The district had its origins in the Plomesgate Poor Law Union, which had been created in 1835.

A workhouse was built to serve the poor law union in 1836–1837 on Chapel Lane in Wickham Market.

[1] In 1872, sanitary districts were established, with responsibility for public health and local government given to the boards of guardians of poor law unions for areas without urban authorities.

The Plomesgate Rural Sanitary District initially covered the same area as the Plomesgate Poor Law Union, but in 1885 the town of Aldeburgh became a municipal borough and thereafter formed its own urban sanitary district.

Plomesgate Rural District comprised the following civil parishes:[8]