Type details for Scottish Poor Law Combination

Type:Scottish Poor Law Combination
Identifier:SCO_COMB
Number of units in system:
47
Geographical Level: 9 (Middle-level District)
ADL Feature Type:countries, 3rd order divisions
May be part of: Scottish County
May have as parts: Scottish Parish

Full Description:

Poor Law relief in Scotland began with an Act for Poor Relief by the Scottish Parliament in 1579. On 4th August 1845 'The Amendment and better Administration of the Laws Relating to the relief of the Poor in Scotland' Act (8 & 9 Vic. c.83) was put into effect. This differed from the system in England and Wales in that the able bodied were excluded from relief, relief was not confined to the poorhouse and could continue to be paid to as out-relief (in other words to those living outside the poorhouse) and the operation of worhouses was voluntary. Adjacent Scottish parishes could join together to form Scottish Poor Law Combinations which operated 'combination poorhouses'. These poorhouses were approved by the Board of Supervision set up by the 1845 Act. (www.workhouses.org.uk)