Radnorshire Poor Law: Board of Guardians Records

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Additional Information

At first the Poor Law Commission had overall responsibility for the system, but in 1847 it was replaced by the Poor Law Board. In 1871 the Local Government Board was set up with a remit which included the Poor Law. The Public Health Act of 1872 created urban and rural sanitary authorities (which in 1894 became urban and rural district councils, q.v.).

Boards of guardians, unions and workhouses were abolished following the Local Government Act of 1929, and their powers passed to the county councils through the Public Assistance Committees and departments (see county councils). The Poor Law system was finally abolished in 1948.