HE UNION WORKHOUSE

Short History John Hainsworth

The Union Workhouse at Llanfyllin is one of the very few to have survived rela- tively intact. It bears witness to a system which many people found cruel, but others saw as a model of enlightened administration. It served a large area of , from the Tanat to the , for a century or more and af- fected, for good or ill, the lives of thousands of people: the poor, the infirm or the unlucky who lived within its walls, or in their shadow.

Research into the history of the Llanfyllin Workhouse has only recently begun and this short account, based on an exhibition mounted in 2004, is intended as an introduction. The Llanfyllin Dolydd Building Preservation Trust has estab- lished a History Group to examine the surviving records, to preserve the recollections of those who remember the building in its various roles and ultimately, when the Trust’s plans are realised, to set up a permanent exhibition and archive in the Workhouse where the full story can be told. The Trust would be glad to hear from anyone who would like to help with the task, or with other aspects of its work.

The Llanfyllin Dolydd Building Preservation Trust 2004 times they were sent to live in a poorhouse, or workhouse, so-called because their occu- pants were supposed to be made to work. This system operated for over 200 years.

he New Poor Law

By the early 9th Cen- tury pauperism seemed to be on the increase. With the industrial revo- lution traditional trades declined, while employ- ment in the new indus- tries was subject to lanfyllin, with the former parish workhouse in the fore- sudden fluctuations. ground. A simple cottage, it is typical of such buildings New agricultural ma- under the old system. It became redundant when the new chinery was making Workhouse was built. men redundant. Enclo- sures had robbed coun- he Old Poor Law try people of the common land where they could collect fuel or graze a pig Ever since Tudor times the state has – the Llanfyllin town commons had recognised, however reluctantly, an been enclosed under an act of 789. obligation to look after people unable Soldiers returned from the Napo- to look after themselves. The old or leonic Wars looking for work. In infirm with no resources and no fam- many areas a farm worker’s wages ily to support them; orphans; even had become too low to support a the able-bodied and their families family, and had to be supplemented when no work was to be had, were from the rates. All this meant that not to be left to starve. Under a law more and more people were applying of 60 these paupers became the for poor relief, and between 803 responsibility of their own parish. and 88 the cost of maintaining The cost of maintaining them fell paupers almost doubled. Many par- upon the rate-payers – local proper- ishes were too small to cope with the ty-owners – who elected overseers to expense involved, and in some dis- collect the money and administer it. tricts bigger workhouses, covering a Usually paupers were given ‘out-re- wider area, were already seen as a lief’ – an allowance of money or food solution: one was built at , to live in their own homes: some- near , in 794.

2 he Act of 1834 look elsewhere and seek work, and in this it was quite effective: in - The Annual Re- fyllin as in other places most work- ports of the house inmates turned out to be the Poor aw Com- old, the infirm or handicapped, and missioners, is- children. In practice some out-relief sued from 1835, laid down in continued to be given, especially great detail the where the bread-winner of a family rules governing had fallen ill, but for many the Work- the new system. house was a constant threat. Such bureauc- racy was a new The Act was passed by an over- feature of Brit- whelming majority, and despite op- ish life. position the new system was rapidly By the 830s the growth of poor re- established in most parts of lief was seen, not just as a financial and . In the first five years burden, but as a social evil: a disin- around 350 new workhouses were centive to saving, an inducement to built in England and Wales, and by idleness and a threat to the moral 883 the number had grown to 554. welfare of the nation. Pressure grew for reform. In 832 Parliament set he New Workhouse up a Commission of Inquiry, and its Report led to the Poor Law Amend- ment Act of 834. The Act created Unions of parishes, big enough to be viable. Each Union was governed by a Board of Guardians, elected by the rate-payers, who organised re- lief for all paupers in the district and billed their parish for the cost. At a national level the Unions were to be overseen by the Poor Law Commis- sioners, who laid down strict guide- lines to be followed. At the heart of the system was the Union Work- house. Specimen forms for the admission and dis- charge of workhouse inmates, published by the Poor aw Commissioners. Paupers were no longer to be re- lieved at home: if they did not want In 822 Captain George Nicholls, to starve they had to enter the Work- who was associated with the pio- house. Conditions there would be neering new Workhouse at South- grim enough to deter all but the des- well in Nottinghamshire, had written: perate, and thus large savings could be made. The object of the system I wish to see the poorhouse looked was to make able-bodied paupers to with dread by our labouring class- 3 es, and the reproach for being an inmate of it extend downwards from father to son. Let the poor see and feel that their parish, though it will not al- low them to perish from absolute want, is yet the hardest taskmaster, the clos- est paymaster and the most harsh and unkind friend they can apply to.’ Rules for segregation laid down by the Poor The new workhouses were designed aw Commissioners in their first Report. to deter. The buildings were often bleak and forbidding, cheaply built Essential both to the control exer- and prominently situated outside the cised in the workhouse and to its town. The Poor Law Commissioners deterrent effect was the segregation published specimen designs by the of the inmates. The guidelines laid architect Sampson Kempthorne. down by the Poor Law Commission- They were influenced by Jeremy ers divided paupers by age, gender Bentham’s ‘Panopticon’, a prison or and physical condition into 7 classes, ‘House of Industry’ with blocks radi- who were not to be allowed to mix. ating from a central point from which Ideally they should be in separate the inmates could be supervised. institutions: in practice they were normally in one building which was designed with separate wings and exer- cise yards which made it impossible for them to meet. In answer to pro- tests that it was inhuman to split up families the Commissioners pointed out that the arrangement

