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.

Aylsham
History The Aylsham Union comprised the following parishes: Alby, Norfolk,  Aylsham, Norfolk, Banningham, Norfolk,  Little Barningham, Norfolk,  Belaugh, Norfolk,  Blickling, Norfolk,  Brampton, Norfolk, Burgh St Mary, Buxton, Calthorpe, Cawston, Colby, Coltishall, Corpusty, Erpingham, Foulsham, Guestwick, Hackford by Reepham, Hautbois Magna, Hevingham, Heydon, Hindolveston, Ingworth, Irmingland, Itteringham, Lammas with Little Hautbois, Mannington, Marsham,  Oulton, Norfolk, Oxnead, Reepham with Kerdiston, Sall, Saxthorpe, Scottow, Skeyton, Stratton Strawless, Swanton Abbot, Themelthorpe, Thurning, Thwaite All Saints, Tuttington, Whitwell, Wickmere, Wolterton, Wood Dalling, Wood Norton. Parishes in the three component districts Buxton District: Banningham, Belaugh, Brampton, Burgh, Buxton, Coltishall, Great Hautbois, Hevingham, Lammas and Little Hautbois, Marsham, Oxnead, Scottow, Skeyton, Stratton Strawless, Swanton Abbott, Tuttington. Eynsford District: Cawston, Foulsham, Guestwick, Hackford, Heydon, Hindolveston, Reepham, Salle, Themelthorpe, Thurning, Whitwell, Wood Dalling, Wood Norton. Oulton District: Alby, Norfolk,  Aylsham, Norfolk,  Little Barningham, Norfolk,  Blickling, Norfolk,  Calthorpe, Norfolk, Coleby,  Corpusty, Norfolk, Erpingham, Norfolk, Ingworth, Norfolk, Irmingland see Oulton, Norfolk , Itteringham, Mannington see Itteringham with Mannington, Norfolk,  Oulton, Norfolk,  Saxthorpe, Norfolk, Thwaite see Alby, Norfolk , Wickmere, Wolterton see Wickmere with Wolterton, Norfolk.

Aylsham Poor Law Union for record description

East and West Flegg Union
The following parishes comprised the union: Ashby with Oby and Thurne, Norfolk,  Billockby, Norfolk, Burgh St Margaret, Norfolk, Caister, Norfolk,  Clippesby, Norfolk,  Filby, Norfolk,  Hemsby, Norfolk,  Martham, Norfolk,  Mautby, Norfolk,  Ormesby St Margaret with Scratby, Norfolk,  Ormesby St Michael, Norfolk, Repps cum Bastwick Repps with Bastwick, Norfolk,  Rollesby, Norfolk,  Runham, Norfolk,  East Somerton, Norfolk,   West Somerton, Norfolk,  Stokesby with Herringby, Norfolk, Thurne (see Ashby with Oby), Tringby,  Winterton, Norfolk.

East & West Flegg Poor Law Union. for record history

Erpingham
The union consisted of the following parishes: Aldborough, Norfolk,  Antingham, Norfolk,  Aylmerton, Norfolk,  Baconsthorpe, Norfolk,  Barningham Norwood, Norfolk,  Barningham Winter, Norfolk, East Beckham, Norfolk,  West Beckham, Norfolk,  Beeston Regis, Norfolk,  Bessingham, Norfolk,  Bodham, Norfolk,  Briston, Norfolk,  Cley next the Sea, Norfolk,  Cromer, Norfolk, Edgefield, Norfolk,  Felbrigg, Norfolk,  Gimingham, Norfolk,  Wiveton with Glandford, Norfolk,  Gresham, Norfolk,  Gunton, Norfolk,  Hanworth, Norfolk,  Hempstead (near Holt), Norfolk, Holt  ,  Hunworth, Norfolk,  Kelling, Norfolk,  Knapton, Norfolk,  Letheringsett, Norfolk,  Matlaske, Norfolk,  Metton, Norfolk,  Mundesley, Norfolk,  Overstrand, Norfolk,  Plumstead, Norfolk,  Northrepps, Norfolk,  Southrepps, Norfolk, Roughton  ,   Runton, Norfolk,  Salthouse, Norfolk,  Sheringham, Norfolk,  Sidestrand, Norfolk, Stody, Norfolk, Suffield, Norfolk,  Sustead, Norfolk,  Thornage, Norfolk,  Thorpe Market, Norfolk,  Thurgarton, Norfolk,  Trimingham, Norfolk,  Trunch, Norfolk,  North Walsham, Norfolk to 24 Mar. 1884,  Weybourne, Norfolk.

