Legislation Collection (#8)

New Compensation Act - 1906 - Stableboy kicked in stable
" The New Compensation Act" - " Hurroo! Oim kicked to Death, Be Gob!" - a Yokel Stable Lad is not unduly concerned at being kicked against the stable wall

PPRE2A-00060
John Quincy Adams in Congress defending the right of petition. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Reconstruction Committee meeting in Washington
Joint House and Senate Reconstruction Committee, creators of the 14th Amendment, under Chairman Fessenden. Hand-colored halftone reproduction of a 19th-century illustration

Stamp Act repeal, 1766
Handbill announcing repeal of the Stamp Act, 1766. Woodcut with a watercolor wash

Union Workhouse, Ringwood, Hampshire
The Ringwood Union workhouse at Ashley, Hampshire. The building, originally the Ringwood parish workhouse dating from 1725, was taken over and adapted by the Ringwood Union after its formation in 1835

Union Workhouse, Romsey, Hampshire
The Union workhouse on Winchester Road, Romsey, Hampshire. Some of the workhouse staff appear to be playing croquet while workhouse inmates are seated on benches behind

Union Workhouse, Orsett, Essex
The Union workhouse at Orsett, Essex. The building, designed by Sampson Kempthorne, was erected in 1827. It later became Orsett Hospital

Union Workhouse, Braintree, Essex
Entrance to the Braintree Union workhouse, Essex. Some of the workhouse staff are just visible in the doorway. The building, designed by William T Nash, was erected in 1837-8 on Rayne Road

Hexagonal workhouse, perspective view
Perspective view of the model hexagon (or Y-plan) workhouse design by Sampson Kempthorne, issued by the Poor Law Commissioners

Hexagonal workhouse, ground floor plan
The ground floor layout of the model hexagon (or Y-plan) workhouse design by Sampson Kempthorne, issued by the Poor Law Commissioners

Whitechapel Workhouse Infirmary, womens ward
An old womens ward in the Whitechapel Workhouse Infirmary on Charles Street (later Bakers Row, now Vallance Road), East London

Square workhouse, ground floor plan
The ground floor layout of the model square workhouse for 300 inmates, design by Sampson Kempthorne, issued by the Poor Law Commissioners

Union Workhouse, Preston, Lancashire
The massive Preston Union workhouse erected in 1865-8 on Watling Street Road, Fulwood, Lancashire, for up to 1500 inmates

Tribunes of the People created in Ancient Rome
Tribunes of the People (Plebeian Tribunes) created in Ancient Rome. Tribunes were elected, and had the right to propose legislation before the Plebeian Council

The First Great Charter of English Liberty, (19th century). King John sealed the Magna Carta in 1215. The charter is a statement of feudal law

Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, British Whig statesman and Prime Minister, (1893). Artist: W Roffe
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, British Whig statesman and Prime Minister, (1893). Earl Grey (1764-1845) served as Prime Minister from 1830-1834

The Seat of Justice in the Parlement of Paris, 1723. Artist: Nicolas Lancret
The Seat of Justice in the Parlement of Paris, 1723. From the Musee du Louvre, Paris, France

Illustration of King John signing the Magna Carta, 19th century. Artist: James William Edmund Doyle
Illustration of King John (24 December 1166 - 18/19 October 1216) signing the Magna Carta, with Archbishop Stephen Langton and the Barons in 1215 AD, from a Chronicle of England by James Doyle

Henry VIIs first act of parliament with an initial portrait of the king, late 1480s. With a border illuminated with depictions of flora and fauna

King John signing the Magna Carta at Runnymede, Surrey, 15 June 1215 (c1860). John (1167?-1216) became King of England in 1199

Turning the Tables, 1887. Artist: Joseph Swain
Turning the Tables, 1887. The Lord Chancellor yawns as he queries why the House of Commons is not getting on with its business

The Open Door!, 1885. Artist: Joseph Swain
The Open Door!, 1885. Captain Moonlight, the representative of Irish anarchy, has his knife in his belt and his rifle in his hand as he steps through the open door

Bill The Giant-killer, 1884. Artist: Joseph Swain
Bill The Giant-killer, 1884. Lord Salisbury, the Conservative Leader in the House of Lords, peers over the battlements at the Franchise Bill which, dressed as a herald, noisily demands entry

A Midsummer Pantomime, 1884. Artist: Joseph Swain
A Midsummer Pantomime, 1884. Sir William Harcourt holds his London Government Bill. This had proposed the incorporation in a single municipality of all the inhabitants of the Metropolitan area

