Halifax Union Minutes, December 29 1897
Extract from minutes of the Halifax Poor Law Union.
Author: Halifax Union
Date: 1898
Location: Halifax
Format: Minutes
Document ID: 100902
Library ID: 31871183
The Halifax Poor Law Union was formed after the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, which transferred the responsibilities of looking after the poor and the mentally ill from the Parish to the Union. The law also introduced the concept of the Workhouse which was particularly resisted in the industrial north of England. Halifax's workhouse was opened in 1840 at St John's Hospital in Gibbet St and included hospital buildings. In 1891, the name was changed to St Luke's, and in 1901 a new St Luke's Hospital was built to cater for patients (or inmates as they were known) from the overcrowded workhouse. After closure of the hospital in 1966, the buildings were demolished in 1972.
The Halifax Union comprised townships from the Parish District of Halifax and the Parish Chapelry of Elland, with the township of Hartshead-cum-Clifton. The Hebden Bridge Union include the townships of Heptonstall Chapelry and the town of Todmorden. The Todmorden Union Workhouse opened in 1879.
