| Description | Aston Union had a Board made up of 25 elected Guardians, 18 from the parish of Aston, 4 from Sutton Coldfield parish, one each from the parishes of Curdworth and Wishaw, and one from the hamlet of Minworth, contained within Curdworth parish (see GP AS/1/1/1). In addition to these, 5 others were made Guardians ex-officio in their role as local magistrates. The Board of Guardians met weekly, meetings that were supplemented by other regular committees. Guardians were elected by the rate-payers within a Union, serving a term of one year, although individuals were eligible to stand again in the following year, and could serve as Guardians in more than one parish at the same time. The Board's main function was to decide upon all applications for poor relief, and to take the necessary measures to carry out such decisions. Along with this role, the Guardians exercised constant supervision over the administration of the relief system, and in doing so were responsible for the appointment of paid officers to carry out the work of the Union.
The volumes contain details on those Guardians present at each meeting, the appointment of paid officials within the Union, the formation of new committees by the Board, with responsibility for the various aspects of poor relief administration, and their reports to the Board of Guardians, the discussion of other business relating to the Union, e.g. the income and expenditure of the workhouse at Erdington, and levels of outdoor relief, and occasional references to individual inmates. The volumes are indexed. |