What Did People Think About the New Poor Law?

PRO Ref: Source 1 - EXT 6/1 (extracted from HO 44/27/2)

The poster in this snapshot is an excellent piece of evidence showing opposition to the new Poor Law and public conceptions of life inside the workhouses. One way of encouraging pupils to analyse this rich source is by helping them to see that the poster is really made up of smaller pictures. By dealing with one small picture at a time, commenting on and analysing the poster can be made more managable.

To extend their work, pupils can create their own anti or pro new Poor Law poster. Or they can be asked to write to the government complaining about the harshness of the new Poor Law. They could also work in groups to create an alternative plan to deal with the problem of the rising cost of looking after the poor.

The Snapshot can also be used as a starting point for investigating the New Poor Law in more depth and discussing attitudes to the poor in 19th century Britain.

Also see Somerset Local Record Office for an example of the amount of local records that exist on the Poor Law and the possibility for local research.

What was it like for children living in Victorian Britain? KS 2