Poor Law records

A guide to Poor Law records held at Durham Record Office, especially those with potential for family history research.

Introduction

This guide indicates which catalogue references to consult for Poor Law records relating to particular places. It explains some of the terminology used and lists records which may contain personal information about ancestors.

Many poor law records are subject to a 100 year access restriction under Data Protection legislation because they contain sensitive personal information. Our research service can examine restricted access records on behalf of direct family descendants.

Historical development

Since the 16th century there have been many innovations in statutory provision for the care of the poor (whether homeless, unemployed, disabled, orphaned, widowed or bankrupt). Each change in the law affects the records that might be kept. At one time it was mainly the responsibility of the church, through the local ecclesiastical parish authorities, collecting tithes and the poor rate, and distributing relief. In the early 19th century the Poor Law Unions were created, uniting the responsibilities of groups of parishes for a more efficient and equitable system paid for through local rates.

Laws regulating the old Poor Law

1547 Act of Legal Settlement – provision of parish relief and homes for ‘impotent poor’ was administered by the vestry meeting of all rate-paying men in the parish.

1576 An Act for Setting of the Poor on Work, and for the Avoiding of Idleness – instituted the House of Correction (a hostel for the unemployed and homeless). For children born out of wedlock the parish could try to establish the identity of the father, through a bastardy examination, and force him to pay for support, through bastardy bonds and filiation orders, later called maintenance orders.

1597 An Act for the Relief of the Poor – determined parochial responsibility and appointment of unpaid overseers to administer parish relief (paid for by local taxation) providing work for the poor.

1601 Act of Relief for the Poor – consolidation of previous acts.

1662 An Act for the better Relief of the Poor of this Kingdom (The Settlement Act) – settlement and removal regulations mean those moving home between parishes needed a certificate from their home parish and could be removed back to their place of origin if they became destitute.

1697 An Act For supplying some Defects in the Laws for the Relief of the Poor – issuing of pauper badges (till 1810)

1723 Knatchbull’s Act (The Workhouse Test Act) – allowed “indoor relief” through a parish or district workhouse.

1777 a parliamentary report listed existing poorhouses.

1782 Gilbert’s Act –a board of guardians for “Gilbert Unions” providing workhouses for unions of parishes.

1819 Sturges Bourne’s Act – select vestries to scrutinise relief giving.

1831 The Vestries Act (Houbhouse’s Act) – elected vestries.

Laws regulating the new Poor Law

1832 Royal Commission on the Poor Laws.

1834 Poor Law Amendment Act – national network of poor law unions with annually elected board of guardians replacing overseers and vestries.

1844 Outdoor Relief Prohibitory Order – an attempt to end outdoor relief

1847 Consolidated General Order – the main rulebook for running workhouses

1852 Outdoor Relief Regulation Order – a further attempt to end outdoor relief

1857 Industrial School Act – care and education of vagrant, destitute and disorderly children at industrial schools.

1866 Poor Law Amendment Act – civil parishes, which gather income for Unions, defined as all areas levying a rate; workhouses now to keep creed registers.

1875 Rural Sanitary Districts established.

1894 Local Government Act – end of vestries; urban and rural district councils; elections for civil parish councillors

1913 Poor Law Institution Order

1929 Local Government Act –poor law unions replaced by the public assistance committee of the local council.

1948 National Health Service Act – end of poor law.

Scope and organisation of this guide

Poor Law Union boundaries were based on population and communications and did not always respect parish or county boundaries. Information is organised by union, with records for parishes listed under the most appropriate heading.

Old Poor Law records

Records of poor relief between 1547 and 1832 (and even through to 1894) may appear in vestry minutes and accounts, Overseers’ minutes and accounts, and Churchwardens’ minutes and accounts for any ecclesiastical parish or, occasionally, chapelry or township. This guide lists surviving records of all parishes that existed in 1832.

For settlement certificates and removal orders, apprenticeship records and bastardy bonds the names of the persons concerned will appear under the appropriate parish reference in our online catalogue. Filiation and maintenance orders may be found in Petty Sessional court records. Apprenticeship records are listed in Index 617.

Details of disputes arising from poor law decisions can also appear in Quarter Sessions records and in local solicitors’ papers held at the Record Office.

New Poor Law records

From 1834, parishes and townships in County Durham were organised into fifteen Poor Law Unions.

