The Poor Relief Act 1597 (39 Eliz. 1. c. 3) or the Act for the Relief of the Poor 1597 was an act of the Parliament of England. The act provided the first complete code of poor relief and was later amended by the Poor Relief Act 1601 (43 Eliz. 1. c. 2), which formed the basis of poor relief for the next two centuries.
The act established overseers of the poor.Key dates in Poor Law and Relief Great Britain 1300–1899
Subsequent developments The act was continued until the end of the next session by section 3 of the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1601 (43 Eliz. 1. c. 9), unless an act was passed in the present session to replace it.
The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125), which came into force on 28 July 1863.
Notes
References