What was life like for the rural poor in 18th century England? Just as new agricultural technology was replacing farm workers with machines, medical advances were improving life expectancy. The result in the rural East Anglian county of Suffolk was a scarcity of employment that left many without the means to support themselves or their families. In this fascinating glimpse into community action at a local level, Victor Peskett reveals in this book the workings of the Guardians of the Poor in Metfield, Suffolk, a village committee with powers to levy a charge on the community and, after close...