Legislation Collection

Hogarth, Beer Street. A political print supporting a ministerial measure against the unlimited sale of gin. A scene of London life in which happy and healthy tradesmen

Hogarth, Gin Lane. A political print supporting a ministerial measure against the unlimited sale of gin (which later became the Gin Act)

Market Hill and former workhouse, Maldon
A view of Market Hill, Maldon, Essex. The large building at the left is the Maldon Unions former workhouse. Date: circa 1900

Brockhall Hospital, Langho, near Blackburn, Lancashire
Aerial view of Brockhall Hospital at Langho, near Blackburn, Lancashire, established in 1904 by the Lancashire Inebriates Acts Board as an inebriate reformatory for women

Congleton Union Workhouse, Arclid, Cheshire
Aerial view of Congleton Union workhouse at Arclid, Sandbach, Cheshire. The building, erected in 1844-5, was designed by Henry Bowman. It later became Arclid Hospital

Poplar Workhouse, East London
A side view of one of the blocks of the Poplar Union workhouse, located on Poplar High Street, East London

East End Doss House, London
Exterior of a lodging house or doss house in the East End of London, probably Whitechapel. A man and a boy stand outside. A sign above the door reads BEDS 4d. Per Night FOR SINGLE MEN ONLY

Union Workhouse, Pontypool, Monmouthshire
Pontypool Union workhouse was built in 1837 on Coedygric Road, Griffithstown, Monmouthshire (now Gwent). It later became Panteg County Hospital

City of London Union Infirmary, Mile End Road
Situated where Mile End Road continues as Bow Road, the City of London Union Infirmary (now St Clements Hospital) opened in 1849 as the City of London Union workhouse

Union Workhouse, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire
The Newport Pagnell Union workhouse was erected in 1836 at the junction of London Road and North Crawley Road. It later became Renny Lodge Hospital

Lycurgus of Sparta
LYCURGUS OF SPARTA Legendary Greek lawgiver, mentioned by Herodotus, Plutarch and Xenophon, who praise his legislation

Twelve Tables of Rome drawn up
The Twelve Tables, Romes first legal code, are drawn up by a commission at the request of the plebeians

Union Workhouse, Birkenhead, Cheshire
Birkenhead Union workhouse viewed from Church Road, Higher Tranmere, Birkenhead, Cheshire. A group of children stand in the foreground, with the workhouse infirmary behind them

Sir John George Shaw-Lefevre
Caricature portrait of Sir John George Shaw-Lefevre KCB (1797-1879). Shaw-Lefevre was a British barrister, Whig politician, and civil servant

Runney Mead or Magna Charta Island, near Egham, Surrey, 19th century. This place is celebrated in history as the spot where the assembled barons in 1215, obtained from King John

Police Commissioner Roosevelt and NY Governor Cleveland, 1884
NY Governor Grover Cleveland and Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt signing reform bill, 1884. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

EVRV2A-00074
American Declaration of Independence, 1776. Watercolor wash over a 19th century woodcut reproduction of the document

Wycombe Union Workhouse, Saunderton, Oxfordshire
The Wycombe Union workhouse at Saunderton, Oxfordshire. The building, designed by George Gilbert Scott and William Bonython Moffatt, was erected in 1843

Blandford Union Workhouse, Blandford Forum, Dorset
Distant view of Blandford Union workhouse, from Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset. A house at the left has a sign reading YNCA (or YMCA?)

Union Workhouse, Thame, Oxfordshire
A view of the Thame Union workhouse from one of its internal yards with the workhouse chapel in the background. Posed for the photographer are what appear to be the workhouse master (standing)

Union Workhouse, Leigh, Lancashire
Opened in 1851, the Union workhouse on Leigh Road, Leigh, Lancashire, later became Atherleigh Hospital. This early 1900s view focuses on the recently added workhouse offices and receiving home

Union workhouse, Market Harborough, Leicestershire
The Market Harborough Union workhouse. The inscription on the pediment reads HARBOROUGH UNION WORKHOUSE 1836. At the doorway stands a man and a woman, presumably the master and matron

Retablissement du culte catholique, 1802, (1921). Creator: Thomas-Charles Naudet
Retablissement du culte catholique, 1802, (1921). The restoration of Catholic worship - First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the Social Security Act in the Cabinet Room of the White House, 14 August 1935
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT, 1935. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the Social Security Act in the Cabinet Room of the White House, 14 August 1935, flanked by the bills co-authors (in dark suits)

Oldchurch Hospital, Romford, Essex
The entrance to Oldchurch Hospital, Oldchurch Road, Romford, Essex. The hospital began life in 1839 as the Romford Union workhouse, designed by Francis Edwards

Reconstruction upholding equal rights, 1868
Reconstruction depicted as equal rights reform, 1868. Hand-colored woodcut reproduction of a 19th-century Thomas Nast cartoon

Union Workhouse, Bakewell, Derbyshire
Bakewell Union workhouse. The porter and two other men stand at the entrance, while another stands at the left near a wheelbarrow

Strand Union Workhouse, Edmonton, North London
The Strand Unions workhouse at Edmonton, North London, opened in 1870. The Strand Union was located in Central London

Union Workhouse, Hertford
A view of Hertford Union workhouse, Hertfordshire, opened in around 1869 on Ware Road, Hertford. The imposing three-storey building has a clock tower at its centre

Union Workhouse, Easthampstead, Berkshire
A distant view of the Easthampstead Union workhouse, Berkshire, opened in about 1836, in buildings adapted from former almshouses

