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Marlene There were Poor houses before 1834 and were in one Parish, then a new law called the Poor Law amendment act was passed and this enabled a union of parishes to provide a Workhouse, put in Poor Law Union's into your ISP and whole load of inromation comes up it makes interesting reading Regards Ann,Darlington

Whole families went into the workhouse if they were destitute, often because the father died, was unemployed or sick. I also believe people went into the workhouse to die, if there wasn't a hospital for them. Single women who had babies often went there,too, because they had no other place to go, similarly orphans if no family member could take them in. Really, just one better than sleeping in a ditch. I think they were run by the parish. Think Oliver Twist! Almshouses, on the other hand, were usually a row of tiny cottages lived in by "respectable" old people - pensioners as opposed to destitute. Often a rich person would leave a sum of money to provide almshouses and maintain them. Jan

I think you will find that the workhouses were started by the Poorhouse unions I can't lay my hands on it but I have info on them in a book somewhere. Some of my family were in a poorhouse when the father absconded. A sort of boarding house provided by the parishes. Ann Glos

My Gt Granda died in the workhouse although he had 5 children and 5 step children,they were put there as the family maybe had no means to look after him,and he was 72. Ann,Darlington

Almshouses were houses, usually built and put into trust by a wealthy person for elderly citizens of a town. They were administered by a board of trustees who decided who should live there.

Grateful if someone could define the difference for me between an almshouse and a workhouse? I have 2 widowed siblings who resided together in their early 80s but in their late 80s one went to an almshouse and one to a workhouse.!! Seems a bit old for the Worhouse??? HELP!! Cheers Marlene