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Quartern, and Meat, (viz.) Thin Flanks, Briskets, Leg of Mutton
pieces, Clods, and Breasts of Mutton at Three pence the pound,
and the difference to be Paid by the Treasurer, the Bread according
to Assize price, and the meat after the Rate of Three Shillings
p. stone.
In-door relief may be taken to have been introduced in
1572, by Statute of 14 Elizabeth, cap. 5,* sec. xvi.
"And forasmuchas Charitye would that pooro aged and ympotent
persons should as necessarylye be provided for as the said roges
vagabounds and sturdye beggars repressed and that the said aged
ympotent and poore people should have convenient habitacons
and abydinge places throughout this Realme to settle themselves
upon to thend that they nor any of them should hereafter begge
or wander about it ys therefore enacted that the said Justices
shall within lyke convenient tyme devise and appoynt
meete and convenient "places by their discretions to settle
the same poore people for their habitacons and abydinges."
Westminster had its workhouse established probably
under this enactment in 1655. In the north-east corner of
the Sessions House a stone tablet, removed from the
original workhouse, is built in the wall, bearing the inscription
:—
Here are several sorts of work for the poor of this parish of St.
Margarett's Westminster as also the County according to Law
and for such as will beg and live idle in this City and Liberty of
Westminster, Anno 1655.
The first allusion to the workhouse in the Vestry Minutes
is nine years later:—
6 Oct. 1661. That the Eighty Eight Pounds to be payed by Margaret
Smyth unto Mr. Dorington and Mr. Andrews present Churchwardens
of the Parish of St. Margaret's Westmr as in the next
preceding Order is expressed be forthwith on Receipt thereof
payd unto Sr Wm Playters (in respect of a former Engagement
of the Parish to Sr Willm as by an Order of the Vestrie of
the 19th of December 1663 relation being thereunto had may
appeare) for and towards the building of a Worke House and
provideing of a Stock to set the Poore at Worke.
Thursday, 5th January, 1664. That the Churchwardens doe call to
their Assistance such persons (Members of this Vestry) as they
shall thinke fitt who are to meete once every weeke at the
least to Consider of Matters touching the New Workehouse in
*This is the earliest Act in which "Overseers" of the poor are appointed
by that name, although they had been called into existence under the title of
"Collectours" in 1551-2 by Statute 5 and 6, Edward VI., cap. 2.