Sampson Kempthorne’s design for a workhouse on a radial plan, which facilitated the divi- sion of the inmates into classes. The yards could be supervised from the ‘Master’s Parlor’ in the centre. 4 Design by Sampson Kempthorne for a Work- house to accommodate 200 paupers, published in the Report of the Poor aw Commission- ers for 1836. It was in- tended as a model for Boards of Guardians to follow. The plan of the lanfyllin Union Work- house is similarly shaped like a cross, with four courtyards. was supposed to be temporary, that he Llanfyllin Poor Law Union soldiers and sailors were separated from their loved ones, and that hus- The Poor Law Commissioners ap- bands and wives were sometimes pointed 7 Assistant Commissioners grateful to be kept apart! Whilst reg- whose job it was to ensure that Poor ulations did permit rooms to be pro- Law Unions were formed and work- vided for aged couples, this rarely if houses built without delay. The As- ever occurred in practice. sistant Commissioner responsible for and much of was William Day. We know much about his activities as his letter books, nine large volumes, are preserved in the National Library of Wales. Day set about his task with great energy, and in August 836 he told his superiors in Lon- don he was inclined to think ‘an important and effective Union may be made at Llanfyllin.’

The Llanfyllin Union was originally made up of 23 parishes: Llanfyllin, Mei- fod, Llanfihangel, Llanwd- The ground floor plan of Sampson Kemp- dyn, Llanfair , thorne’s Workhouse for 200 paupers, with Garthbeibio, , , the Master’s accommodation at the centre. Llangyniew, Llandisilio, Llansantf- 5 *Pennant

Llansantffraid * * lanfyllin* Llanrhaeadr * * *Llanfihangel * *Garthbeibio * *Llanerfyl *

The County of Montgomeryshire, showing the 23 parishes (not all named on the map) which constituted the lanfyllin Poor aw Union. Guilsfield joined the Union in 1856. fraid (Pool and Deythur), , The Board of Guardians consisted of Llandrinio, , Hirnant, Pen- elected members from each parish - nant, , Llanrhaeadr ym two from the largest parishes - along Mochnant (Montgomeryshire and with local magistrates who were ex- Denbighshire), Llanarmon Mynydd officio members. These, mostly land- Mawr and Llancawaladr. The com- owners or clergymen, played a lead- bined population was nearly 20,000. ing role in the early years, though the In 856 the large parish of Guilsfield other Guardians would soon learn was added. that they could be outvoted.