A Question of Supply, 1884. Artist: Joseph Swain
A Question of Supply, 1884. John Bull, the representative of the British people, tells the Duke of Richmond quite plainly that the proposed Cattle Bill should first

The Cherub!, 1884. Artist: Joseph Swain
The Cherub!, 1884. Joseph Chamberlain is the cherub watching over the British sailor. This relates to Chamberlains Merchant Shipping Bill which aimed to do away with the shipping owners who insured

The Rod Still in Pickle, 1883. Artist: Joseph Swain
The Rod Still in Pickle, 1883. The Liberal Prime Minister, Gladstone, in the guise of a schoolmaster, reviews the progress of his pupils at the end of term

Spoiling the Spoilers, 1883. Artist: Joseph Swain
Spoiling the Spoilers, 1883. Mr Joseph Chamberlain is holding his Bankruptcy Bill as a Fraudulent Bankrupt and his advisor worry about the implications

The Model School, 1882. A young John Bull shows Mr William Forster his model of a Board School. In Gladstones Liberal administration of 1868-74

A New Departure, 1882. Artist: Joseph Swain
A New Departure, 1882. The Chief Secretary for Ireland, William Forster, resigns from his office in Mr Gladstones Liberal government

The Irish Inferno, 1881. Artist: Joseph Swain
The Irish Inferno, 1881. The Liberal Prime Minister, Gladstone, is wearing the laurel wreath of the victorious emperor on his head

Two Forces, 1881. Artist: Joseph Swain
Two Forces, 1881. Britannia, armed with a large sword labelled The Law, protects Hibernia from a stone-throwing, animalistic Irish anarchist

Rest (?), 1881. Artist: Joseph Swain
Rest (?), 1881. A British Farmer looks down upon the resting Liberal Prime Minister, Gladstone. On the floor is the Irish Land Act

Out of the Wood!, 1881. Artist: Joseph Swain
Out of the Wood!, 1881. The Liberal Prime Minister, Gladstone, is the knight in shining armour, sweeping Hibernia out of danger. Instead of a lance, he carries the Irish Land Act

Suspense, 1881. Artist: Joseph Swain
Suspense, 1881. Hibernia, with two Irish children, awaits the forthcoming Land Reform Act. This was introduced by the Liberal Prime Minister, Gladstone

Education, 1872. The Squire is told why his farmworkers child has been withdrawn from school. Whilst much had been done to promote the value of educating children

The Good Little Vitler, 1874. Artist: Joseph Swain
The Good Little Vitler, 1874. The little victualler is rewarded by the new Conservative Home Secretary, RA Cross. The previous Home Secretary, HA Bruce

The Habitual Criminal Cure, 1869. Artist: John Tenniel
The Habitual Criminal Cure, 1869. This cartoon refers to what might be called an early stop and search. Recently, the Habitual Criminals Act passed through the House of Lords

Canine at the Westminster Pit, 1862. Pit Bull terriers are set in a pit at Westminster. The one on the right is Derby, the dog of Lord Derby, the Conservative Leader

Cartoon by Harold Auerbach, The Era of June? A comment on the controversial political issues of tariff reform, free trade, home rule and socialism. Date: 1910

Cartoon by Harold Auerbach, The Era of 1910? A comment on the controversial political issues of tariff reform, free trade, home rule and socialism. Date: 1910

A Memento of the Great Public Question of Reform
Reform Bill - A Memento of the Great Public Question of Reform - showing King William IV, the Duke of Sussex, Lord John Russell, Lord Grey (Prime Minister), Lord Althorpe, Lord Brougham

Reform and Anti-Reform
Reform Bill - Reform and Anti-Reform - depiction of a naval battle between two ships, with the Reform ship winning. " The Portraits of the King, Lords Brougham, Russell, Grey

Strangling of the Beer Bill by Lord Brougham
Newspaper article, Strangling (with a misprint!) of the Beer Bill by Lord Brougham and other peers in the House of Lords. The writer claims that many families will be ruined as a result

Lords Day Observance - Sunday shop closing. 1899

Mexico. Interior of the Court of The Acordada. Engraving
Mexico. Viceroyalty of New Spain. Court of The Acordada. Interior. Engraving, 19th century

Mexico. Exterior of the Court of The Acordada. Engraving
Mexico. Viceroyalty of New Spain. Court of The Acordada. Exterior. Engraving, 19th century

Cartoon, satire on the British government and its current issues. Politicians depicted include Gladstone and Salisbury, respective Liberal and Conservative leaders. 1890

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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.