert Unions formed in Norfolk were: 1783 Brinton The Brinton Union survived until 1869 after which its 2 parishes were added to the Walsingham Union. ( Brinton and Melton Constable). 1785 Bawdeswell 1786 Booton 1792 Acle The Acle Union workhouse is said to have been destroyed by fire in 1834. A house of Industry was erected at Acle in 1788 for seven parishes, and to which 10 other parishes were united. After 1834 Acle became part of the Blofield Union, and the workhouse was at Lingwood.

1792 Oulton This was part of the Aylsham Union which also included a House at Buxton (3 miles SE of Aylsham). House of Industry located at Oulton was for the parishes of Banningham, Blickling, Colby, Erpingham, Itteringham and Oulton. The house was originally a farm house and was altered in 1804. Subsequently it was enlarged in c.1836 when it became one of the Union Workhouses for the Aylsham Union. 1801 Buxton 1805 Aldborough, Gimingham, St Faith's 1808 Hackford

Buxton is unusual in that it was originally formed as a Gilbert Union of three parishes then became an Incorporation when it expanded to nine in 1806. This was part of the Aylsham Union which also included a House of Industry at Oulton (3.5 miles NW of Aylsham). House of Industry located at Buxton was for Brampton, Burgh St.Mary, Buxton, Hevingham, Marsham, Oxnead, Skeyton, Stratton Strawless, Swanton Abbot. This House of Industry was located to the S.E of Buxton about 0.5 mile outside the village and was subsequently demolished.

Following the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, most of the Norfolk Incorporations and Gilbert Unions were persuaded to dissolve themselves and become part of new Poor Law Unions. The exceptions were Norwich, which remained an Incorporation until 1863 until local ratepayers forced its dissolution, and Brinton, which was dissolved in 1869 along with all other remaining Gilbert Unions.