Local Government Archives: Cork Poor Law Unions (boards of Guardians)
The Poor Law Unions were bodies established by the Poor Law Act, 1838, as a response to widespread poverty. Each poor law union area had a workhouse and was supervised by a Board of Guardians. The Poor Law Commission (and later the Local Government Board) in Dublin was the central authority for the Poor Law Unions. ‘Poor Rates’ were collected in each Union to fund relief for the local destitute poor. The functions of the Boards of Guardians were gradually extended to include public health and rural housing and sanitation until their abolition in 1923. Minute books are the largest series of poor law archives, however indoor relief registers, financial accounts and correspondence also survive for some areas.
Access: By appointment and application form. For more information, see notes on access.
Summary List of Poor Law Union Archives:
BG 42 Bandon Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 - 111 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1839 - 1924 |
| AA1 |
Board of Guardian Rough Minute Books |
1839 - 1845 |
| CA1 - 3 |
General Ledgers |
1919 - 1924 |
| CD1 |
Financial Statements Book - Receipts |
1915 - 1924 |
| CL1 |
Bank Pass Book |
1922 - 1924 |
| F1 |
Masters Journal |
1921 - 1925 |
| FK1 |
Weekly Tobacco Account |
1920 - 1925 |
| G1 |
Indoor Relief Register |
1920 - 1925 |
| SA1 |
Labourer's Acts Ledger |
1886 - 1896 |
BG 43 Bantry Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 - 120 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1848 - 1924 |
| AA1 - 4 |
Board of Guardian Rough Minute Books |
1846 - 1869 |
| AI1 - 2 |
Rural Sanitary Authority Minute Books |
1889 - 1893 |
BG 59 Castletown Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 - 89 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1849 - 1924 |
| AA1 - 2 |
Board of Guardian Rough Minute Books |
1846 - 1869 |
| AJ1 - 2 |
Dispensary District Minute Books |
1852 - 1921 |
BG 65 Clonkilty Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 - 74 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1851 - 1924 |
| AA1 |
Board of Guardian Rough Minute Book |
1883 |
| AD1 |
Statistical Minutes Book |
1905 - 1920 |
| AL1 |
Rural Sanitary Authority Minute Book |
1886 - 1887 |
BG 69 Cork Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 - 157 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1839 - 1924 |
| AJ1 |
Dispensary Committee Minute Book |
1890 - 1899 |
| AL1 |
Rural Sanitary Board Minute Book |
1874 - 1876 |
| ALA1 |
Executive Officer's Report Book |
1874 - 1887 |
| B1 - 9 |
Board of Guardian Outgoing Letter Books |
1839 - 1918 |
| BC2 - 27 |
Incoming letters from the P.L.C. and L.G.B. |
1841 - 1873 |
| CA1 - 46 |
General Ledgers |
1839 - 1899 |
| CB1 |
Personal Ledger |
1821 - 1922 |
| CD1 |
Financial Statement - Receipts Book |
1921 - 1925 |
| CL1 |
Bank Pass Book |
1918 - 1919 |
| CQ1 - 2 |
Miscellaneous Account Books |
1889 - 1918 |
| FA1 |
Master's Report Book |
1895 - 1899 |
| FC1 |
Clothing Requirement Book |
1912 - 1922 |
| FD1 |
Storekeepers Receipt Book |
1911 - 1957 |
| FE1 - 9 |
Store Receipt and Delivery Books |
1899 - 1944 |
| FF |
Clothing Receipt Book |
1910 - 1922 |
| FG1 |
Provision Check Book |
1897 - 1904 |
| FM1 |
Visiting Committee Report Book |
1899 - 1900 |
| FN1 |
Porter's Admission and Discharge Book |
1920 |
| FP |
Officer's Time Book |
1887 - 1913 |
| FR1 |
Wage and Salaries Book |
1901 - 1906 |
| FU1 - 2 |
National School Male Registers |
1873 - 1904 |
| FY1 - 2 |
Bread and Milk Books |
1910 - 1918 |
| FYC1 |
Storekeeper's Account Book |
1904 - 1908 |
| FYH1 - 2 |
Bread and Milk Books (Hospital) |
1913 - 1918 |
| G2 - 37 |
Indoor Relief Registers |
1840 - 1920 |
| GX9 - 35 |
Indices to Indoor Relief Registers |
1853 - 1921 |
| GC1 |
Indoor Relief List |
1924 - 1925 |
| KA2 - 9 |
Record of Death Books |
1853 - 1931 |
| KB1 |
Rgister of Deaths |
1884 - 1886 |
| O1 |
Sworn Enquiry - Inspector's Report & Findings |
1923 |
BG 83 Dunmanway Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 - 108 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1870 - 1871 |
| AA1 - 3 |
Board of Guardian Rough Minute Books |
1865 - 1879 |
BG 89 Fermoy Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 |
Board of Guardian Minute Book |
1870 - 1871 |
| CF1 |
Receipt and Payment Book |
1918 - 1925 |
BG 98 Kanturk Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 - 102 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1858 - 1924 |
| AJ1 |
Newmarket Dispensary District Minute Book |
1852 - 1892 |
| AJ1A |
Enclosures |
1863 - 1892 |
| AL1 - 2 |
Rural Sanitary Authority Minute Books |
1890 - 1911 |
| AM1 |
Contagious Diseases (Animals Act) Minute Book |
1879 - 1899 |
BG 108 Kinsale Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 - 138 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1839 - 1924 |
| AA18 - 74 |
Board of Guardian Rough Minute Books |
1861 - 1892 |
| AL1 - 2 |
Rural Sanitary Authority Minute Books |
1886 - 1898 |
| B1 - 2 |
Outgoing Letter Books |
1913 - 1923 |
| CA1 - 15 |
General Ledgers |
1839 - 1894 |
| CB1 - 2 |
Personal Ledgers |
1853 - 1899 |
| CF1 |
Treasurer's Receipt and Payment Book |
1896 - 1909 |
| F1 |
Master's Journal |
1902 - 1908 |
| FA1 |
Master's Report Book |
1881 - 1887 |
| FT1 |
Workhouse Farm Accounts |
1899 - 1924 |
| G2 - 19 |
Indoor Relief Registers |
1841 - 1917 |
| GA1 - 21 |
Admission and Discharge Books |
1845 - 1925 |
| GK1 - 2 |
Pauper Discharge Books |
1855 - 1884 |
| HE1 |
Register of Fever Hospital Patients |
1849 - 1850 |
| KA1 |
Record of Death Book |
1842 - 1899 |
BG 115 Macroom Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 - 68 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1884 - 1924 |
| BA1 |
Incoming Letters from the L.G.B |
1921 - 1922 |
| BC1 - 2 |
Letters from the P.L.C. and L.G.B. |
1901 - 1918 |
| CA1 - 10 |
General Ledgers |
1899 - 1924 |
| CD1 |
Financial Statements Book - Receipts |
1905 - 1913 |
| CL1 |
Bank Pass Book |
1920 |
| G1 |
Indoor Relief Register |
1916 - 1921 |
| HH1 |
Matron's Requisition Book |
1894 - 1921 |
BG 116 Mallow Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 - 109 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1839 - 1911 |
BG 118 Midleton Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A3 - 139 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1845 - 1924 |
| AA1 |
Board of Guardian Rough Minute Book |
1896 - 1897 |
| ACA1 - 2 |
Resolution Books |
1896 - 1922 |
| CA1 - 22 |
General Ledgers |
1856 - 1924 |
| CB1 - 15 |
Personal Ledgers |
1854 - 1914 |
| CD1 |
Financial Statements Book - Receipts |
1907 - 1922 |
| CH1 - 2 |
Day Books |
1906 - 1920 |
| CF1 |
Treasurers Day Book |
1911 - 1920 |
| CM1 |
Clerk's Petty Disbursments |
1910 - 1916 |
| G1 - 51 |
Indoor Relief Registers |
1841 - 1923 |
| GA1 |
Admission and Discharge Book |
1925 |
| GC1 |
Indoor Relief List |
1917 - 1919 |
| K1 - 2 |
Record of Births |
1844 - 1930 |
BG 145 Schull Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 - 3 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1920 - 1924 |
BG 163 Youghal Poor Law Union
| Reference Codes |
Titles |
Dates |
|---|
| A1 - 136 |
Board of Guardian Minute Books |
1850 - 1924 |
| AL1 - 3 |
Sanitary Committee Minute Books |
1888 - 1899 |
| AM1 |
Contagious Diseases (Animals Act) Minute Book |
1903 - 1920 |
| B1 - 2 |
Outgoing Letter Books |
1888 - 1900 |
| CC1 - 2 |
Union Ledgers |
1917 - 1921 |
| CF1 |
Treasurer's Receipt and Payment Book (Loan Account) |
1901 - 1924 |
| CG1 |
Guardian's Loan Account Book |
1889 - 1913 |
| F1 |
Master's Journal |
1916 - 1925 |
| G1 - 3 |
Indoor Relief Registers |
1848 - 1851 |
