Bristol Corporation of the Poor facts for kids
Watercolour of St Peter's Hospital, Bristol, former headquarters of the Bristol Corporation of the Poor, 1894
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| Formation | May 19, 1696 |
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| Dissolved | 17 October 1836 |
| Type | Charitable organisation |
| Purpose | Poor relief |
| Headquarters | St Peters Hospital, Bristol |
The Bristol Corporation of the Poor was a group in Bristol, England. Their job was to help people who were poor or in need. This was part of a system called the Poor Law, which was how the government helped people back then.
This group started in 1696 because of a special law called the Bristol Poor Act. A merchant named John Cary was a big supporter of this idea. He wanted a large building, a "workhouse," where poor people could work. It would also have space for those who couldn't work and needed help.
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Helping the Poor in Bristol
When the Corporation was set up, city leaders (called aldermen) chose people to help. They picked four "honestest and discreetest inhabitants" from each of Bristol's twelve areas. These people became the "Guardians of the Poor."
Early Challenges
Not everyone was happy about this new system. The churchwardens, who used to manage money for the poor, were upset. They didn't want to give the new Corporation the money they had collected from taxes.
The Corporation had to find other ways to get money. They raised funds through donations. They also opened their first workhouse in a building called Whitehall.
St Peter's Hospital: A New Home
In 1698, the Corporation bought a new building. This was the former home of a merchant named Robert Aldworth. He had left £1,000 in his will to help start a workhouse.
This building became known as St Peter's Hospital. It was used for helping the poor until the 1830s. Sadly, the building was destroyed during World War II in a bombing raid known as the Blitz.
Changes and New Beginnings
By 1826, the Corporation had received many donations. They owned a lot of properties and land, which gave them a good income.
In 1836, a new law called the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 changed things. The Bristol Corporation of the Poor, along with other city charities, was moved under a new group. This new group was called the Bristol Charity Trustees. Later, it became the Bristol Municipal Charities.
This change allowed them to buy the land where an old prison used to be in Stapleton. On this site, they built a new place, which eventually became Blackberry Hill Hospital.
