Workhouse

The Workhouse

1903 The South Wales Press - Lunacy

The Workhouse

In 1834 new Poor Laws were passed and Poor Law Guardians were appointed to maintain workhouses.The National Insurance Act of 1948 abolished the existing Poor Law. Llanelli’s Workhouse became Bryntirion Hospital. This is a view of the rear of the building.

Workhouses were places where the unemployed had to work for their keep in conditions made deliberately less attractive than those of any factory or mine. The working classes felt betrayed by the middle classes and many of the middle classes disliked the fact that they would have to contribute taxes towards the upkeep of the workhouses. It must be said that not all the middle classes felt this way and many sympathised with the workers and their families.

1834 The Poor Law Act of 1834 stated that in future no able-bodied man who lost his job would be eligible for outdoor relief. Instead the unemployed would have to live in one of the new workhouses which the Government was to build following the Act.

1837 Following the Poor Law Act the Llanelli Guardians of the Llanelly Union was established with responsibility for maintaining the Workhouse.

1938 Complaints were made, and vehemently disputed, that elderly people who should have been cared for in the Public Assistance Institutions were sent to end their days in mental hospitals.

1948 The National Insurance Act of 1948 abolished the existing Poor Law. Llanelli’s Workhouse became Bryntirion Hospital.

LLANELLY UNION

[DUTY FREE]

TENDER FOR IRON BEDSTEADS

Notice is hereby given, that the Guardians of the Llanelly Union are ready to receive

TENDERS

from any Person or Persons who may feel desirous of

CONTRACTING with them for

SIXTY WROUGHT IRON BEDSTEADS

For the NEW WORKHOUSE, on the most improved principle It is requested that Sealed Tenders be send (post-paid) to the Clerk of the Board of Guardians on or before the 31st day of January instant, endorsed Tenders for Iron Bedsteads

By order of the Board

W M REES, Clerk Llanelly

10th January 1839

1903 The South Wales Press, 5 November

LLANELLY GUARDIANS

Lunacy Cases: Inspector’s Good Report

Llanelly Guardians met on Thursday, Mr Seymour presiding.

Mr Hammond reported on his visit to the Asylum, and stated that there were 50 males and 46 females from the Llanelly Union. A few would shortly be allowed out on trial. The majority of the cases were hopeless.

Mr Bircham, HMI, said he visited the house and found everything satisfactory. He was pleased with the excellent way in which the children were looked after. There are 122 inmates in the house as compared with 108 last year. Amongst the applicants for relief was a person who recently owned property but disposed of it a few months ago. An offer was made by the sons to contribute 4s. 6d. a week. The Guardians said they ought not to make the applicants paupers.

The matter was left to the relieving officer.