Normally the site for the new Work- The Llanfyllin Union was formed at a house would have been near the meeting of the newly elected Guardi- centre of the Union area, not more ans at the Wynnstay Arms (now the than ten miles’ walk from any part of Cain Valley Hotel) on 6 February it. Llanfyllin was near the northern 837. William Day was in attend- border, but was nevertheless chosen ance and declared the proceedings to as the administrative centre. Per- be ‘very satisfactory’. The Union was haps it had the advantage of having divided into four districts, each admin- a relatively docile population: any istered by a Relieving Officer to be militancy seems to have been con- paid £50 a year, who would distribute centrated around Llanfair, in the relief to paupers and was also to be south. Registrar for births, deaths and mar- 6 Elections to the Board of Guardi- ans had to be held each year The property qualification meant that most were farmers. Proceedings of the Board were held in English, and this caused problems for at least one small parish which had difficulty in finding an English speaker qualified to stand.

responsibilities would in- clude vaccination against smallpox. Their salaries were to be £40 a year, though this soon had to be increased to £50. Adver- tisements for suitable candi- dates were to be inserted in the newspa- pers. Martin Williams, a prominent local magistrate and landowner, was elected Chairman: he had been working with William Day on the formation of the Union from the outset. The unre- lated Humphrey Lloyd Wil- liams was elected Clerk. riages. There were to be four Medi- The meeting resolved: ‘That a Work- cal Officers: as well as providing house be built for the Union capable medical treatment for the poor their of containing 250 paupers.’

Martin Williams Esq., first Chairman of the lanfyllin Board of Guardians, in the uni- form of the 15th Hussars. Born in Jamaica where his family owned extensive sugar plantations he had bought the Bryngwyn estate, close to lanfyllin, in 1813. William Day was on good terms with him, and stayed at Bryngwyn several times. Martin Williams seems to have been widely re- spected. The Guardians voted their thanks to him for ‘his kind and humane disposition towards the paupers at all times.’ His obit- uary praised ‘his ever watchful care in pro- tecting alike the interests of the ratepayers and the deserving poor.’

7 he Llanfair Riot

Opposition to the new Unions in has been the subject of various ac- some parts of the country was bitter, counts. This one, in a letter written and the Newtown and Un- shortly afterwards to the Poor Law ion Workhouse at was at- Commissioners by the Assistant tacked by a mob who damaged the Commissioner William Day and tran- partially completed building. In the scribed from his letter books, is the Llanfyllin Union resistance was most detailed and probably the most strongest in Llanfair Caereinion. The accurate. famous Llanfair riot of 3 April 837

entlemen On Sunday last I received a communication from Mr Martin Williams, the Chairman of the Llanfyllin Union, that the Receiving Officer of the Llanfair District had been assaulted at that place and obstructed in the execution of his duty [and] that the Guardians had consequently adjourned their Board for the Tuesday.... I therefore thought it to be my duty to attend at that time, and accordingly reached the meeting by the commencement of the business of the day. We were ... soon informed by the Relieving Officer that he had a difficulty in bringing up the paupers into the room, and he shortly afterwards stated that he was obstructed by the crowd who … threatened any paupers who were willing to come before the Board, but also attempted to drag him out of the house and had tried to hustle him. Besides the magistrates only four Guardians (from Llanfair and the immediate neighbourhood) were in attendance. Unfortunately the magis- trates could not speak Welsh, and we consequently sent down the Clerk and one of the Guardians to expostulate with the mob. This however pro- duced no effect, and the excitement was rapidly rising to a considerable height. The Chairman went out and was immediately assailed with mud and filth. We then sent for the constables of the town – but none were forthcom- ing… We then obtained a list of names of Householders in the town to swear in as Special Constables, but of about a dozen persons who were sent to one only came to our assistance... At this time word was brought us that the mob had forced the gate of the stable yard off its hinges and were proceeding to attack our carriages – we consequently went to the yard and then, in the front of the house, a considerable scuffle took place. They seized one of the Guardians for the purpose of what they call “trotting him” – which is running him down to the River and immersing him. Being a power- ful man and a determined one he was enabled to resist, but at one time he was got down by the mob and but for the assistance of Mr Williams would, I have no doubt, been seriously injured... There were the usual oaths – and threats – and the usual emblem of the “bloody flag” paraded under and forced up against our windows…. Not some old and dirty handkerchief but a new piece of glazed calico that must have been supplied by one of the shops of the town.