Each union had at least one workhouse, to house the homeless and destitute. Their actual locations and layouts are given in Peter Higginbotham’s excellent website The Workhouse and can be seen on our collection of Ordnance Survey maps in the record office or on our map viewer: search interactive maps.

Surviving Poor Law Union records are mostly concerned with rating assessments and valuations and, while these are useful for house history, they are not listed here.

There are some surviving plans of offices, workhouses and hospitals; search our database for the words workhouse and plan.

Relief Committee minutes record decisions about local relief, both indoor (workhouse) and outdoor (at home).

Guardians’ minutes are chiefly administrative but may sometimes list recipients of relief; there will be various other sub-committee minutes and administrative records.

Workhouse masters’ reports can contain personal details.

There are also some registers of births and deaths (both for workhouses and for union hospitals), admission and discharge registers, creed registers (listing all inmates) and apprentice registers.

Other records

County council social services records, such as those for the cottage homes, are not included in this guide. We hold registers from 1901 onwards for children’s homes in Medomsley, Stockton, Houghton, Penshaw, Lanchester and Birtley, and also records of various convalescent homes and hostels. These have restricted access.

Durham County Council’s Public Assistance Committee minutes are held here. These have restricted access.

Most workhouses had hospitals attached (many of which continue as such today). These often had a postal address so that hospital births could be recorded with an address rather than an institutional name. We also hold some other hospital records, including Aycliffe, Bishop Auckland, Wolsingham, Stanhope, Chester-le-Street, Darlington, Shotley Bridge, Blackhill, Lanchester, Durham County Hospital, and Winterton (the county asylum). These have restricted access.

Charity records may occasionally indicate recipients, though most are administrative. These can sometimes be found with parish records and borough records. Workhouse inmates are listed in census returns from 1841 to 1921.

Records held at Durham Record Office, arranged by Poor Law Union

Auckland Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records (catalogue reference U/Au)

The workhouse was at 100 Cockton Hill, Bishop Auckland; later known as Oaklands, now Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

Register of apprentices 1875-1897 (UD/BA 266)
Visiting Committee book 1930-1937 and register of deaths in poor law institution 1943-1951 (H/SWD 375-376)
Guardians’ minutes 1863-1948 – including lists of persons unable to work on medical grounds plus some details of lunatics.
Other minute books (including hospital committee), financial records and rates assessment books.
Lady Eden Hospital records (also in H/SWD 178-211).

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Auckland St Andrew [workhouse in 1777] (EP/Au.SA): vestry minutes 1720-1847, overseers’ accounts 1733-1743
Auckland St Anne: no records
Auckland St Helen (EP/Au.SH): churchwardens’ accounts 1776-1916
Crook and Billy Row: [see Brancepeth parish, Durham Union]
Escomb (EP/Es): overseers’ and churchwardens’ accounts 1683-1784, overseers’ accounts 1822-1831, vestry and parochial church council minutes 1888-1930
Hamsterley (EP/Ham): vestry minutes and churchwardens’ accounts 1728-1905, Lynesack and Softley township account book, South Bedburn township account book, early parish registers include vestry resolutions relating to the poor
Merrington (EP/Mer): churchwardens’ accounts and vestry minutes 1621-1955
Whitworth (EP/Whi): vestry accounts 1918-1968
Witton le Wear (EP/WW): churchwardens’ accounts 1689-1941.

Chester-le-Street Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records (catalogue reference U/CS)

The workhouse was on Front Street, Chester-le-Street; now the General Hospital.

Relief Committee minutes for Birtley 1911-1923, Chester-le-Street 1904-1922 and Harraton/Washington 1904-1923
Relief order books for Chester-le-Street district 1928-1930 and Washington district 1914-1915
List of claimants, 1915; discharged soldiers, 1916; records relating to ‘Birtley Belgians’, 1916-18
Particulars of applications of relief, 1929-30; register of outdoor relief, post-1922; names of those who have started work, 1928-1929; outdoor relief payment book and lists, 1929-42; relief payment cards (Witton Gilbert), 1931-38
Registers of poor persons suffering from TB, 1928
Register of deaths at the asylum, 1907-1913; inmates of asylum, 1907-1914; admissions to asylum, 1919-1928; list of lunatics, 1923-1927
Registers of cow keepers, 1887-1910
Guardians’ minutes, 1840-1926
Rates assessment and valuations and other financial records (see also RD/CS 1-148)
Other committee minutes
Correspondence (including Cullercoats children’s home).

