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The Workhouse Test Act also known as the General Act or Knatchbull's Act¹ was poor relief legislation passed by the British government by Sir Edward Knatchbull in 1723. The 'workhouse test' was that a person who wanted to receive poor relief had to enter a workhouse and undertake a set amount of work. The test was intended to prevent irresponsible claims on a parish's poor rate.

Knatchbulls legislation For Amending the Laws relating to Settlement, Employment and Relief of the Poor marked the first emergence of the workhouse test although this principle was adopted more fully after the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act.

Under the act parishes could provide relief as an individual parish, combine with other parishes or poor relief could be sub-contracted out to those that would feed, clothe and house the poor in return for a weekly rate from the parish.

Between 1723 and 1750 600 parish workhouses were built in England and Wales as a direct result of Knatchull's Act. The costs of this indoor relief was high especially when workhouses were wasteful; this led to the passing of Gilbert's Act in 1782.

Note

• The Workhouse Test Act Should not be confused with the 'workhouse test' established under the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 which states those who wanted to claim relief must enter a workhouse.

References

1. ^ The Poor Law

v • d • e Evolution of the Poor Law and poor relief in Britain Tudor period Origins of the Poor Law system Nantwich workhouse, 1780 Old Poor Law (1601) Settlements Acts · Knatchbull's Act · Gilbert's Act · House of Correction · Overseer of the Poor · Poor rate Relief systems Indoor relief · Workhouse · Outdoor relief · Speenhamland · Labour Rate · Roundsman Classifications Able-bodied · Idle · Impotent Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 1832 Commission · Less eligibility · Workhouse · Workhouse test · Board of Guardians · Outdoor Labour Test Order · Outdoor Relief Prohibitory Order Opposition Anti-Poor Law League · Book of Murder Post-Amendment Poor Law Commission · Poor Law Board · Local Government Board · Andover workhouse scandal · Union Chargeability Act Liberal welfare reforms (1906–14) Royal Commission · Majority Report · Minority Report

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