Bantry workhouse Board of Guardians (BG43)

Bantry Board of Guardians

IE CCCA/BG/43

24 Jul 1850 – 12 Mar 1851

A new board of guardians for Bantry Poor Law Union is in place throughout this volume. Separate Bantry and Castletown unions and boards were created in 1849, although accommodation for Castletown inmates continued to be reserved in Bantry. The last Castletown inmates left Bantry workhouse in February 1851 [see also BG/59 Castletown Board of Guardians]. The volume is partially indexed.

Includes:

24 Jul 1850 Total inmates: 2092 (from Bantry: 1779; from Castletown:313). Out door relief: 292 persons. Board’s reply to PLC refusal of advances for current expense s, noting that the necessity for such advances ‘is created by the heavy and increasing debt due from the Castletown union... The funds of the union are much reduced by its division, and they neither can obtain credit nor will they incur debt for the mainte nance of the paupers of another union’. Resolved, ‘that the relieving officer of the town of Bantry be directed to prosecute under the Vagrancy Act such persons who may be found endeavouring to obtain relief in the union but who are not resident in it, and that printed notices to this effect be posted through the town’. [See 31 Jul] 31 Jul 1850 PLC order received limiting the accommodation to be reserved for Castletown union in the workhouse. Resolved, ‘that as out door relief has now ceased, that not more than six pence per week be allowed the relieving officers for each of their offices ’. [This is the final week for which returns for out door relief are given (292 persons relieved).] 14 Aug 1850 Resolved, that the auxiliary workhouse at Fourmileswater be given up, the girls returned to the main house, and the services of the officers in that house (chaplain, physician, matron, and porter) dispensed with.

28 Aug 1850 Medical Officers’ report expressing regret at the decision ‘not to allow meat to the paup er nurses’.

18 Sep 1850 Order fixing the days on which relieving officers are to attend their districts to hear applications. One relieving officer covers the following districts: Bantry and Mealagh; Ahil, Douce and Kealkil; Glengarriff and Kilcaskin. The other covers the following districts: Glanlough, Seefin and Sheepshead; Durrus East, Durrus West and Scart; and Whiddy.

2 Oct 1850 Resolved, that a Capstan Mill be erected at the workhouse, and that arrangements be made with Mr Perrott, the patentee.

9 Oct 1850 Resolution agreeing to pay law costs on debts where the principal sum is paid from funds under the Distressed Unions Advances Act. [See also 23 Oct 1850 and 12 Mar 1851].

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