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Chester-le-Street [two workhouses in 1777] (EP/CS): churchwardens’ and overseers accounts 1606-1703, churchwardens’ and overseers accounts and vestry minutes 1701-1723, churchwardens’ accounts and vestry minutes 1722-1837 and 1848-1936, charity memoranda books, vestry minutes 1828-1837
Lamesley (EP/Lam): vestry minutes 1833-1887, churchwardens’ and overseers accounts 1634-1715, churchwarden’s accounts 1715-1755 & 1815-1869, overseers’ accounts 1812-1831, bastardy bonds, removal orders and various other overseers’ papers
Penshaw: [see Houghton-le-Spring]
Washington (EP/Wa): churchwardens’ accounts 1762-1861, vestry minutes 1823-1894, overseers’ accounts 1767-1783 & 1803-1837, list of indoor poor 1854. (UD/Wa 8-10,18), overseers’ outdoor relief book 1829-1843, bastardy book 1822-1837 (possibly for Washington township only)
Witton Gilbert (EP/WG): churchwardens’ and overseers accounts 1739-1833.

Darlington Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records (catalogue reference U/Da)

The workhouse was at 90-108 Yarm Road, Darlington; later Feetham’s Infirmary, then Darlington Municipal Hospital.

Register of inmates, and admission and discharge registers, 1912-1958
Creed registers, c.1912-1950
Register of lunatics, 1897-1948; orders for detention of lunatics, 1896-1949
Registers of births, 1911-1939; registers of deaths, 1877-1963
Vagrancy registers, 1941-1957
Hospital reception and departure books, 1949-1956
Medical records, 1931-1948; case histories, 1949-1956
Master’s reports, 1927-1958
Guardians’ minutes, 1837-1930; Children Committee minutes, 1910-1930
Other committee minutes, correspondence, circulars; assessment and valuation and other financial records
Administrative records for workhouse.

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Coniscliffe (EP/Co): churchwardens’ accounts 1767-1890, overseers’ accounts 1767-1774, vestry minutes 1859-1945
Darlington St Cuthbert [workhouse in 1777] (EP/Da.SC): vestry minutes 1867-1924, churchwardens’ accounts 1630-1948. (D/XD 16/30-31) vestry minutes 1824-1835. (D/X 666, 667 & 874) apprenticeships, bastardy, settlement, filiation, etc.
Darlington Holy Trinity (EP/Da.HT): vestry minutes and churchwardens’ accounts 1859-1902
Denton (EP/De): churchwardens’ accounts 1767-1884
Dinsdale (EP/Di): vestry minutes 1876-1902, overseers’ accounts 1724-1851, apprenticeships, churchwardens’ accounts 1836-1847 & 1862-1920
Haughton-le-Skerne (EP/HaS): vestry minutes 1658-1925
Headlam: [see Gainford parish, Teesdale Union]
Heighington (EP/He): churchwardens’ accounts 1651-1871
Hurworth (EP/Hur): bastardy bonds, register of apprentices 1804-1835, churchwardens accounts 1776-1933
Middleton St George (EP/Mi.SG): vestry minutes 1864-1921, churchwardens’ accounts 1895-1920. (D/X 623) overseers’ accounts 1811-1833
Piercebridge: [see Gainford parish, Teesdale Union]
Sadberge (EP/Sad): vestry minutes 1862-1920, churchwardens’ account book 1743-1890, overseers’ accounts 1747-1763
Sockburn (EP/Soc): churchwardens’ accounts 1725-1737 & 1805-1860, vestry minutes 1815-1860.

Durham Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records (catalogue reference U/Du)

The workhouse was at 37 Crossgate, Durham; later St Margaret’s Hospital.

Registers of births and of deaths in the workhouse, 1866-1914 (H/Du)
Admission and discharge register, 1937-1948 (H/Du)
Creed and inmates registers, 1905-1942 (H/Du)
Guardians’ minutes, 1837-1902
Valuation lists and ledgers
Financial ledgers (CC/Tr)
Records concerning land on Crossgate (D/X 2/39-53).

