Metropolitan Asylums Board
Encyclopedia
The Metropolitan Asylums Board (or MAB) was established under Poor Law
legislation, to deal with London
's sick poor. It was established by the Metropolitan Poor Act 1867 and was wound up in 1930, its functions being transferred to the London County Council
. Despite its name, the MAB was not involved in providing care for the mentally ill. During its lifetime, it set up around 40 institutions, beginning with three hospitals for smallpox
and fever cases, and two large asylums for what were then termed 'imbeciles' - people with severe learning difficulties.
Poor Law
The English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief which existed in England and Wales that developed out of late-medieval and Tudor-era laws before being codified in 1587–98...
legislation, to deal with London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's sick poor. It was established by the Metropolitan Poor Act 1867 and was wound up in 1930, its functions being transferred to the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
. Despite its name, the MAB was not involved in providing care for the mentally ill. During its lifetime, it set up around 40 institutions, beginning with three hospitals for smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
and fever cases, and two large asylums for what were then termed 'imbeciles' - people with severe learning difficulties.