Under the English "New Poor Law" of 1834, civil parishes in England were required to join together to form workhouse unions with the aim of housing two classes of poor people, the poor and destitute of the areas served by the union, who were given long term, often permanent, but very frugal accommodation with a requirement to work 12 hours per day for 6 days a week, and vagrants , just passing through the district, who were housed for 2 nights, giving a full day for them to provide 8 hours