Erpingham Poor Law Union for record history

Freebridge Lynn
Freebridge Lynn Poor Law Union for parishes and record history.

Loddon &amp; Clavering
The following parishes comprised the union: Aldeby, Norfolk, Alpington in Yelverton, Norfolk,  Ashby St Mary, Norfolk,  Bedingham, Norfolk,  Bergh Apton, Norfolk,  Brooke, Norfolk,  Broome, Norfolk,  Burgh St Peter, Norfolk,  Carleton St Peter, Norfolk,  Chedgrave, Norfolk,  Claxton, Norfolk,  Ditchingham, Norfolk,  Ellingham, Norfolk,  Geldeston, Norfolk,  Gillingham, Norfolk,  Haddiscoe, Norfolk,  Hales, Norfolk,  Hardley, Norfolk, Heckingham, Norfolk,  Hedenham, Norfolk,   Hellington, Norfolk,  Howe, Norfolk,   Kirby Cane, Norfolk,  Kirstead, Norfolk, Langley, Norfolk,  Loddon, Norfolk,  Mundham, Norfolk,  Norton Subcourse, Norfolk,  Raveningham, Norfolk,  Seething, Norfolk, Sisland, Norfolk,   Stockton, Norfolk,  Thorpe next Haddiscoe, Norfolk,  Thurlton, Norfolk,  Thurton, Norfolk,  Thwaite (near Loddon), Norfolk ,  Tofts Monks, Norfolk ,  Topcroft, Norfolk,   Wheatacre, Norfolk,  Woodton, Norfolk,  Yelverton, Norfolk. Loddon & Clavering Poor Law Union for record history.

Mitford &amp;Launditch
The following parishes comprised the 1836 union: Bawdeswell, Norfolk, Beeston, Norfolk, Beetley, Norfolk, Billingford (near Foulsham), Norfolk, East Bilney, Norfolk, Bintree, Norfolk, Brisley, Norfolk,  Bylaugh, Norfolk,  Colkirk, Norfolk,  Cranworth, Norfolk,  East Dereham, Norfolk,  Great Dunham, Norfolk, Little Dunham, Norfolk,  North Elmham, Norfolk,  Elsing, Norfolk,  Foxley, Norfolk,  Great Fransham, Norfolk, Little Fransham, Norfolk, Garveston, Norfolk,  Gateley, Norfolk,  Gressenhall, Norfolk,  Guist, Norfolk,  Hardingham, Norfolk,  Hockering, Norfolk,  Hoe, Norfolk, Horningtoft, Norfolk, Kempstone, Norfolk, Letton within Cranworth, Norfolk,  East Lexham, Norfolk,  West Lexham, Norfolk,  Litcham, Norfolk,  Longham, Norfolk,  Lyng, Norfolk,  Mattishall, Norfolk,  Mattishall Burgh, Norfolk,  Mileham, Norfolk,  Oxwick, Norfolk, Reymerston, Norfolk,  Rougham, Norfolk,  Scarning, Norfolk,  Shipdham, Norfolk,  Southburgh, Norfolk,  Sparham, Norfolk, Stanfield, Norfolk,  Swanton Morley, Norfolk,  Thuxton, Norfolk, Tittleshall, Norfolk,  East Tuddenham, Norfolk,  North Tuddenham, Norfolk,  Twyford, Norfolk,  Weasenham All Saints, Norfolk, Weasenham St Peter, Norfolk,  Wellingham, Norfolk,  Wendling, Norfolk,  Westfield, Norfolk,  Whinburgh, Norfolk,  Whissonsett, Norfolk,  Woodrising, Norfolk,  Worthing, Norfolk,  Yaxham, Norfolk. Mitford & Launditch Poor Law Union for history of the earlier parishes and record history.

