. For
a long period, indeed, the labouring class were subject to strict legal
rules, both as to service, and in their individual movements. It was
quite an innovation when, in 23 Henry VI. (1445), a servant was permitted
to change masters after giving due notice; and when moving, or, as it is
locally called, "flitting," from one parish to another, for employment,
he had to produce a certificate of settlement from his last abode. In
such matters the overseers were paramount, until their powers were
transferred to the newly constituted guardians of the poor, by Act of
Parliament, in 1839. {133}

The "workhouse" preceded the "union," which latter term was adopted when
parishes, throughout a large district, were _united_ for the purposes of
poor relief. {134a} In some cases a country parish had its own
workhouse. For instance, old parish books of Thimbleby, {134b} show that
in 1819 20 pounds was spent upon the village workhouse, which was insured
for 200 pounds.

Among some old churchwardens' records, in the possession of Mr. John
Overton, of Horncastle (members of whose family have frequently held that
office), it is mentioned that early in the 18th century a "public oven"
was erected in the town to enable the poor to cook their meals, or to
bake the "black bread," then in common use, {134c} more conveniently than
they could at home. {134d} At a later date (1780) a spinning school was
established by public rate, to help the poor to earn a livelihood by a
home industry. {134e}

An important advance was made in poor relief, in 1735, when, as the same
records state, "on April 17 a committee was appointed, {134f} in
Horncastle, to build a workhouse," and on May 7th in the following year a
brief note gives the cost of the building as being 175 pounds 13s. 4d.
This was situated on the east side of St. Mary's Square, separated by a
few yards from the Grammar School, the site being now (1908) occupied by
a common lodging house. It continued to be the public workhouse for over
100 years; and that the poor, who needed relief, were generally expected
to enter as inmates, is shewn by another brief note, in the same records,
to the following effect: "May 2nd, 1781. Out payments discontinued,
except in sickness."

It was not till 1838 that the present workhouse, in Foundry Street, was
built, from the designs of Mr.--afterwards Sir--Gilbert Scott, being one
of his earliest undertakings {134g} It is a commodious structure,
c