Description:February 1794 began with a pledge of support from several Potteries gentlemen towards a scheme for a new House of Industry in the Parish of Stoke-upon-Trent.
The House of Industry was to provide relief to the poor in their own homes, rather than codemning them to a life in the workhouse.
As an attempt to show that the scheme was viable, the men published details of their poor rates payments, totalling £195 3s 9d:
Josiah Wedgwood
Charles Smith
Ralph Baddeley
J.E. Heathcote
Ephraim Chatterly
Edward Keeling
John Hollins
John Yates
Charles Bagnall
Thomas Heath
John Baddeley
J. Middleton
Assuming that Stoke would generate 100 levies, the money raised would go towards generating £1,636 19s 2d from the whole parish.
The House of Industry was to provide relief to the poor in their own homes, rather than codemning them to a life in the workhouse.
About this document
Pottery manufacturer Enoch Wood kept this document, which is now among the collections of Stoke-on-Trent Museums.