ABSTRACT
In England and Wales the casuals had to search out a Union relieving officer for an admission order. The 'Buller Memorandum' of 1848, issued by the President of the Poor Law Board to all Unions, laid down stricter guidelines for admitting casuals. The policy worked, for by 1866 London's casual ward beds had more than doubled compared with 1863, but, as some Unions had sharing arrangements with others, vagrants could still find they had a long, miserable trudge to a shelter. Berkshire was a pioneering way Ticket County from 1871, but lost enthusiasm owing to non-cooperation from some of its own poor law Unions and lack of continuity into neighbouring counties. The Unions enjoyed a respite during a prosperous spell from 1897, and potential casual ward inflow was also siphoned off into the army during the Boer War. On 1 January 1900 casual ward figures were down to less than 5,600.
