Poor Laws of the Isle of Man
The Poor Laws of the Isle of Man refer to the legislation relating to poor relief passed on the Isle of Man during the 19th century.
Background
The Isle of Man, in contrast to neighbouring Britain, did not adopt an English style scheme of poor relief (see Elizabethan Poor Laws) and instead, prior to the Napoleonic Wars, relied on a system of charitable work undertaken by Friendly Societies and charitable donations collected by the parish church.
Reform
When such a system of voluntary donations proved ineffective a committee of enquiry was formed to consider reform. An Act of Tynwald established a Home for the Poor in 1889.[1]
References
Further reading
Ann Harrison Associational Culture, 1830-1914 in A New History of the Isle of Man, vol 5 (ISBN 0-85323-726-3) Liverpool:University Press, 2000 pp393/406