19th July 1855
Arbroath. A letter of Messrs Lowson McDonald & Black dated 12th July, with copy minutes of the Parochial Board resolving to erect a Poorhouse, and plans for the Building, were submitted. The Committee approve the resolution to erect a Poorhouse, but delay consideration of the site and plans.
24th October 1855
Arbroath. A letter of Messrs Louson, Macdonald and Black, dated 19th October, with Plans of Poorhouse, altered as suggested, and Certificates by Architect and Medical Officer as to fitness of proposed site for Poorhouse, were submitted. The Board approved the site proposed, and continued consideration of the plans.
1st November 1855
Arbroath. The letters which were before the Board at last meeting, were again submitted with further letter of Messrs Henderson & Son of 29th October, and amended plans of proposed Poorhouse. The Board approved and signed the plans.
More than eight years later, though, Alexander Brown and six fellow Arbroath ratepayers write to the Board of Supervision with a complaint that seems a familiar one 150 years later:
10th December 1863
Arbroath - The Board took into consideration a letter from Alexander Brown and six other ratepayers of the Parish of Arbroath complaining of the management of the Parochial Lodging House for paupers - enquiring whether they are legally bound to pay Poor-rates to "uphold drunken paupers" in that house and stating that one of the paupers lodging there had been "two or three times convicted at the Police Court within the last six months for drunkenness".
The "Administrative Committee" of the Parochial Board admits the truth of the allegation regarding the pauper referred to, but states truly that the Parochial Board has no power to prevent the free ingress and egress of Paupers residing in the lodging house and asserts its willingness to assist by all legitimate means in lessening or preventing the waste of the means of the Poor.
The Board would suggest for the consideration of the Parochial Board whether one of the most efficient of the legitimate means which they express their willingness to adopt would not be substitute for the present Lodging House that Statutory Poorhouse which in May 1855, the Parochial Board resolved to erect - of which the Plans were approved by the Board of Supervision in November of that year and which the Parochial Board is still under a legal obligation to erect, altho' the Board of Supervision have hitherto abstained from taking measures to enforce that obligation.
8th September 1864
Arbroath Combination Poorhouse - Leters from Messrs J & W McDonald dated 31st August and 5th September with relative sketch of proposed site for poorhouse and certificates by architect and medical officer, were submitted and continued.
15th September 1864
Arbroath Combination Poorhouse - The documents which were before the Board at last meeting were again submitted with further letter from Messrs J & W Macdonald dated 8th September and relative Ordnance Survey map for the parish of St Vigeans with proposed site for the poorhouse marked thereon. The Board approved the site.
9th February 1865
Arbroath Poorhouse Combination - Two letters from Messrs J & W Macdonald dated 6th February, with plans of proposed poorhouse was [sic] submitted. The Board approved and signed the plans.
- Board of Supervision for Relief of the Poor, Minute Books. National Records of Scotland, HH23/6 p. 95. 19 July 1855
- Board of Supervision for Relief of the Poor, Minute Books. National Records of Scotland, HH23/6 p. 123. 24 October 1855
- Board of Supervision for Relief of the Poor, Minute Books. National Records of Scotland, HH23/6 p. 125. 1 November 1855
- Board of Supervision for Relief of the Poor, Minute Books. National Records of Scotland, HH23/11 p. 53. 10 December 1863
- Board of Supervision for Relief of the Poor, Minute Books. National Records of Scotland, HH23/11 p. 155. 8 September 1864
- Board of Supervision for Relief of the Poor, Minute Books. National Records of Scotland, HH23/11 p. 208. 9 February 1865