6 fQu1Q49 gixizsisn Cf }&RiéT; Paupers are to be ai:i':ed into the worxhouse in one of the following codes. a) b) By an order of the Board of Guardiaas signified in writing from the Clerk. By a provisional order in writizd signed by an overseer, churchwarden or a relieving officer. By the master of the workhouse without such oricr in case of an emergency. How It All Started Prior to I834 there were no national systens. The new koor Lxw A:c‘i::n Act I834 abolished outdoor relief to the ablebodied who, on applying for relief, wheneto be offered zaintainance in a work house.wherc lives were to be regulated and made less comfortable than if they had chosen to stay outside and fend for themselves. This was supgosed to be a self-acting test 0 des- titution. Only those in dire need would accept the worhhouse rather than and privileges. starvation. On entering the workhouse they lost ail Those who chose not to loose th ir rirhts becane paupers.' The overall res- ponsibility for the Poor Law gassed into the hands of the Eoor Law Connissioners at Somerset House. Their rulings were transzitted to the Board of Guardians in different areas by assistant Poor Law Connissioners. The County was o$- I920 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £p;.55.+7a. a Chanves ind Plans I849 Plans for Cooking House, Porters Room, Chapel. I85# Grand new plan for fiorkhouso. I860 Lockup House, Lunacy House. I866 Sew Dying Room. I869 New Vagrants Room, Stable. I876 minor alterations. I900 New Vagrants Ward (closed I932). Pazments Payment required from a resident #10 has property which has been sold is assessed and the highest amount is £59 per week; Pension only This will be taken and £3 given back for pocket money. Eenu 12.9 Breakfast ‘ Bread and Butter, Eorridge, H;:aalaie,Tea Lunch‘ Sausage, E33 and Chips, Jan Spcnge and Custard. Tea Welsh Rarebit, Cake and Tea. For Old keoule; The same for men and women xcept zor I0: 0: ;___________. For Children- Bread and milk for breakfast and supper and such propor- . . jjzj-I3?‘-¢-'1 tions as the Board of Guardians decide for the remainder of the diet. For The sick: What was ordered by the Doctor. _________—— The running costs for Bridge Union came fron_the various parishes, thus bringing in rich parishes to pay more. Bridge paid £27 per annun as against Barham £53 and Stodnarsh £5. The average was £22, so you can see that Bridge paid over the average. yfl ;~_ Ix ’_.~‘ Besides being Guardians of the Union, they looked spon outside relief. In I835 they expressed the following views, ”An* fixed scale of relief is direct- ly hostile to the principle of the Poor Law Azenizent Act. No pauper sho"ld be -\ able to safely calculate the amount of relie: he should receive and set store by it. Instead it should fluctuate so much t? t he could never calculate what he was to receive and therefore cone to realize he had no certain support," al- though this was said the suns set were — For a man with wife and six chi-*“eu .. .. .. .. .. Ii/— per week For a man with wife .. .. .; .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 3/— per week For old people .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2/5 cor week I will not go on with this as it i folves quite a bit more. This was done for illustration. What about the man with I,2,3,h or 5 children? His bad luck! The Guardians kept afilight control over expenditure. Everything was put out to tender, (this is done today), and most ninously ror the supply of coffins. In I870 there were proposed alterations to the Wozkhouse and this caused quite a debate. A Hr. Lake was against this matter on the grounds of that the , district could not meet the extra charges. also he would have liked to see the old people and children given more consideration. _g 1:, Daring (who has a road in the village named after him) said the inmates of Zridge Union were inclassi- fiable. The late Poor Law Inspector was very desirous of inprovesents. The Poor Law Inspector who proceeded Mr. Lanley thought all the residents should be taken to a place of safety and that the Workhouse should be burnt to the ground. In 1979 there are a few people who think this way too? Extensions to the Workhouse were undertaken in I372 consisting of new casual wards and a stable and coach house. There were Court cases. Two zon in the Vagrant hard ofi Lgidgc Union broke They were lodging, they broke the windows. The Master of the Union stated that he was only allowed to give food in cases of extreme destituticn. These men had walked 26 miles that day without food. They were sentenced to be imprisoned for one week. If they had received bread it would have been more. The Magistrate told the Guardians of