Topic description and stories

Workhouse Women in St. Giles's Church by Charles Holroyd (1880-84). ©Trustees of the British Museum

Historian uncovers new evidence of 18th century London's 'Child Support Agency'

26 Jul 2018

How 18th and 19th century London supported its unmarried mothers and illegitimate children – essentially establishing an earlier version of today’s...

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The Blind Beggar and his Grand-daughter

Benefiting from history

24 Feb 2012

A Cambridge academic’s research into the final days of the Old English Poor Law has thrown up some remarkable parallels to today’s welfare state –...

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