8 It was now five o’clock and the question was in what way we should effect our retreat... The men were beginning to return from their work, and the number of the crowd of all sorts had increased to probably from three to 400 – and was rapidly getting larger. The difficulty however was how to get our car- riages out of the yard through the mob, and we accordingly retreated on foot through the town… The mob followed at a little distance, annoying us with eggs and more formidable missiles, but it had the desired effect and gave our servants the opportunity to get the carriages out. During the greater part of the day few men were engaged in what I may term the manual part of the disturbance – they stood upon the rising ground evidently urging on the women and contenting themselves with pelting us from time to time at a distance. But on leaving the Town they took up a position in the Churchyard, which commands a turn of the road and the Bridge, and gave us a regular volley as we passed. Most of the Guardians were hit, and Mr Williams’ servant was considerably hurt by a blow on the mouth. Individually I escaped from a curious circumstance. Being consider- ably lame from an accident to my knee, I was unable to walk except with the greatest difficulty. Knowing I could not keep up with the rest of the party I left the Inn first and alone and they shortly afterwards passed me in the middle of the town, Mr Williams (“that great d__d hulking fellow from ”, as they said) having been mistaken for me, and having also taken an active part in the affray. The principal anger of the mob was directed at him, and they passed me without noticing me, thinking I was not of the party. …[I] thus escaped without a single blow and joined Mr Williams a short distance out of the Town. The Relieving Officer whose life I have no doubt would have been endan- gered had the mob got hold of him, was obliged to secrete himself in a store room till the night and escaped in the dark….

William Day was relieved to get came Surveyor for Montgomeryshire back to Bryngwyn where he sent for in 87 and served for 42 years, his wife to join him for her own safe- building many of the County’s bridg- ty. But in the end resistance quickly es. His elder son, Thomas Main- collapsed. The militia were called waring Penson, was responsible for out, but did not even need to enter numerous railway stations including the town. The threat was sufficient, that at Shrewsbury; his younger son, and opposition to the new Union Richard Kyrke Penson, was best melted away. known for his churches.

homas Penson was a prolific archi- tect who designed buildings At the second meeting of the Guard- throughout the Welsh border coun- ians Thomas Penson was appointed ties in a variety of styles: they in- architect for the new Workhouse. cluded the parish church at Penson was a member of a distin- Newtown, the Butchers’ Market in guished family of architects. His and the old Powis Hall father, also called Thomas, was Market in . He trained un- County Surveyor for Flint and Den- der the neo-classical architect Tho- bighshire: Thomas the Younger be- mas Harrison of , and the 9 Llanfyllin Union Workhouse shows known locally, and just before receiv- that he could handle classical detail ing the commission for Llanfyllin he effectively. Based in Oswestry had been asked to design the New- where his house still stands in Willow town and Llanidloes Union Work- Street he must have been well house at Caersws.

he Llanfyllin Union Workhouse

The entrance front of the Workhouse, seen from the west. There were two doorways in the cen- tre: one giving access to the area where the paupers were received, the other leading directly into the Board Room where the Guardians held their meetings. It has been suggested that the handsome classical detail may reflect the influence of the Chairman, Martin Williams: the factories and plantation buildings of his native Jamaica were built in similar style.

