NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL, GUARDIANS COMMITTEES

Guardians Committees in 1935, excluding Norwich and Yarmouth.

C/GC 1. Committee1 Erpingham R.D.C. Cromer U.D.C. Sheringham U.D.C. Meets at Beckham, Sheringham or Cromer

C/GC 2. Committee2 St. Faith's and Aylsham R.D.C. Meets at Aylsham or Norwich

C/GC 3. Committee3 Blofield and Flegg R.D.C. Meets at Lingwood or Rollesby

C/GC 4. Committee4 Smallburgh R.D.C. North Walsham U.D.C. Meets at North Walsham or Stalham

C/GC 5. Committee5 Forehoe and Henstead R.D.C. Wymondham U.D.C. Meets at Norwich or Wymondham

C/GC 6. Committee6 Docking R.D.C. Hunstanton U.D.C. Meets at Docking

C/GC 7. Committee7 Walsingham R.D.C. Wells U.D.C. Meets at Fakenham or Snoring

C/GC 8. Committee8 Freebridge Lynn R.D.C. King's Lynn Borough Meets at Gayton or King's Lynn

C/GC 9. Committee9 Downham R.D.C. Marshland R.D.C. Downham Market U.D.C. Meets at Downham Market or Walsoken

C/GC 10. Committee10 Mitford and Launditch R.D.C. East Dereham U.D.C. Meets at East Dereham or Gressenhall

C/GC 11. Committee11 Swaffham U.D.C. Swaffham R.D.C. Thetford Borough Wayland R.D.C. Meets at Swaffham or Thetford

C/GC 12. Committee12 Depwade R.D.C. Diss U.D.C. Meets at Pulham St. Mary

C/GC 13. Committee13 Loddon and Clavering R.D.C. Meets at Heckingham

<span class="wrapper"><p>(see N/TC 31 and Yarmouth Guide, p.46).</p> <p>(See Public Assistance Sub-Committee minutes, 11 July 1934 and 12 September 1934, C/C 10/455.)</p></span>

C/GC 5/13 Material closed (cannot be accessed) until 2036 - 2037

C/GC 12/51 Unfit for Production

Material acquired on unknown date.

The Local Government Act, 1929 (19 & 20 Geo. 5, c. 17) abolished the Board of Guardians and placed the powers and duties and assets and liabilities of the unions with the counties and county boroughs. In Norfolk thirteen Guardians Committees were formed and in Norwich and Great Yarmouth, Public Assistance Committees were formed

The Guardians Committees took over the responsibilities and institutions of the Boards of Guardians and in some cases records belonging to the Guardians Committees have found their way to this office with the Guardians' records and they have been listed with them (see C/GP in separate folders). The National Assistance Act 1948 11 & 12 Geo. 6, c. 29 provided that "the existing poor law shall cease to have effect and shall be replaced by the provisions of part II of the Act" (i.e. the establishment of the National Assistance Board). The Act also required Local Authorities to provide residential accommodation for persons who "by reason of age, infirmity or any other circumstances are in need of care and attention ..." and "... temporary accommodation for persons who are in urgent need thereof..."

The functions of the Guardians and Public Assistance Committees were therefore divided between central and local government. Thus the former workhouse of the Blofield Union (later No.3 Guardians Committee) became Homelea, a Children's Home administered by Norfolk County Council whilst the former Wicklewood Workhouse (Forehoe Union) became a hospital administered by a Hospital Management Committee. Post-1948 records of these institutions, if deposited here, may therefore be amongst County Council or Public records.

The Walsingham Union Workhouse at Great Snoring was opened in 1838. It was situated close to the boundary between the parishes of Great Snoring and Thursford and was sometimes known as Thursford Workhouse.

Poor Law Unions were abolished in 1930 and the responsibilities of Walsingham Union Board of Guardians were taken over by Norfolk County Council Guardians' Committee No. 7. For records of this body (including the administration of Red House Children's Home in Little Snoring and the boarding-out of children) see C/GC 7.

From 1930 the former Workhouse became known as Walsingham Public Assistance Institution. On 26 and 27 June 1934 the remaining thirty inmates (including two infants but no children) were transferred to West Beckham and Gressenhall Institutions and Walsingham Institution officially closed on 30 June 1934.

The building was subsequently adapted for use as a smallpox hospital. The records of the County Architect's Department include plans of the alterations for use as a smallpox hospital dated February 1937 (C/AR 1/29-31). The one inch to one mile Ordnance Survey Map of 1954 designates the building 'smallpox hospital'. By 1976 the building was derelict and was demolished in the early 1990s.