THEME The Law and History

The Corn Laws 1815

Corn Laws 1815

The implementation of the Corn Laws 1815 had a profound effect on the people of Britain, how did families cope with the hardship they found themselves in?

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Review of the Poor Law Act 1832

This entry is part 5 of 8 in the series Law - Poor Law

Poor Law in British History was just that ‘poor’ it gave little hope or respite and for hundreds of years adopted an approach which was draconian and punitive. In 1832 the Review of the Poor Law by Earl Grey should have been an opportunity for change and positive improvements in social justice and welfare but sadly at the close of the Georgian period such reform was still a long way off.

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Metropolitan Police Act 1839

This entry is part 8 of 9 in the series Statutes of Law

The Metropolitan Police Act of 1839 gave greatly increased powers to the Metropolitan Police. The district over which it operated was increased to cover a 15 mile radius from Charing Cross. Constables were given ‘all powers and privileges’ in the counties of Berks, Bucks and on the River Thames. Within the Port of London they…

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