Norwich
Norwich Workhouse (to 1859 also known as St Andrew's or Duke's Palace workhouse) Date 1769-1902 Repository Norfolk Record Office Reference N/GP 1/61-79

In about 1859 a new workhouse was built in Dereham Road and the St Andrew's site leased, see N/GP 1/81-82.

Smallburgh (Tunstead &amp; Happing)
History The union consisted of the following parishes: Ashmanhaugh, Norfolk,  Bacton, Norfolk,  Barton Turf, Norfolk,  Beeston St Lawrence, Norfolk,  Bradfield, Norfolk,  Brumstead, Norfolk,  Catfield, Norfolk,  Crostwight, Norfolk,  Dilham, Norfolk,  Edingthorpe, Norfolk,  Felmingham, Norfolk,  Happisburgh, Norfolk, Hempstead with Eccles Hempstead (near North Walsham), Norfolk,  Hickling, Norfolk,  Honing, Norfolk,  Horning, Norfolk,  Horsey, Norfolk,  Hoveton St John, Norfolk,  Hoveton St Peter, Norfolk,  Ingham, Norfolk,  Irstead, Norfolk,  Lessingham, Norfolk,  Ludham, Norfolk,  Neatishead, Norfolk,  Palling, Norfolk,  Paston, Norfolk,  Potter Heigham, Norfolk,  Ridlington, Norfolk,  East Ruston, Norfolk,  Sco Ruston St Michael, Norfolk ,  Sloley, Norfolk,  Smallburgh, Norfolk, Stalham, Norfolk,  Sutton, Norfolk,  Swafield, Norfolk,  Tunstead, Norfolk,  Walcot, Norfolk,  North Walsham, Norfolk from 25 March 1884,  Waxham, Norfolk,  Westwick, Norfolk,  Witton (near North Walsham), Norfolk,  Worstead, Norfolk.

Smallburgh (Tunstead and Happing) Poor Law Union for record history

Walsingham
The union consisted of the following parishes: Alethorpe, Norfolk,  Bale, Norfolk,  Barney, Norfolk, East Barsham, Norfolk,  North Barsham, Norfolk,  West Barsham, Norfolk,  Binham, Norfolk,  Blakeney with Little Langham, Norfolk,  Briningham, Norfolk, Brinton, Norfolk,  Cockthorpe, Norfolk,  Dunton cum Doughton, Norfolk, Egmere included in Waterden, Norfolk, Fakenham, Norfolk,  Field Dalling, Norfolk,  Fulmodeston cum Croxton, Norfolk, Gunthorpe, Norfolk, Helhoughton, Norfolk, Hempton, Norfolk,  Hindringham, Norfolk,  Holkham, Norfolk,  Houghton St Giles, Norfolk,  Kettlestone, Norfolk, Langham Episcopi, Norfolk,  Melton Constable, Norfolk,  Morston, Norfolk,  Pensthorpe, Norfolk,  Pudding Norton, Norfolk,  Quarles, Norfolk,  East Raynham, Norfolk, South Raynham, Norfolk,  West Raynham, Norfolk, Ryburgh Magna or Great Ryburgh, Norfolk, Ryburgh Parva or Little Ryburgh, Norfolk,  Saxlingham, Norfolk,  Sculthorpe, Norfolk,  Sharrington, Norfolk, Shereford, Norfolk, Great Snoring, Norfolk, Little Snoring, Norfolk,  Stibbard, Norfolk,  Stiffkey, Norfolk, Swanton Novers, Norfolk,  Tatterford, Norfolk,  Tattersett, Norfolk,  Testerton, Norfolk,  Thursford, Norfolk,  Toftrees, Norfolk,  Great Walsingham, Norfolk,  Little Walsingham, Norfolk ,  Warham All Saints, Norfolk, Warham St Mary, Norfolk , Wells next the Sea, Norfolk,  Wighton, Norfolk, Wiveton with Glandford, Norfolk.

Walsingham Poor Law Union for record history