| Administrative History | The 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act grouped parishes together into Unions, controlled by Boards of Guardians, for purposes of poor relief. The Bakewell Union held its first meeting in Aug 1838. In 1930, the functions of the Boards of Guardians were taken over by the Public Assistant Committee of the County Council. This continued until 1948, when the Poor Law was abolished by the National Assistance Act.
The Union contained the following parishes or townships: Tansley, Bradwell, Offerton and Outseats were added to Bakewell Union in Nov 1838; Blackwell, Elton, Rowland, Wormhill and Youlgreave were annexed to Bakewell Union in Feb 1845; Wormhill was separated from Bakewell Union in Aug 1845 and subsequently added to Chapel Union (see D442); Chatsworth and Nether Haddon (reputedly extra-parochial places) were formally added to Bakewell Union in Feb 1861.
Abney and Abney Grange, Aldwark, Ashford, Bakewell, Baslow and Bubnell, Beeley, Birchover, Blackwell, Bradwell, Brushfield, Calver, Chatsworth, Chelmorton, Cromford, Curbar, Darley, Edensor, Elton, Eyam, Eyam Wodlands, Flagg, Foolow, Froggatt, Grange Mill, Gratton, Grindlow, Nether/Over Haddon, Harthill, Hartington Middle Quarter, Hassop, Hathersage, Hazlebadge, Highlow, Great Hucklow, Little Hucklow, Ivonbrook Grange, Great Longstone, Little Longstone, Litton, Matlock Bath - Matlock, Middleton by Youlgreave, Monyash, Nether Padley, Offerton, Outseats, Pilsley, Rowland, Rowsley and Alport, Sheldon, Stanton, Stoke Wardlow, Stoney Middleton, Wensley and Snitterton, Taddington and Priestcliff, Wheston, Tansley, Winster, Tideswell, Youlgreave.
In Oct 1838, after no suitable building could be found to provide a temporary workhouse, a private workhouse at Ashover was rented. Eventually, four acres of land were purchased at Newholme on the Bakewell to Sheffield Turnpike. The building of the workhouse was completed early in 1841. |
| Custodial History | Acquired by Derbyshire Record Office in 1973 |