}
St Peter's Hospital
The Bristol Poor Act of 1696 was the first of its type in England. Based on John Cary's recommendations, it created the Corporation of the Poor to manage poor relief in the city.
The act produced a system of parish-generated income that funded a new workhouse on the site of wealthy merchant Robert Aldworth's former home. Known first as 'The Mint Workhouse' it later became known as 'St Peter's Hospital'.
Its role was to provide food and shelter for poor people of all ages, the sick and the mentally ill in exchange for basic labour from those who could work. Further poor relief at St Peter's Hospital included money for those who needed it and nursing for the ill.
St Peter's Hospital was so successful that it became a model for other workhouses created after the new Poor Law of 1834.
The hospital was destroyed in a German air raid in 1940.
The act produced a system of parish-generated income that funded a new workhouse on the site of wealthy merchant Robert Aldworth's former home. Known first as 'The Mint Workhouse' it later became known as 'St Peter's Hospital'.
Its role was to provide food and shelter for poor people of all ages, the sick and the mentally ill in exchange for basic labour from those who could work. Further poor relief at St Peter's Hospital included money for those who needed it and nursing for the ill.
St Peter's Hospital was so successful that it became a model for other workhouses created after the new Poor Law of 1834.
The hospital was destroyed in a German air raid in 1940.