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Brancepeth (EP/Br): vestry minutes and churchwardens’ accounts 1735-1926
Croxdale (EP/Cr): churchwardens’ accounts 1845-1900, vestry minutes 1901-1927
Durham St Mary the Less (EP/Du.ML): churchwardens’ accounts 1709-1850, overseers’ accounts 1828-1837
Durham St Mary le Bow (EP/Du.MB): churchwardens’ and overseers’ accounts 1678-1868, vestry minutes 1819-1843 & 1881-1943, records of apprenticeships, bastardy, settlement and removals
Durham St Nicholas [workhouse in 1777] (EP/Du.SN): churchwarden’s accounts 1666 onwards, vestry minutes 1603-1620 & 1818-1966
Durham St Giles [workhouse in 1777] (EP/Du.SG): overseers’ accounts 1723 – 1848 (incomplete), vestry minutes 1790-1945, removal orders
Durham St Oswald [workhouse in 1777] (EP/Du.SO): overseers’ accounts 1720-1857, churchwardens’ accounts 1580-1822 & 1898-1920, vestry minutes 1715-1838, bastardy bonds, removal orders, settlement certificates
Durham St Margaret [2 workhouses in 1777] (EP/Du.SM): chapelwardens’ accounts and vestry minutes 1665-1910
Durham St Cuthbert (EP/Du.SC): churchwardens’ accounts 1863-1924, vestry minutes 1863-1892
Kelloe (EP/Ke): no records
Kimblesworth (EP/Ki): no records
Pittington (EP/Pi): overseers’ accounts, vestry minutes, churchwardens’ accounts 1584-1699, 1838-1922. Also (CP/She 1) vestry minutes 1829-1835.

Easington Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records (catalogue reference U/Ea)

The workhouse was on Seaside Lane, Easington; later Leeholme Hospital.

Relief Committee minutes: North District 1898-1930, Mid District 1925-1931, South District 1905-1933
Relieving officers pay books and cash books, 1939-1948
Guardians’ minutes, 1837-1939 (except 1847-1862)
Hospital Committee minutes, 1897-1939; Boarding Out Committee minutes, 1910-1925; other committee minutes
Some financial records (also ledgers in CC/Tr)
Plans (ND/Ea and RD/Ea and CC/Arch).

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Easington (EP/Ea): churchwardens’ accounts 1805-1873, vestry minutes 1802-1836 & 1875-1983
Castle Eden (EP/CE): vestry minutes 1794-1882
Monk Hesleden (EP/MH): churchwardens’ accounts and vestry minutes 1685-1922
Dalton-le-Dale (EP/DD): overseers’ accounts 1690-1762, vestry minutes 1834-1883, churchwardens’ accounts 1698-1877
Murton (EP/DD.HT): vestry minutes 1885-1963
Seaham (EP/Sea): churchwardens’ & overseers’ accounts & vestry minutes 1857-1956, overseers’ accounts 1759-1805.

Gateshead Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records are held at Tyne and Wear Archives

The workhouse was in Bensham; later Bensham Hospital.

Records at Durham Record Office: Winlaton plan (D/HH 10/1/2).

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Gateshead [poorhouse in 1777] (EP/Ga.SM): vestry minutes 1681-1976, churchwardens’ accounts 1626-1678 & 1847-1903
Heworth [poorhouse in 1777] (EP/Hew): overseers’ book 1823-7, vestry minutes 1807-1868, churchwardens’ accounts 1820-75
Ryton [poorhouse in 1777] (EP/Ryt): overseers’ accounts 1728-1771, poor relief 1811-1816, churchwarden’s accounts 1597-1822, vestry minutes 1683-1972
Whickham [poorhouse in 1777] (EP/Whm): vestry minutes 1818-1958, churchwardens’ and overseers’ accounts 1699-1921, poor law disbursements 1768-1769.

Hartlepool Poor Law Union (created from Stockton Union in 1859)

After 1834 – New Poor Law records are held at Teesside Archives, Middlesbrough

The workhouse was on Holdforth Road, Hartlepool; later Howbeck Hospital, now University (former General) Hospital.

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records – see Stockton.

Houghton-le-Spring Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records (catalogue reference U/Ho)

The workhouse was on Sunderland Road/William Street, Houghton-le-Spring.

Creed registers, 1887-1914
Inmates’ property registers, 1908-1969
Relief Committee minutes, 1903-1930
Indoor revision register, 1912-1938
Medical reports, 1928-1941
Admission and discharge books, and registers of inmates, 1887-1969
Register of temporary residents, 1959-1968
British Legion list, 1914-1919
Register of deaths, 1895-1969
Temporary accommodation register and application books, 1959-1969
Boarding Out Committee minutes, 1920-1930; House Committee minutes, 1918-1935; Cottage Homes Committee minutes, 1930-1944; Institution Committee minutes, 1930-1944; Hostel
Committee minutes, 1949-1964
Guardians’ minutes, 1837-1930
Other committee minutes
Administrative records including staff files and registers.

