1776 the amount spent on poor relief was £1,520,000.

1782 Parishes were allowed to group together to build workhouses.

1795 the Speenhamland System was set up in Berkshire. This allowed weekly payments to the poor from Poor Rates.

1802 The amount spent on poor relief was £4,078,000.

1830 The amount spent on poor relief was £6,799,000

1831 The amount spent on poor relief was £7,037,000.

1832 A Royal Commission was set up to investigate the Poor Law.

1834 The Royal Commission published its report.The Poor Law Amendment Act was passed.

1836 The New Poor Law, as it came to be known, was introduced in the north of England.

1842 The Poor Law Commission introduced the 'Labour Test'. This allowed able-bodied men to be given work outside the workhouse if there was no room for them inside.

1846 The Andover Scandal revealed some of the worst aspects of the New Poor Law. At the Andover Workhouse the inmates had been forced to fight for bones and gristle.

1899 Seebohm Rowntree began a survey of the poor in York. He proved that poverty was hardly ever caused by laziness.