Houses of Husbandry Act 1597 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act against the decaying of towns and houses of husbandry. |
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| Citation | 39 Eliz. 1. c. 1 |
The Houses of Husbandry Act 1597 was a special law passed by the Parliament of England during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. It was also known as "An Act against the decaying of towns and houses of husbandry." This law aimed to fix a big problem happening in England at the time.
What Was the Houses of Husbandry Act?
This law was created to stop important farmhouses and small towns from falling apart. A "house of husbandry" was a house that came with about 20 acres of land. This land had to have been used for farming for at least three years during Queen Elizabeth's rule.
Why Was This Act Needed?
In the late 1500s, many landowners, called lords, were changing how they used their land. Instead of growing crops, they started raising sheep. Raising sheep needed fewer workers and was very profitable. But this meant many farmhouses were left empty and fell into disrepair. Towns also suffered as people moved away.
This change caused problems for ordinary people. There were fewer jobs in farming, and less food was being grown. The government worried about people not having homes or work. They also worried about England's food supply.
What Did the Act Command?
The Houses of Husbandry Act 1597 told the lords to rebuild any "houses of husbandry" that had been left to decay since 1590. The law was very clear: these houses and their land were meant to be used for farming "for ever." This meant they should always be kept in good condition and used for their original purpose.
The Act was a way for the government to try and protect farming and ensure people had places to live and work. It showed that Queen Elizabeth and her Parliament wanted to keep England strong and its people fed.
