Youghal workhouse Board of Guardians (BG163)

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Overall responsibility within the union rested with the Board of Guardians, most of whom were elected, and some of whom were ex-officio members appointed usually from amongst local justices of the peace /magistrates. The electors were owners and occupiers of property liable to pay the poor rate. The boards of guardians were vested with wide statutory powers and were under the direction and control of the Poor Law Commissioners and from 1872 of the Local Government Board.

The boards of guardians were financially maintained by the poor rate levied on occupiers of property in the union district, and tenants could deduct half of the rates from their rents.

In the first years of the poor law system, in general no relief was provided outside the workhouses, however from 1847, limited outdoor relief was provided in certain cases. Later, various other responsibilities were allocated to the Guardians in the areas of public health, sanitation, and housing. For example, under the Medical Charities Act 1851, Boards of Guardians took over responsibility for dispensaries from the Grand Juries, and the unions were divided into dispensary districts for which medical officers were appointed. In 1856 the Guardians became the burial ground board for the rural parts of the union. In 1863, the unions were used as registration areas for the registration of births and deaths. Under the Sanitary Act 1866, the guardians b ecame ‘sewer and nuisance ’ authorities, and under the 1874 and 1878 Public Health Acts, in general, as well as being the poor relief authorities, the Guardians were designated rural sanitary authorities, dealing with various matters such as water and sewerage schemes, scavenging, building control, lodging houses, markets, slaughter houses, infectious diseases and burial grounds. Under the Labourers Act 1883, the building of rural cottages was also allocated to the guardians. Each union was under the central supervision of the Poor Law Commissioners up to 1872 and thereafter of the Local Government Board. The Youghal Board of Guardians was dissolved in May 1924, its functions taken up by the South Cork County Board of Health and Public Assistance and Cork County Council. In May 1924 the remaining inmates of the Youghal Workhouse were mainly transferred to the Cork County Home and Hospital. In common with many former workhouses, parts of the Youghal Union workhouse buildings were taken over for use as a hospital.

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