Hogarth, Beer Street. A political print supporting a ministerial measure against the unlimited sale of gin. A scene of London life in which happy and healthy tradesmen

The Reform Bill, 1832 (c1850s). The Rt Hon Earl Grey introduced the Reform Act in Parliament in 1832. It was intended to make wide-ranging changes to the British electoral system

Union Workhouse, Mildenhall, Suffolk
The Mildenhall Union workhouse on Kings Way, Mildenhall, Suffolk. Opened in 1895, it replaced the previous premises elsewhere in the town which had become inadequate

Closing public houses and beer shops on the Lords Day to the Working Classes, 1854
XJF3037899 Closing public houses and beer shops on the Lords Day to the Working Classes, 1854 by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

President Cleveland carrying a club labelled 'Honest Legislation', 1885
1576742 President Cleveland carrying a club labelled 'Honest Legislation', 1885; (add.info.: Foes in his path, the herculean task before our next president' Grover Cleveland as Hercules)

Portrait of Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke
672619 Portrait of Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke; (add.info.: Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, 1st Baronet (18 February 1810 - 10 May 1869), English Whig politician, son of Charles Wentworth Dilke

A cartoon commenting on the watering-down of milk reaching such proportions that legislation had to be brought in to
5310797 A cartoon commenting on the watering-down of milk reaching such proportions that legislation had to be brought in to check it

President Cleveland as a railroad engineer driving a locomotive labelled "Administration R.R.", 1893
1577297 President Cleveland as a railroad engineer driving a locomotive labelled "Administration R.R.", 1893; (add.info.: They can't hold up this train)

General assembly (Parliament or Stejm) of the kingdom of Poland meets to pass legislation. 1506
529182 General assembly (Parliament or Stejm) of the kingdom of Poland meets to pass legislation. 1506; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Illustration showing the French Corps Legislatif in Paris, 1750
UIG5634593 Illustration showing the French Corps Legislatif in Paris, 1750.

Cartoon from Puck, between 1880 and 1889. Creators: Joseph Keppler, Bernhard Gillam
Cartoon from Puck, between 1880 and 1889

The Edicts of Charles V, c1861. Creator: Jan August Hendrik Leys
The Edicts of Charles V, c1861. This scene is set in the artist's native Antwerp, identifiable because of the famous church spire in the distance

Scene of the Late Fatal Explosion of Fireworks at Lambeth, 1858. Creator: Unknown
Scene of the Late Fatal Explosion of Fireworks at Lambeth, 1858. A large order caused extra work, and filled the factory brimful of dangerous missiles...after the men had left

Cartoon from Puck, between 1880 and 1889. Creators: Joseph Keppler, Bernhard Gillam
Cartoon from Puck, between 1880 and 1889

Citoyennes on fait courir le bruit que le divorce est sur le point de nous être refusé... 1848. Creator: Honore Daumier
Citoyennes on fait courir le bruit que le divorce est sur le point de nous etre refuse... 1848. - Citoyennes...on fait courir le bruit que le divorce est sur le point de nous etre refuse

Cartoon about rent increases brought in by the Commune of Paris, 1871, (c.1871). Creator: Leo Scherer
Cartoon about rent increases brought in by the Commune of Paris, 1871, (c.1871). A bewildered and furious tenant is presented with news of rent increases

The Common Hall on Corporation Reform, in Guildhall, 1856. Creator: Henry Fitzcook
The Common Hall on Corporation Reform, in Guildhall, [London], 1856. Political meeting...to oppose the London Corporation Bill....the proceedings commenced by the Serjeant-at-Mace calling out that

Les arènes législatives, 1870. Creator: Honore Daumier
Les arenes legislatives, 1870. Legislative arenas

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"From Hogarth's Gin Lane to Beer Street: The Evolution of Legislation" Step back in time and witness the impact on society, as depicted by renowned artist William Hogarth. In his contrasting works, "Gin Lane" and "Beer Street, " Hogarth vividly captures the consequences of legislative decisions. Traveling further through history, we arrive at Market Hill and the former workhouse in Maldon. This site stands as a tangible reminder of early legislation aimed at addressing poverty and social welfare. Venturing northwards, Brockhall Hospital near Blackburn reveals another facet – mental health care reform. Once an imposing institution, it now symbolizes progress towards more compassionate treatment for those with mental illness. Journeying to Cheshire, we encounter Congleton Union Workhouse in Arclid. Here lies evidence of the Poor Law Amendment Act's influence on workhouses across England during the 19th century – a controversial piece that sought to regulate relief for the destitute. In bustling East London, Poplar Workhouse tells its own tale. A place where desperation met hopelessness amidst dire living conditions; this workhouse exemplifies how legislative choices shaped lives within impoverished communities. Meanwhile, East End Doss House serves as a stark reminder that not all individuals found solace within institutionalized systems. These temporary shelters highlight gaps in legislation that failed to adequately address homelessness during challenging times. Heading westward into Monmouthshire and Buckinghamshire unveils two distinct Union Workhouses - Pontypool and Newport Pagnell respectively. These institutions reflect regional variations in implementing nationwide policies designed to combat poverty while grappling with local challenges. Taking inspiration from ancient Rome's Twelve Tables – one of history's earliest legal codes – legislators have long sought guidance when drafting laws that shape societies' foundations worldwide. Returning closer to home brings us face-to-face with City of London Union Infirmary along Mile End Road.