The Guardians resolved that the new obstructed view of each courtyard. workhouse should be built within two The left and right hand arms, for miles of the town of Llanfyllin. At first women and men respectively, had landowners were reluctant to provide two-storey cross wings at the ends a site: eventually the Rector, Mr Hugh- and these, along with lower blocks or es, agreed to sell some of his land on walls, originally enclosed the court- condition that the Guardians were pre- yards on all sides. The arm project- pared to provide a burial ground, ap- ing towards the rear housed the point a Chaplain and ensure religious dining room or rooms, one no doubt instruction for the Workhouse children. doubling as a chapel: children lived in the arm towards the front. The wards Thomas Penson had clearly studied had windows on each side, giving the specimen designs provided by cross-ventilation; heating was by Sampson Kempthorne. His plan was open fires. The entrance block, fac- for four two-storey blocks in the shape ing the town, contained the waiting of a cross, creating courtyards for men room and the Board Room where the and women at the back; boys and girls Guardians held their weekly meet- at the front. At the centre was a three- ings: behind were facilities where story block where the Master and Ma- newly admitted inmates could be tron lived: its octagonal core gave it bathed and dressed in the workhouse diagonally placed windows with an un- uniform. 0 Thomas Penson’s origi- nal designs have not survived. The section shown here, and the plan below, were drawn af- ter the Work- house had been taken over by Montgomery- shire County Council, but be- fore alterations had been made. Penson’s building is of rough, local found: “The general arrangement and stone with smoother dressings and Classification are good.” an inner core of brick. Whilst the de- sign of most of the structure is utili- The Building Accounts in the ledgers tarian, the main façade is surprisingly at County Archives and corre- grand with round-headed doorways spondence from Thomas Penson pre- and windows on the ground floor and Venetian windows beneath blank arches at either end. The ends of the two side wings are treated as flanking pa- vilions, and above the Master’s quarters the building is crowned by a cupola – now unfortunately altered – from which a bell sounded to order the rhythm of the day.

Penson’s plans were sub- mitted to the Poor Law Commissioners’ architect who made some criticisms and wrote: “The projec- tions for water closets in Main Build- served at the Public Record Office, ing appear unnecessary and will be Kew, tell us much about the people attended with the inconvenience of who built the Workhouse and the ma- affording lurking places out of sight terials they used. The contractor was from the Master”. Otherwise he Hugh Morris of Llanfair Talhaiarn. For the walling he used a local to line the walls internally with bricks, stone, but this proved inadequate for and these were made, probably on or the finer masonry. Penson had to near the site, by John Beard of Os- explain why the cost of the Work- westry. The slate roofing came from house, which had reached £7,630, John Griffiths at the Rhiwarth Slate exceeded his estimate by nearly two Quarry, Llangynog; the cast iron win- and a half thousand, and wrote: In dows were made by John Onions of consequence of the Stone from the Newtown and by Gittins and Cart- adjacent Quarries which was in- wright, a firm still to be traced. Timber tended to be used not proving of suf- was carried by river and canal from ficient quality for the work…. the to be worked by the carpen- whole of the Quoins, Dressings, ter, Rowland Evans. Construction Piers etc had to be carried a dis- work was under way by 838, and in tance of 12 miles’. The poor quality November 840 the Clerk was able to of the stone also made it necessary write: “The House is filling fast.”’

edger entries showing payments to the contractor, Hugh Morris, and others: January 1839 2 With the Workhouse now ready the Guardi- distributed around the parishes of the Union; ans met in their new Board Room in August a copy was sent, rather belatedly, to the Poor 1840 to lay down the rules governing poor aw Commissioners in ondon whose date relief. They were aimed in particular at able- stamp can be seen at the top. Only part of it bodied males, who were capable of working, is reproduced here. The original document and at unmarried mothers and their children: can be seen in the Public Record Office, there was to be no help for them outside the rather grimy from the sooty atmosphere of the Workhouse. The resolution was printed and metropolis. 3 he Inmates bodied paupers and the whole work- house system was designed around The Llanfyllin Workhouse was de- their deterrence, yet in Llanfyllin, as signed for a maximum of 250 in- in other parts of the country, the mates, though the average number able-bodied were in a minority. seems to have been no more than half this figure. The government The return of ‘Indoor Paupers’ from and the Poor Law Commissioners December 84, reproduced below, were most concerned about able- shows that, of 33 inmates, 87 were

