The Poor Law Unions of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Map of the Poor Law Unions of Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly, by Robert Creighton, 1840.
Map of the Poor Law Unions of Cornwall
and The Isles of Scilly, by Robert Creighton, 1840.

Description

The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 reorganised parishes into unions, which would be jointly responsible for the administration of the Poor Law in their area and, in essence, they acted as the second tier of local government. In an administrative capacity, the unions and the Municipal Boroughs replaced the Hundreds, although this role was discontinued in 1875 with the introduction of Urban Sanitary Districts and Rural Sanitary Districts. The Poor Law Unions continued to act as a system of poor relief until they were finally abolished in 1930. Holsworthy, Plympton St Mary and Tavistock Poor Law Unions were in the county of Devon, but contained parts within Cornwall.


The Poor Law Unions of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly