Caton Gilbert Union, Lancashire

History
On 3rd June, 1822, Caton and seven other parishes and townships signed an agreement to form a Gilbert Union. The union was enlarged by the addition of a further 13 parishes on 4th May 1829. The union erected a workhouse to the south-east of Caton. There were also poorhouses at Caton Green, to the east of Caton. Because of its Gilbert Union status, Caton was exempted from most of the provisions of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act. In 1856, its membership comprised the parishes of

Bolton_le_Sands,_Lancashire Bolton-le-Sands, Borwick, Caton, Claughton, Farleton, Gressingham, Halton, Heysham, Hornby, Nether Kellet; Poulton, Bare, and Torrisholme; Over Kellet, Quernmoor [Quernmore], Slyne-with-Hest, Tatham, Wennington, and Wray-with-Botton.

Bolton le Sands, Lancashire Caton with Littledale, Lancashire Claughton, Lancashire Gressingham, Lancashire Halton, Lancashire Heysham, Lancashire Hornby, Lancashire Over Kellet, Lancashire Poulton, Lancashire Quernmore, Lancashire Tatham, Lancashire Tatham Fells, Lancashire Wray, Lancashire

Despite criticisms by the poor law Commissioners the Union survived until all Gilbery Unions were abolished and a new Lunesdale Poor Law Union took in the Caton Parishes.

Records
• Lancashire Record Office, Bow Lane, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2RE. Very few local records survive. • Vestry minutes and churchwardens' accounts PR2895/5 1828-1847 With agreement for erecting workhouse for Claughton, Caton, Wrag-with-botton, Over Kellet, Gressingham, Wennington, Poulton, Bare and Torrisholme, Quernmore, Borwick, Roeburndale, Hornby, Bolton-le-Sands and Nether Kellet 6 May 1829 Workhouse Accounts PR869 1830 - 1841