Bridge Union that he did not approve of their methods. in able- bodied pauper refused to work so he was given a months inprisonze t. The reason why he did not work was because he was lind. What would we have done today? January Ist I876. As before the inzates 0; Bridge Union had a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding given by the Marquis of Ccn= ghan. Gifts were given out. . The Birth Rezistar The first registered birth at Bridge Union was on the 27th February I856. t was an illegitanate child. The mother belonged to the Parish of Bishopsbourne. In the records of such births, the baptism is also noted, t¥‘s one was on 25rd March I836. Noted in the year book of Bridge 3‘“;l District, this was not done only the parents name, the tize, place and Ui.ne;s. Prior to the transfer of Poor Law iunctions to the County Council, it was the responsibility of each board of Gun dians to provide for children requiring care apart from their own parents either by maintaining the: or boarding then out to foster homes. Lunatics There were just a few questions to be answered and these were Just Attach, Epilepsy, suicide, and Danger to Others. A girl of I5 years was admitted to Bridge Union on these facts. she was classed as an idiot because her mother was an idiot and that she had cried since birth. This was one of the Public Assistance jobs to remove children from Workhouses and to sort out the lunatics. Children sought to find their parents. Vagrancy Under the Public Assistance Connitee, to stay the night cost:/6 for casuals and 2/¥ a day for the aged and infirm. The casual ward rate dropped to I/L per night and 9d. a night for the aged and infir: in 1952 and :937_ A; 3 result of action taken by the Joint Vagraney Ac: Coznitce, In 1930 the Count Medical Officer from the some suggestions as to its various Unions. Bridge Union was recommended to be closed. Result - this was never found practicable. But no zjsr improvements were done. Also in I929 the whole of the Union was looked at in a Survey re- commending closure. Visits from outside bodies had as far not taken place but in I937 outsiders began to take an interest. This might have been due to the fact taat the areas of Dover, Eastry, Blean and Thanet became south East Kent Area. It must be noted that Bridge Union had a hospital block and a maternity ward which were on the upper floors. In I948 dramatic changes took place. The County Councils step,ed in and Bridge Union was the second Union to be retained. Had it not been for the War Romney Marsh, Bridge and strood Institutions would have been losed. There was 0 no alternative accommodation (there cannot be found any alternative accozmcdation in I979 for the residents). Their continued use must not therefore, be taken as criticism of the Public Assistance Conzitee because at one time they also thought it was a waste of money to keep the: in good repair. Today, I979, we are still ' ‘ 2 o-,- ' ' .1--.‘-- ‘ -3. 5‘. -< ‘,‘_~-.4 ‘ . -3 .. _ ~-. —.v\/: ‘mu trying to keep the: in good repair, .n- rbJG-- oiil lo. JAAQGB is never ending. ri- It must be pointed out the to have run Bridge Union and other Unions, the labour or workforce were the ‘nzates of these building i.e. the gardens were cultivated by institutor and trazp labour. The donesti work was also under- taken and the laundry, although supervisory staff were paid. so payment was allowed as pocket money until the Poor Law Amendment of I933 and then nly those <2 over 65 years of age. Not forgetting that two world wars had taken place puttin 0 back any sort of improvements. another tobacco allowance was given to the older inmates and also to workers and those with unpleasant tasks. Cigarettes were issued to women smokers in I935 or filb of sweets per week. Administration and organization under the County Council continued to improve a little still being . . G’ . . ._-l _., _ _ on a tight reign baring in mind that the war of I93: - I945 “ad not long passed. Plans came and went but there was never enough none‘. The hosoital staved in 0 o J operation until I970 when this was closed, and the whole of the ouilding cecaze an Old Peoples Home. In I963 alterations took place as to the sanitory arrange- ments, they were improved and brought up to date. Still doing some todai. In 1944, fire precautions were done with self-closing no-2; Lhi Sir; u;an.~s LHL they are still used as well as the wood;n cat—walks. In I975 the Fire Officer announced that it was dangerous and unsafe-——. This year - I979 - the Home now has 64 mentally frail residents as those who were with this house in the early days are now degarted, although one resi- dent of I2 years standing is still with them. There are 58 staff, care and domestic, including a Satron, one Deputy Matron and two Assistant uatrons, also two clerks in the office. This might seem to be a great deal of people but as they run their own laundry and each resident is unable to do anything for themselves everyone is needed. The residents enter the establishment through a Doctor and a Social Worker who has gone into their case to find out whether it is safe for then to live in the community. No way can they be kept in these establishments unless they want to. Unlike the old days, they are still encouraged to keep their individuality and self respect, infact sonetines thi is what they need, someone to drag them back up. Their pensions are taken but pocket money by law is returned at about £3. If they do not require this the noney is placed on their bank card to be spent as they wish. They can con: and go as ti please, going to the shops etc. But at the same time some mentally frail residents reguireuents are ;urchased without the resident leaving the prenises. Everthing possible is done for then including outings and film shows every fortnight. Visitors are allowed in any- time just like being in ones’ own hone. '._"~ ppearance, it still looks like Bridge (0 The building itself had not chf*ed in Union. Inside, no matter what one does the old Union feeli g prevail . The doors are not wide enough for wheelchairs and the dormitory way of sleepina still u a continues. Draughts through the windows still comes likes a cutting k.ife and the central heating system is old and decrepid resuitinz in much heat loss. There is a lot of wasted ground where vegetables could be grown and suiply the home (this could be done by the trainee gardeners of the County Council). The Kitchen is in the centre of the buildings so that neans that the meals are brought round on a trolley, getting cold before they reach the units. The units are too large and badly need deC0T&tina. There is a television on every unit which everyone sits round but some don't want to watch it anyway. The men have to go through the ladies dormitories to get to their bedrooms or go outside and across the yard. _.....— \< Tudor Times (16th and I7:n 1795 I8#7 I871 I894 I895 I930 I945 I9#3 I955 I966 I969 I970 I974 I979 Poor Law Resort. Poor Law Boards set up. —»a The Specnhcmland System si:il-- organized. Money came from rates. Middle-class given the Vote. commission set up, porting the inadequate. Poor 1:: at the causes of unemyloynent and poverty. commissioner was a member of Government. Lacked this previously. Local Government Board. Local Government Act appointment of Relieving Officer. Royal Commission for the aged poor, result — limited old age pension in I908. Age limit 70 years. Bath and Washouse Act. Public Health Act, not compulsory. Local Government Act. One minister responsible for Poor Law, Public Health. Public Health not. Sewage drains, refuse, Water sugply etc, - .. ... ,....: ..‘-- -rv ‘.9. —~—-’—.,.~~ " 1-: ~.~ __, .. :00. La” Colm_2u_._. 4e--are Ccnu-cg. 3;--.“ Uls--or;. grog in infant mortality. National Insurance Act. Ministry of Health. Poor Law went to Ioze ofifiiee. Poor Law found 14,000 ohildr’n in mixed workhouses. 200,000 — 300,000 receiving assistance on any one day. Education Connitee also those Wuo went through Poor Law children under Courts and approved schools. Konkton Report (Dennis O'Neil). Local Health and Elderly and Eizdicatged. Childrens Act. Prevention of children needing residential care. social security taking over. Childrens Act. No segregation of Local Government social Services performed by local Authority. Reorganization of the Health service to Area Hospital Boards, Utter Chaos. Most of the residents are Victorian LS1 don‘. aygrovc. Host of the w;"hroo:s are next to the kitchens. staff rooms are none as such, there is nowhere for them to go uni relax for dinner or tea breaks (this is because most of the places allocated .ave once been occupied by the residents). Here it must be pointed out that the staff at The Close are_£ggd and would be much happier :53 healthier if they had more time to work at a slower rate. Owing to the make up of the Home this cannot be done at all. One may ask a question. Honey is being spent in thousands of pounds on this building while it is always under closure. “fibfi not cake a stand. The land which The Close stands on is large enough to build a new Home at the back of the existing building. A building could be erected onto the remainder to help with _,-\ the cost of old peoples rlats. My personal View - I only hope that soon someone in the County makes a definite plan regarding Bridge Union. eH~4*" 1 97$.) . 6? ‘ /7Ld2aA) uJg«€£¥§e L4;§C&4> ¢3’ea»~4_¢J .