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Houghton-le-Spring [workhouse in 1777] (EP/Ho): overseers’ accounts 1752-1829, vestry minutes 1863-1923, churchwardens’ accounts 1595-1864
Penshaw (EP/Pen ): vestry minutes 1881-1948, churchwardens’ accounts 1881-1925, list of paupers 1897
Silksworth (EP/Si): no records.

Lanchester Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records (catalogue reference U/La)

The workhouse was on Front Street/Newbiggin Lane, Lanchester; later Lee Hill Hospital.

Settlement and removal forms, 1891
Creed registers, 1892-1930; birth registers, 1847-1930; death registers, 1842-1946 (H/NWD)
Valuation records
Staff records (CC/Tr)
Financial records (D/X 1083 and Cp/Coy)
Plans (RD/La 143).

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Ebchester (EP/Eb): no records
Esh (EP/Esh): overseers’, churchwardens’, constables’ & highway surveyors’ accounts 1711-1804, vestry minutes 1851-1939, churchwardens’ accounts 1805-1876
Lanchester (EP/La): churchwardens’ accounts and vestry minutes 1805-1912
Medomsley (EP/Me): vestry minutes 1836-1917, churchwardens’ accounts 1803-1853 & 1875-1950
Muggleswick: any records would probably be held by the Northumberland Archives
Satley (EP/Sat): no records
Tanfield [2 workhouses in 1777] (EP/Ta): select vestry minutes 1819-1837, churchwardens’ accounts 1722-1729, 1732-1751, 1755-1760 & 1879-1921, resolutions of vestry meetings fixing poor cess and appointing officers 1750-1788.

Sedgefield Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records (catalogue reference U/Se)

The workhouse was on King William Street, then on Station Road/West End, Sedgefield.

Admission and discharge registers, 1837-1957
Visiting committee reports, 1893-1905
Lunatic certificates, 1881-1909
Indoor relief lists, 1837-1958
Outdoor relief lists, 1921-1943; relief order books, 1924-1930
Application and report books, 1927-1932
Creed registers, 1869-1945
Registers of inmates and property, 1930-1962
Register of lunatics, 1906-1930
Registers of births, 1837-1931; registers of deaths, 1838-1848, 1866-1930
Medical reports
Register of young persons placed in service, 1875-1888
Boarding out registers, 1911-1928
Register of persons receiving infants for reward, 1923-1928; register of children adopted by DCC, 1930-1948
Master’s reports and journals, 1847-1941
Boarding Out Committee minutes, 1912-1933
Relief Sub-Committee minutes, 1930-1943
Visiting Committee minutes
Financial records, letter books, administrative records
Ledgers (CC/Tr)
Plan (D/Br/P 97).

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Aycliffe (EP/Ay): overseers’ accounts 1817-1837, vestry minutes 1849-1903, churchwardens’ accounts 1741-1935
Bishop Middleham (EP/BM): vestry minutes and churchwardens’ accounts 1747-1916, bastardy examinations, Bishop Middleham township select vestry minutes re. poor relief 1826-1888 and overseers’ accounts 1838-1889
Bishopton: [see Stockton Union]
Cornforth (EP/Cor): no records
Embleton (EP/Em): no records
Ferryhill (EP/Fe): churchwardens’ accounts 1850-1905, vestry minutes 1849-1990
Great Stainton (EP/GS): annual vestry minutes 1883-1933
Sedgefield [workhouse in 1777] (EP/Se): select vestry minutes 1828-1921, churchwardens’ accounts 1826-1924
Stillington (EP/St): annual vestry minutes with annual accounts 1879-1892
Trimdon (EP/Tr): vestry minutes 1862-1946 including churchwardens’ accounts 1864-1906.

South Shields Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records are held at Tyne and Wear Archives

The workhouse was at 1 Moor Lane, West Harton, or 169 Harton Lane; later Westoe/South Shields Dispensary and Harton Institution.