A return made by the lanfyllin Guardians for the fortnight ending 27 December 1841, showing the inmates of the Workhouse. Note the number of children - espe- cially the illegiti- mate - and their mothers. 4 children. Of the adults 27 were re- he Workhouse Regime corded as able-bodied, but these in- cluded single mothers. Forty The guidelines set out in the Reports years later in the 88 census, 34 out of the Poor Law Commissioners pre- of 78 inmates were children, while 5 scribed every detail of the inmates’ were over 60. In August 844 the life. They included rules on Disci- Clerk told the Poor Law Commission- pline, to be observed throughout the ers: ‘There are no able-bodied in- country. mates in the Workhouse at present.’ Thus it seems that the Work- house was succeeding in its aim of keeping down the The daily schedule was strictly laid numbers of able-bodied paupers, but down. Paupers were to rise at six that many mothers and children were (seven in winter) for a daily inspec- subjected to the deterrent regime. tion and had to be in bed by eight in the evening. Work was from seven The records of admissions to the or eight till noon and from one till six. Workhouse from its earliest years Discipline was to be firmly main- have not survived. The first Register tained. In the old workhouses corpo- of Inmates preserved in the County ral punishment was used – at Forden Archives dates from 885. Census earlier in the century inmates were records provide a snapshot every ten whipped – but under the new poor years, but much remains to be done law offenders were confined in a cell, to establish the identities of the in- ‘the refractory ward’, on a diet of mates and staff who lived there. bread and water. More serious cases were referred to the magis- The only photograph of the inmates trates. of the Llanfyllin Workhouse so far discovered forms the cover of this book. Proba- bly taken around 900, it shows a tea party in one of the courtyards: the occa- Entry in the Minutes for April 20th 1841. sion is unknown, though it may mark “Ordered that Watkin Jones be confined for the retirement of the Master. At this 24 hours and be fed upon bread and water.” time most of the residents seem to His crime is not recorded, but later Jane have been elderly, but there are still a Morgan received six hours for ”insulting the number of children. Matron.” 5 At Llanfyllin as elsewhere men and As the name ‘Workhouse’ suggests, women were kept apart, though su- able-bodied inmates were supposed pervision at times was lax: the Min- to spend the day working. It was not utes for June st 84 state: “That easy to find suitable work, as the pro- the men be not allowed to be in the duction of goods would have led to women’s ward”. On the same day unfair competition with local suppli- the Guardians resolved “That no fire ers. In 845 the Guardians ad- be allowed except in the Nurseries dressed the problem by setting up a and Sick Rooms unless the Master or committee. Its report has not sur- Medical Officers shall deem the vived, and the early Minutes give few same necessary under the circum- details of the work performed at Llan- stances of the weather”. fyllin. As in other workhouses the inmates were almost certainly set to grinding corn by hand, pick- ing oakum (unravelling old ropes so that the fi- bres could be re-used), gardening or breaking stones for road-mend- ing. They also kept the house Entry in the Minutes for 27 May 1845: clean, lime-washed the walls, did the “Resolved that all able-bodied paupers laundry and prepared the food. whether Male or Female admitted into this House be supplied with Work suitable to their age, sex and strength; and that the pro- Food ceeds of their labour be applied towards de- fraying the cost of their Maintenance it being At Llanfyllin as elsewhere the Dietary contrary to the intention of a Workhouse that of the inmates had to be approved by its inmates should be maintained in idleness. the Commissioners in London. A fun- Also that R.M. Bonnor Maurice Esqre, The damental principle of workhouse life Revd Dd Roberts Mr Edward Morris The was that the standard of living should Revd N.E. Williams and The Revd J.l. Rich- be no higher than that of a labourer’s ards be appointed Committee to determine as family outside. Nevertheless a basic to the nature of the work to be performed by the several descriptions of paupers being in- level of nutrition was supposed to be mates of this House. maintained. 6 Soon after the opening of the Workhouse, the only two shillings and twopence farthing Guardians sent the Poor aw Commissioners (11p). They resolved that the Clerk write to their ‘Dietary as now Used’. It consisted the Poor aw Commissioners stating that “the largely of porridge or gruel, bread, soup and Guardians are desirous of adopting the Die- rice pudding, with boiled meat twice a week tary of that Union as being more economical and salt herring once. and better adapted for this part of the Princi- pality.” The Commissioners agreed, and the In 1843 the lanfyllin Guardians discovered revised Dietary shown here was duly printed. that the cost of feeding their paupers was two Meat was now served only once a week. shillings and sevenpence halfpenny a week ‘Ude’, served for supper, is the Welsh ‘uwd’, (13p), but at the Caersws Workhouse it was a kind of porridge. 7 disapproved of his involve- ment with the chapel, telling the Commis- sioners: “Shortly after Jones was appointed I found he was in the habit of preaching at dissenting Some of the Master’s duties as laid down by congregations. I told him this could the Poor aw Commissioners. There are 23 paragraphs altogether. not be permitted and that he must give up either his preaching or his place.” But Jones carried on preach- Master and Matron ing, and later Day admitted he had been ‘a pretty good officer’. Some of The Master and Matron of the work- house were normally man and wife. Wil- liam Jones, the first Master of the Llanfyl- lin Workhouse, was threatened with dis- missal when his wife died: after much con- troversy he was al- lowed to substitute his sister. The Mas- ter and Matron were not especially well paid, though they were entitled to Extract from the Minutes of the Board of free accommodation and ‘the rations Guardians for January 27th 1842, listing of the house’: these cannot have some of the Officers of the Union with their been very appetising. Food for any quarterly salaries. children was deducted from their wages. The work must have been William Jones’s successors found it demanding: the Master’s working harder to cope, especially with the day was effectively 24 hours, and he burden of keeping the Workhouse was forbidden to leave the building accounts. Richard Edwards, a former without special permission. innkeeper from Llanerfyl, absconded to Liverpool in 847 after £74 was William Jones, a former lawyer’s found to be unaccounted for in the clerk, gave good service though As- Provision Book. The next Master was sistant Commissioner Day strongly Joseph Jones, another publican from 8 Llanfyllin, appointed by his friends among the Guardians in the face of the Chairman’s bitter opposition: he was soon in trouble for allegedly slipping into town in the eve- nings for a drink with his former customers, and for covering his account books with blots and erazures’.

