Soup Tokens

Following the enactment of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, known as the New Poor Law, the severity of its provisions caused much resistance, with riots in some Northern towns.  Strict application of the "workhouse test", and imposition of "less eligibility", and the separation of families entering the workhouse led many to starve rather than subject themselves to such ignominy.

Religious and philanthropic groups formed organisations to alleviate suffering amongst the "deserving" poor by the provision of Soup Kitchens.  This article cannot hope to detail all of those that were formed, but by giving examples of a few of the tokens, it does seek to shed some light on one aspect of philanthropy during the 19th and 20th Centuries.

Herefordshire

Hereford.  Industrious Aid Society.  Soup Distribution.  One Quart.

Soup committee formed 12th December, 1844, survived until 2nd World War.  There was also a card ticket entitling the holder to a quart of soup for a penny.ⁱ

Leominster

Nothing known. Turned up with a coal ticket named to Leominster with the same date.

Gloucester

Although there are references in the Gloucester Archives to a soup kitchen in the records of the Gloucester Labour Party for 1905, and Gloucester Borough Council minutes, (1902-24), there is no evidence that this token was associated with either.ⁱⁱ

Somerset

Taunton. Relief Fund established 1861, soup kitchen opened 1867, continued with a short break (1873-1879), until 1938.ⁱⁱⁱ

References

ⁱO'Donnell, Jean, John Venn and the Friends of the Hereford Poor. Pp 49-56.
ⁱⁱGloucester Archives, Gloucester Labour Party. (D3128/3/1); Gloucester Borough Council, (GBR/L/6/26/23)
ⁱⁱⁱMinnitt, S and Young, D, Tickets, Checks and Passes from the County of Somerset. P21.

Compiled by Trevor Owens.