The New Poor Law was very unpopular. Workhouses were not nice places to live. Protests from local people in Preston delayed the building of the Preston Workhouse. It was not built until 1869.

From 1601 until 1834 the parish church was responsible for helping people in times of hardship. Small sums of money were often given to help families and individuals to buy food and other essentials.

After 1834 the Poor Law Reform Act required that local parishes should be grouped into Poor Law Unions. Instead of giving out money to the poor, Poor Law Unions built workhouses. Workhouses were massive barrack-like buildings where the poor had to live and work for their food and clothing. Workhouses had strict and harsh regimes. Many people were scared of ending up in the workhouse. In reality the workhouse became home for thousands of old people.