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Boldon (EP/Bo): overseers’ accounts 1705-1830, vestry minutes1876-1967, churchwardens’ accounts 1709-1922
Jarrow (EP/Ja.SP): overseers’ accounts 1787 – 1801, vestry minutes 1674-1928, churchwardens’ accounts 1768-1916 (incomplete)
South Shields [workhouse in 1777] (EP/SS.SH): vestry and select vestry minutes including memo on state of workhouse, overseers’ accounts 1766 – 1789, vestry minutes at which matters concerning the poor of the parish were discussed 1771 – 1794, report on All Saints’ Workhouse 1824 – 1837
Whitburn (EP/Whit): churchwardens’ accounts and vestry minutes 1813 – 1887, list of pauper children apprenticed under Dr. Triplett’s Charity 1665 – 1666.

Stockton-on-Tees Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records (catalogue reference U/St)

The workhouse was at 50 Portrack Lane, Stockton; later St Anne’s Hospital.

Relief Sub-Committee minutes, 1939-1942
Application and report books, 1882-1903
Outdoor relief lists, 1887-1926
Stockton Union Children’s Homes reports and journals, 1911-1950; admission and discharge registers, 1915-1933; register of children, 1900-1946; register of children in employment, 1911-1929; Stockton Cottage Homes admission and discharge registers, 1933-1949 (CC/Social Services)
Guardians’ minutes, 1888-1930
Rates assessment records; administrative records; plans
Staff records (CC/Tr).

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Billingham (EP/Bi): churchwardens’ accounts 1682-1960
Bishopton [2 workhouses in 1777] (EP/Bis): overseers’ records (removals, settlement, bastardy, apprenticeships), overseers’ accounts 1783-1831, vestry minutes 1827-32, 1858-1907, churchwardens’ accounts 1723, 1844-1920
Egglescliffe (EP/Eg): churchwardens’ accounts and vestry minutes 1810-1892, churchwardens’ accounts 1892-1931, vestry minutes 1865-1980
Elton (EP/Elt): no records
Elwick Hall (EP/Elw): churchwarden’s accounts 1726-1766 & 1785-1899
Greatham (EP/Gre): vestry and overseers minutes 1880-1905, churchwardens’ accounts 1716-1970
Grindon (EP/Gr): overseers’ accounts 1784-1811, churchwardens’ accounts 1854-1923
Hart (EP/Ha): vestry minutes 1798-1910, overseers’ accounts 1736-1839, churchwardens’ accounts 1796-1911
Hartlepool [workhouse in early 1800s] (EP/Ha.SH): churchwardens’ and overseers’ minutes re. property 1894 – 1928, churchwardens’ accounts and vestry minutes 1794-1907
Long Newton (EP/LN): churchwardens’ accounts 1746-1750 & 1756-1772, overseers’ accounts 1746-1749 & 1752-1791, churchwardens’ accounts 1629-1653 & 1784-1849
Norton [workhouse in 1777] (EP/Nor): settlement and removal records, vestry minutes 1827-1928, churchwardens’ accounts 1755-1915, vestry minutes 1827-1928
Redmarshall. (EP/Re): churchwardens’ accounts 1757-1815 & 1891-1905
Stockton [workhouse from 1730] (EP/Sto): vestry minutes 1762-1926, churchwardens’ accounts 1735-1785 & 1812-1904, overseers’ accounts 1751-1868, apprenticeship indentures (not itemised), bastardy bonds (not itemised), settlement, removal and vagrancy certificates (not itemised), appeals for assistance 1739-1817
Stranton (EP/Str): churchwardens’ accounts 1697-1867, vestry minutes 1824-1866
Wolviston (EP/Wo): vestry minutes 1830-1935, churchwardens’ accounts 1672-1935.

Sunderland Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records are held at Tyne and Wear Archives

The workhouse was on Harley Street then on Hylton Road, Sunderland; later Highfield Hospital, now Royal Infirmary.

Records at Durham Record Office:

Sunderland Workhouse plan (NCB 2/57/27)
Apprenticeships, including names (D/X 666).

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Bishopwearmouth St Michael [workhouse from 1750] (EP/Biw): churchwardens’ accounts 1661-1689 & 1750-1884, vestry minutes and relief order book 1805-1836, overseers’ accounts 1693-1792 & 1818-1819
Monkwearmouth [workhouse in early 1800s] (EP/Mo.SP): churchwardens’ accounts and annual vestry minutes 1814-1907
Sunderland [workhouse from 1740] (EP/Su.HT): overseers’ accounts, receipts and correspondence 1815-1833, vestry minutes 1719-1919, churchwardens’ accounts 1716-1738, 1817-1959.

