The Poor Law was replaced by Poor Law Unions in 1834 (Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834) and Darlaston became part of the Poor Law Union of Walsall. The Walsall Union Workhouse was erected on Pleck Road and Darlaston's poor were sent there.

The Poor Laws were part of an early system of local government where decisions about local matters were taken by the parish ratepayers. Local officers serving the community were also elected at these meetings. In 1838 a Vestry meeting to elect a parish Constable and his assistant the Headborough was so well attended that everyone present had to move from the vestry into the churchyard where the meeting took place. During the proceedings John Howl was elected Constable and John Hughes elected Headborough.

In 1869 the Local Government Act of 1858 was adopted and a Local Board formed in preference to the unsatisfactory Board of Surveyors. Twenty members were elected by the ratepayers and the candidates included almost everyone of note in the town. The results of the December 1869 election were as follows:

The first meeting was held on 15th February, 1870 in the upper room of the old malthouse behind the White Lion in King Street. The following people were elected as officers:

Chairman - Mr. Samuel Rubery; Clerk - Mr. Thomas Brevitt; Medical Officer of Health - Mr. Samuel Partridge.

Public Toilets The Victorians gave us many public amenities, including public toilets and public parks, which were once taken for granted. In the latter part of 1875 the Local Board decided that the town should have its first public toilets in the form of two cast-iron urinals. An Order was placed with Walter Macfarlane & Company of Glasgow for a double circular urinal with a lamp, to be erected at the Bull Stake, and a singular circular urinal to be erected at Blockall.   As soon as the local ratepayers discovered the plans for the Bull Stake, the following petition was raised: We, the undersigned ratepayers of Darlaston and residents of Pinfold Street, most earnestly and respectfully beg of you not to erect a urinal on the Bull Stake as we think it not at all required, would be a glaringly offensive nuisance and would spoil the largest and most useful open space in the town. Your most obedient servants

There were 65 signatures and so the petition was considered at a special meeting of the Local Board on the 25th January, 1876. It was decided that the urinal would not be erected at the Bull Stake, but in April it was built on the corner of King Street and Victoria Road (then Pardoe's Lane). There was an immediate outcry, but the urinal stayed there until 1902 when it was moved to Victoria Park and discretely hidden behind a clump of trees. The urinal at Blockall was erected as planned. The urinal in Victoria Park and the one at Blockall, remained in position until they were badly affected by rust and had to be demolished. Public toilets were later built on the corner of Crescent Road and Walsall Road, next to the railway embankment. They were eventually replaced by the ones below, which survived until the town centre was redeveloped to make way for the current ASDA store.

An example of a Macfarlane urinal.

The last council public toilets in Darlaston, off King Street. From the collection of the late Howard Madeley.

Mr. Samuel Partridge, Medical Officer of Health. From Hackwood's "A History of Darlaston", 1887.

By 1870 the population had increased to 14,724 and the high death rate in the area (25.6 per 1,000) gradually reduced over the next few years, falling to 20.84 per 1,000 in 1886. During the smallpox epidemic of 1882 the Local Board rented a large house for use as an isolation hospital.

The members of the Board in 1880 were as follows:

The Local Board remained in charge of local affairs until the Local Government Act was Passed in 1894 and as a result Darlaston became an Urban District on 1st January 1895 with an Urban District Council. Councillor Joseph Yardley, J.P. was elected Chairman after serving on the Local Board for 12 years. He was born in Darlaston in 1848 and worked as a brewer.

Councillors and Council Officers in 1901: