Workhouses, Pauper Farms and Legislation

The conditions behind the Tooting outbreak didn't arise overnight. Here is a brief summary of some of the key legislation that both enabled pauper farms such as the one in Tooting, and later led to their eradication from the UK.

The General Board of Health
Legislation enabling pauper farming
- Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834
Measures to monitor pauper farms
Legislation leading to the end of pauper farming
Summary of legislation
Conclusion

The General Board of Health

The cholera outbreak of 1848 was particularly devastating in London, where it was estimated that over 14,000 people died from cholera.

Legislation enabling pauper farming

The practice of "pauper farming" was a system that emerged during the early-to-mid 19th century as a way to alleviate overcrowding in workhouses. Under this system, children and other paupers (the poor) were "farmed out" to private farmers or employers rather than remaining in the workhouse. The key piece of legislation that enabled this practice was the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834.

Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834

This Act, also known as the New Poor Law, was introduced in response to growing concerns about the perceived inefficiency and expense of the old poor law system.

It centralised control of poor relief and created a system of Unions, which were groups of parishes that shared responsibility for the poor.

The Act emphasised the principle of "less eligibility", meaning that conditions in the workhouse should be worse than those of the poorest independent labourer, to discourage reliance on poor relief.

"Pauper farming" emerged as a solution to overcrowding in workhouses. The system involved sending children (and sometimes adults) to private farms, where they could be used as cheap labour. Farmers received payments for looking after them, with the children being subject to harsh working conditions in return for food and shelter.

Measures to monitor pauper farms

Although pauper farming was widely used, it was also controversial due to concerns about abuse and neglect. There were efforts to monitor and regulate these farms, but they were often insufficient to protect the children involved.

Overseers of the poor

Under the Poor Law system, Overseers of the Poor were appointed to oversee the administration of relief in each parish or union. They were responsible for ensuring that children who were farmed out to private employers or pauper farms were properly cared for.

However, the Overseers often had limited resources and power to regularly inspect conditions, leading to instances of poor treatment, neglect, and abuse.

The local Guardians and Workhouse masters

The Guardians (elected officials) of the Poor Law Unions were supposed to monitor the children placed in private homes or farms. The workhouse masters were responsible for ensuring the welfare of paupers sent to external institutions or farms.

Some Poor Law Unions required reports about pauper children, including their living conditions and work performed, but enforcement of proper monitoring was often lax.

Inspection by central Poor Law Commissioners

The Poor Law Commissioners had a role in overseeing the workhouse system and the farming out of paupers. They issued guidelines and instructions, but the enforcement of these rules was often inconsistent. Some guardians and workhouse masters were more diligent than others in ensuring the proper treatment of pauper children.

Despite these regulations, abuse on pauper farms was a known issue, with cases of child labour and inadequate care.

Legislation leading to the end of pauper farming

Pauper farming began to fall out of favour as more attention was drawn to its abuses and as society began to focus on the rights of children and social welfare.

The Factory Acts of 1833, 1844 and 1847

These Acts regulated the hours of work for children in factories, although they did not apply directly to pauper farming. However, the broader movement toward child welfare and labour rights influenced thinking on pauper farming.

By addressing child labour in factories, the Factory Acts helped shift public opinion towards viewing the exploitation of children on pauper farms as unacceptable.

The Children's Employment Commission of 1842

The Children's Employment Commission was established to investigate the working conditions of children, especially in industries like coal mining and factories. Its 1842 report raised significant concerns about child labour, including the treatment of children on pauper farms.

The Commission's findings drew public attention to the poor conditions that children in the workhouse system and pauper farms were enduring, including abuse, long hours, and insufficient care.

The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1867

While the 1834 Act had established the farming out of paupers, the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1867 introduced measures to improve oversight.

The Act marked the beginning of reform efforts that aimed to reduce reliance on the poor law system and improve the conditions in which children were placed.

Although the 1867 Act did not directly abolish the farming out of children, it laid the groundwork for better regulation and scrutiny of poor relief systems.

The Children Act of 1872

The Children Act of 1872 took a more direct approach to protect children in various contexts, including those placed in pauper farms. It restricted the employment of children and further regulated the working conditions for children, including those placed in workhouses and outside institutions.

This was a pivotal piece of legislation that ultimately led to the decline of pauper farming, as it placed greater emphasis on child welfare and led to the reformation of the poor relief system.

Subsequent reforms

By the late 19th century, the poor law system began to evolve more dramatically, and the farming out of paupers was phased out in favour of more centralised and regulated forms of poor relief.

The increasing concern for child welfare, along with the development of modern social services, made the farming out system less acceptable.

Summary of legislation

Factory Acts (1833, 1844, 1847): Addressed child labour, indirectly influencing attitudes toward pauper farming.
Poor Law Amendment Act (1834): Enabled pauper farming by centralizing poor relief and establishing workhouse unions.
Children's Employment Commission (1842): Investigated child labour, highlighting abuses in pauper farming.
Public Health Act (1848): Established the General Board of Health.
Poor Law Amendment Act (1867): Introduced reforms and improved oversight, setting the stage for changes in the poor relief system.
Poor Law Amendment Act (1871) and reforms: Led to the decline of pauper farming and a shift toward more humane child welfare practices.
Children Act (1872): Brought in direct protections for children, including those placed in pauper farms.
Public Health Act (1875): Brought significant improvements to sanitary conditions in urban areas.

Conclusion

By the late 19th century, the practice of farming out paupers, especially children, was largely phased out due to the growing emphasis on child welfare, public scrutiny, and evolving social policies. The reforms of the 1860s and 1870s were crucial in dismantling the system, and by the early 20th century, the majority of child welfare had moved toward more structured and regulated forms of state care.

For extensive information on workhouses visit Workhouses.org