Teesdale Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records (catalogue reference U/Te)

The workhouse was on Galgate, Barnard Castle; now Richardson Hospital.

Financial records:

Administrative records (EP/Rom 7/17, D/St/X 5/10, RD/BC 35-42)
Ledger (CC/Tr)
Legal poor law cases, all named (D/HH 2/17).

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Barnard Castle [workhouse in 1777] (EP/BC): bastardy records. (D/X 1073/1) vestry minutes 1770-1827. (UD/BC 108) poor law papers (examinations, bastardy orders, etc.) 1744-1840. (D/HH 3/8/97-193) bastardy orders
Barningham (EP/Ba): overseers’ accounts 1783-1820, Hope township overseers’ accounts 1784-1837, churchwarden’s accounts 1732-1887, removal orders 1819-1832, apprenticeship records 1804 & 1827, filiation/maintenance orders
Bowes [workhouse in 1777] (EP/Bow): vestry minutes 1870-1910
Brignall (EP/Bri): churchwardens’, constables and overseers’ accounts 1700-1827, churchwardens’ accounts 1833-1900
Cockfield (EP/Coc): churchwardens’ accounts and vestry minutes 1702-1925
Eggleston [workhouse in 1777] (EP/Egn): no records
Gainford [workhouse in 1777] (EP/Gai): overseers’ accounts, 1818-1837; churchwardens’ accounts 1727-1909. (D/X 487/7) poor law documents. (D/Ed 15/1/21) vestry minutes 1863-1873
Hutton Magna (EP/HM): annual vestry minutes 1879-1934, churchwardens’ accounts 1892-1932
Middleton-in-Teesdale [workhouse in 1777] (EP/MT): churchwardens’ accounts and vestry minutes 1831-1923
Rokeby (EP/Rok): vestry minutes 1861-1865 & 1892-1930
Romaldkirk (EP/Rom): churchwardens’ accounts for township of Cotherstone with Hunderthwaite including overseers’ disbursement 1701-1726, lists of those receiving weekly pensions 1750-1782, annual audit of overseers’ accounts 1727-1782, churchwardens’ accounts 1771-1917, overseers’ accounts 1830-1877, removal orders, apprenticeships, filiation orders
Staindrop (EP/Stai): churchwardens’ accounts 1703-1921, vestry minutes 1795-1908, overseers’ accounts 1768-1837, settlement and removal; apprenticeship; bastardy examinations
Startforth (EP/Sta): overseers’ accounts 1818-1837 & 1848-1868, apprenticeships, lists of paupers, vestry minutes 1819-1822, 1831-1834 & 1867-1894, churchwardens’ accounts 1805-1905
Whorlton (EP/Who): church fund accounts 1870-1911
Winston (EP/Wi): parish books, overseers’, churchwardens’ and highway accounts 1632-1728, churchwardens’ accounts 1778-1912
Wycliffe (EP/Wy): vestry minutes 1844-1890

Weardale Poor Law Union

After 1834 – New Poor Law records (catalogue reference U/We)

The workhouse was in Newfield, Stanhope.

Parochial lists of indoor and outdoor poor for Wolsingham and Tow Law, 1848-1910 (incomplete)
Orders by Justices of the Peace for the excusal of poor rates on the grounds of poverty, 1861-1905
Guardians’ minutes, 1865-1868; rate books and other financial records
Ledger (CC/Tr).

Before 1834 – Old Poor Law records

Eastgate (EP/Eas): vestry minutes 1888-1911
Edmundbyers and Hunstanworth parish records are held by the Northumberland Archives
St John’s Chapel (EP/SJ): vestry minutes 1771-1832 & 1866-1951, churchwardens’ accounts 1772-1862
Stanhope (EP/St): overseers’ account book 1728-1765, militia records, apprenticeships, etc., churchwardens’ accounts 1675-1751, vestry minutes 1675-1750, churchwardens’ accounts (partial) 1759-1875. (D/X 384/1) overseers’ accounts 1766-1773
Wolsingham [workhouse in 1777] (EP/Wol): vestry minutes 1821-1835 including churchwardens’ and overseers’ accounts, churchwardens’ accounts 1713-1778, orders of the rector and vestry re. poor relief 1793, vestry minutes 1796-1865

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