Hospitals for the Poor Act 1597

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The Hospitals for the Poor Act 1597[1]
Long titleAn Acte for erecting of Hospitalles or abiding and working Howses for the Poore.[2][3]
Citation39 Eliz 1 c 5
Status: Repealed

The Hospitals for the Poor Act 1597 (39 Eliz 1 c 5) was an Act of the Parliament of England. It was enacted during the reign of Elizabeth I and in force until the twentieth century.

The had permitted the bequest of lands and buildings to establish "houses of correction or abiding-houses" for the poor or for maimed soldiers, but as it had not been legally possible to establish a hospital without a specific royal grant, the Act had had limited effect. As such, this Act was enacted, allowing any person wishing to establish a foundation to create it by deed at the High Court of Chancery; such foundations would be permanent. However, a minimum endowment was required, sufficient to produce £10 per annum. The Act, which initially was to take effect for a span of twenty years, was later revived and made perpetual by the , and then remained in force until the whole Act was repealed by section 39(1) of, and Schedule 5 to, the .

References[]

  • Select statutes and other constitutional documents illustrative of the reigns of Elizabeth and James I, ed. by G. W. Prothero. Oxford University Press, 1913. Fourth edition.
  • Chronological table of the statutes; HMSO, London. 1993.
  1. ^ The citation of this Act by this short title was authorised by section 5 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1948. Due to the repeal of those provisions, it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.
  2. ^ These words are printed against this Act in the second column of Schedule 2 to the Statute Law Revision Act 1948, which is headed "Title".
  3. ^ The title has also been rendered as "An Act for erecting of hospitals or abiding and working houses for the poor": George Walter Prothero. Select Statutes and Other Constitutional Documents Illustrative of the Reigns of Elizabeth and James I. Reprinted in 2005 by Kessinger Publishing. Page 102.
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