Workhouse Census for 1881

1 Deaf; 2 Blind; 3 Imbecile or Idiot; 4 Lunatic

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Born
William George Head	Married	57	Workhouse Master	Carms, Llangendeirne,
Mary George	Wife	53	Matron	Carms, Towyn
Maria L George	Daughter UN	18	Pupil Teacher	Carms, Llanelly
Albert George	Son UN	16	Catcher at Tinworks	Carms, Llanelly
Emily George	Daughter UN	11	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Mary A Williams	Officer UN	34	School Mistress	Carms, Pembrey
Anne Laing	Officer WID	64	Hospital Nurse	Carms, Llanelly
Mary Jones	Inmate UN	30	Charwoman	Carms, Llanelly
Margaret Owens	Inmate UN	13	Scholar	Glam, Merthyr Tydfil
Mary A Bowen	Inmate UN	15	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
James Bowen	Inmate UN Partially Deaf & Dumb	16	Student	Carms, Llanelly
Nathaniel Breeze	Inmate UN	12	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Ann Evans	Inmate UN Imbecile	40	Copper Refiner’s wife	Warwick, Ladbroke
Mary Evans	Inmate UN Blind	48	Charwoman	Carms, Llandilo
Mary Evans	Inmate UN	7	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
David Davies	Inmate UN	47	Labourer at Copperworks	Carms, Llanelly
Elizabeth Jones	Inmate UN Partially Blind	57	Seamstress	Brecknock, Brecon
Thomas Thomas	Inmate WDR	60	Shoemaker	Carmarthen, Town
Mary Thomas	Inmate WID	79	Toy Shop	Carms, Llangunog
David Jones	Inmate UN	5	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
William Jones	Inmate WDR	76	Sawyer	Carms, Llanelly
Sophia Evans	Inmate UN	12	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Maria Beynon	Inmate UN	29	Charwoman	Carms, Llangendeirne
Mary Beynon	Inmate UN	5	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
William Thomas	Inmate UN	71	Agricultural Labourer	Carmarthen, Town
Mary Jane Jones	Inmate UN	15	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Phillip Jones	Inmate UN	25	General Labourer	Carms, Llanelly
John Jones	Inmate UN	51	General Labourer	Carms, Llanelly
Harriet Thomas	Inmate M	54	Plasterer’s wife	Devon, Ilfracombe
Griffith Williams	Inmate M	73	Stone Mason	Carms, Llanelly
Rees Rees	Inmate UN	57	Coal Miner	Carms, Llannon
Henry Morgans	Inmate UN	14	Scholar	Carms, Llangennech
William Morgans	Inmate UN	12	Scholar	Carms, Llangennech
Griffith Morgans	Inmate UN	11	Scholar	Carms, Llangennech
William Evans	Inmate UN	8	Scholar	Glam, Loughor
Mary Jones	Inmate WID	74	Joiner’s Widow	Carms, Llanelly
Jane Bevan	Inmate UN	60	Domestic Servant	Pembs, Haverfordwest
Betsey Edwards	Inmate UN Imbecile	17	Stone Mason’s Daughter	Carms, Llanelly
Thomas Lewis	Inmate UN	70	General Labourer	Carms, Llanboidy
David Hugh	Inmate UN	56	General Labourer	Carms, Llanelly
Catherine Boyzier?	Inmate WID	48	Tailor’s Widow	Ireland
James Williams	Inmate WDR	78	General Labourer	Worcs, Hereford
David J Hinder	Inmate UN	11	Scholar	Glam, Neath
Walter Morgans	Inmate M	70	Carpenter	Carms, Llanelly
Ann Jones	Inmate UN	53	Copperworker	Carms, Llanelly
Margaret McDonald	Inmate M	23	Labourer’s Wife	Scotland
Suzannah Davies	Inmate UN	12	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
John E Davies	Inmate UN	11	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Margaret Hopkins	Inmate M	33	Farmer’s Wife	Carms, Llandilo
Elias Davies	Inmate UN	13	Scholar	Carms, Llanon
David Hopkins	Inmate UN	7	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
William Hopkins	Inmate UN	5	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Thomas Hopkins	Inmate UN	5	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Daniel Davies	Inmate UN	10	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
James Owens	Inmate M	33	General Labourer	Carms, Llanelly
Margaret Owens	Inmate UN	4	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Mary McCarthy	Inmate WID	63	Marine Store Dealer’s Widow	Ireland
John Baker	Inmate UN Blind	61	General Labourer	Ireland
Ann Evans	Inmate UN	28	Copperworker	Carms, Ferryside
John Evans	Inmate UN	4	Scholar	Carmarthen, Town
Lewis Lewis	Inmate UN	71	Shoemaker	Carms, Llangendeirne
Mary Williams	Inmate M	32	Labourer’s Wife	Carmarthen, Town
Harriet Williams	Inmate UN	4	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Sarah A Williams	Inmate UN	1	Labourer’s Son	Carms, Llanelly
John O’Neal	Inmate WDR	74	Joiner	Ireland
Thomas Griffiths	Inmate UN Partially Deaf & Dumb	50	No Occupation	Carmarthen, Town
Mary Jones	Inmate UN	2	General Labourer’s Daughter	Carms, Llanelly
David Bowen	Inmate M	65	General Labourer	Carms, Llanelly
Esther Morgans	Inmate UN	10	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Mary Jane Morgans	Inmate UN	8	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Francis Morgans	Inmate UN	5	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
William Evans	Inmate UN	7	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Edward Evans	Inmate UN	5	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Joseph Morgans	Inmate WDR	30	General Labourer	Pembs, Tenby
Ann Davies	Inmate M	40	Ship Carpenter’s Wife	Carms, Llanelly
Mary Phillips	Inmate UN	11	Scholar	Glam, Landore
Annie Phillips	Inmate UN	9	Scholar	Glam, Morriston
Maggie Phillips	Inmate UN	4	Scholar	Glam, Morriston
Jonah Jones	Inmate M	74	Coal Miner	Pembs, Tenby
William Price	Inmate WDR	70	Master Sailor	Carms, Llandilo
John Roberts	Inmate UN	47	Road Labourer	Carms, Llanelly
Daniel Cossett	Inmate WDR	64	Refiner Tinworks	Glam, Llangyfelach
Thomas Thomas	Inmate UN	57	Butcher	Carms, Pembrey
Edward Morgan	Inmate UN Imbecile	17	No Occupation	Carms, Llanelly
William Thomas	Inmate UN	58	Lead Smelter	Carms, Llanelly
Mary Phillips	Inmate UN Imbecile	43	No Occupation	Pembrokeshire
Sarah James	Inmate UN	37	General Servant	Carms, Pembrey
Evan Aubrey	Inmate M	59	Joiner	Llanwinnio
David Edwards	Inmate M	36	Coal Miner	Brecknock
Mary Edwards	Inmate M	27	Coal Miner’s Wife	Dowlais
Mary Ann Edwards	Inmate UN	1	Coal Miner’s Daughter	Dowlais
Anthony Williams	Inmate UN	71	Joiner	Carms, Kidwelly
Rachel Griffiths	Inmate UN	43	General Servant	Carms, Kidwelly
Sarah Jones	Inmate UN	6	Scholar	Carms, Llanon
William Williams	Inmate UN	71	Agricultural Labourer	Carms, Llangendeirne
Ann Davies	Inmate UN	10	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Jane Davies	Inmate UN	8	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
David Jones	Inmate WDR	60?	Joiner	Carms, Llanelly
Harriet Protheroe	Inmate UN	23?	General Servant	Carms, Llangennech
Richard Price	Inmate UN	12	Scholar	Carms, Llanedy
David John Price	Inmate UN	10	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Rachel Price	Inmate UN	8	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Rachel Edwards	Inmate UN	68	No Occupation Imbecile	Carms, Llanelly
William John	Inmate UN	6	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly
Jane John	Inmate UN	4	Scholar	Carms, Llanelly