Poor Relief – Poorhouses in Scotland
Poorhouses or almshouses have existed in Scotland since medieval times, principally in burghs and often called hospitals. These accommodated people who were deemed unable to work, including people with disabilities. In 1672 parliament attempted to deal with beggars and homeless people by requiring thirty named burghs to build houses of correction but it appears that these more punitive poorhouses were not constructed.[1]
Between 1845 and 1930 over 70 poorhouses were constructed in Scotland, many serving a number of parishes (called ‘poor law unions’ or ‘combinations’). They were built following the Poor Law (Scotland) Act 1845, which established parochial boards in rural civil parishes and in the towns, and a central Board of Supervision in Edinburgh.[2] The poorhouses were for those categories of paupers who did not receive outdoor relief (normally in the form of small weekly sums of money). The regime, diet and living conditions in poorhouses were austere, partly to discourage applications from those who could rely on family support instead. On the other hand, poorhouses provided medical and nursing care of the elderly and the sick, at a time when there were few hospitals and private medical treatment was beyond the means of the poor. In 1948 the poor law was abolished and replaced by the modern social security system, and by then hospitals had largely replaced the medical function of poorhouses.[3] Many poorhouses, indeed, expanded to become hospitals, for example Govan poorhouse, which formed the nucleus for the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow and East House, Dundee, which as Maryfield became its principal maternity hospital for two decades. Other poorhouses became old people’s homes or social work administrative offices.
Compilers: SCAN contributors (2000).
Related Knowledge Base entries
Links
A useful website is <http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Scotland/> [accessed 26 April 2024]. This website focuses mainly on poor relief in England but has helpful information about the Scottish law and systems.
References
[1] Act for establishing correction-houses for idle beggars and vagabonds, 1672. The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, ed. by K.M. Brown and others (University of St Andrews, 2007-2021), 1672/6/52<http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1672/6/52> [accessed 7 October 2021]; Alexander Dunlop, A Treatise on the Law of Scotland Relative to the Poor (Blackwood & Cadell, 1825), pp.18-19.
[2] Poor Law (Scotland) Act 1845 (8 & 9 Vict. c.83).
[3] National Assistance Act 1948 (11 & 12 Geo. VI c.29).