Midleton workhouse Board of Guardians (BG118)

Midleton Board of Guardians IE CCCA BG/118

internal and poor law matters and, sometimes, on wider political or social issues. Poor law services were principally financed by a poor rate levied on property owners in the union ’s districts, and collected by rate collectors appointed by the board. Central government also provided loans. Each union was under the central supervision of the Poor Law Commissioners up to 1874 and thereafter of the Local Government Board (later Local Government Board in Ireland). These government-appointed bodies received reports from the board and its officers, appointed inspectors and auditors, sanctioned or rejected proposed expenditure, appointments, and policies, and made the final decision on major administrative issues. In 1850, it was decided that several districts in the Midleton union should be severed from it in order to form a distinct Youghal poor law union. The scope and functions of the board of guardians were changed over time by legislation including the Public Health (Ireland) Acts 1874 and 1878, Medical Charities Acts, Vaccination Acts, Dispensary Houses Act, the Nuisances Removal and Diseases Prevention Act, Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act 1878, and Labourers’ Acts. While these acts tended to increase the role of the board, the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 saw most of its public health functions taken over by the newly-created Cork County Council and Midleton Rural District Council. The board continued to administer the workhouse and its hospital, and to supervise some forms of outdoor relief. In November 1920 the board rejected the authority of the Local Government Board in Ireland and accepted that of the Local Government Department of Dail Eireann, later the Department of Local Government of the Irish Free State. The Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act 1923 led to the abolition of the workhouse system, and its replacement with the formation of the county boards of health and public assistance. In common with many former workhouses, the Midleton workhouse buildings were taken over for use as a local home and hospital.

Content & Structure

Scope & Content The archives of the Midleton Board of Guardians are extensive and include large numbers of minute books, indoor relief registers, financial accounts, and administrative records. The minutes of meetings of Midleton Board of Guardians, in addition to recording the administration of the workhouse and poor relief generally, also cover a range of subjects. They reflect attitudes to poverty and illegitimacy, and document developments in the care of children, those with disabilities, and the mentally ill. They also provide glimpses of emigration, local land issues, and the rise of nationalism from the 1880s on. Related records, such as the Executive Officer’s report book ( BG/118/ALA/1; 1874-87) reveal the growing emphasis on improving sanitation as a means of alleviating poverty and distress. Some resolutions of Midleton Board of Guardians are contained in a resolution book of Midleton Rural District Council, 1899-1911, the same clerk serving both bodies. This is coded RDC/118/ACA/1 [see ‘Allied materials’ below]. Financial records (1856-1924), such as general and personal ledgers and day books, record day to day expenditure and receipts, including payments to suppliers. They complement the administrative records, such as the provision check account book (1921-230 and the Workhouse farm account book (1899-1966), together providing evidence of the business of managing the workhouse and poor relief.

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