Dear Listers Can anyone explain exactly what the Windsor Union is/was please? I have found several names in the 1841 census - the registration district is Windsor Union. Is that what it is - an area? With thanks in advance, Margaret (Canberra, Australia)

Margaret, I think you will find it is a workhouse. Peter Dear Listers Can anyone explain exactly what the Windsor Union is/was please? I have found several names in the 1841 census - the registration district is Windsor Union. Is that what it is - an area? With thanks in advance, Margaret (Canberra, Australia)

It refers to the 'Poor Law' area covering Windsor and its environs. The Union was administered by a Board of Guardians who were responsible for a range of matters relating to the welfare of the population, including the provision of a workhouse for those who were destitute or otherwise in need. There is a significant amount of information on the 'The Workhouse' website at http://www.workhouses.org.uk/ and 'googling' for terms such as 'Poor Law' and 'Board of Guardians' will provide many sites with much more. John B Leic., Eng ----- Original Message ----- From: "Margaret Nichols" <mnichols@netspeed.com.au> To: <berkshire@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2010 8:41 AM Subject: [BRK] Windsor Union > Dear Listers > > > > Can anyone explain exactly what the Windsor Union is/was please? > > I have found several names in the 1841 census - the registration district > is > Windsor Union. Is that what it is - an area? > > > > With thanks in advance, Margaret (Canberra, Australia)