The Master and Matron were assisted by a porter whose duties included overseeing the male inmates at work and mending shoes and clogs. They were also al- lowed to appoint nurses - untrained as was normal at the time - from among the female inmates. The School- master and Mistress, also resident, supervised the chil- dren in and out of school hours. A medical officer and a chaplain paid regular visits to the Workhouse.

Children

Many children were born in the Workhouse or were taken An Edwardian photograph showing the Master’s family there as infants, and no playing croquet. By this time the former boys’ courtyard doubt grew up accustomed to seems to have become their garden: the boys’ swing still the regime. For those enter- stands on the left. Note how the Master’s lodging behind, ing at a later stage the with its octagonal core, was designed to overlook each of change must have been trau- the courtyards. matic. Not surprisingly, bed- wetting was a problem. When the as they referred to ‘three or four boys’ Inspector, Andrew Doyle, called in sharing one bed, when regulations 857 he criticised the state of the permitted a maximum of three. beds, and the Guardians wrote to the Commissioners to defend them- Children clearly suffered from the in- selves. Their protestations only adequate diet in the Workhouse. In brought more censure upon them, April 847 the Inspector, Aneurin 9 The Guardi- ans in- structed the Clerk to write refuting the Inspector’s criticism of the state of the children’s beds. One has to sympa- thise with the Matron, but it is hard to jus- tify putting three or four bed-wetters in one bed.

Owen, reported that he had found 37 Yet the Guardians did try to make the of the children attended with a sin- lives of the children more bearable. gular disorder’ which had baffled the Five years before the outbreak of doctor and advised that no children scurvy they had asked the Medical ought to be admitted at present’. It Officer to look into their diet, and had was some time before the disorder agreed to provide them with a swing was identified as scurvy. and skipping ropes.

Whilst the Guard- ians were always reluctant to spend the rate-payers’ money, they re- solved in October 1842 to purchase skipping ropes for the girls and a swing for the boys.

School even in a relatively well endowed town like Llanfyllin – that for many In view of the large number of chil- children the rudimentary schooling dren in the Workhouse it was neces- provided in the Workhouse repre- sary to make arrangements for their sented a real advance. education, and to appoint a School- master and a Schoolmistress. Dur- In 846 the Inspector for the Board of ing the 840’s educational provision Inquiry into the State of Education in in much of Wales was so poor – Wales, Abraham Thomas, came to 20 In June 1849 the lanfyllin Work- house school was inspected. The teachers had to sit written examina- tions, and their competence was assessed. The results of the School- master, David Rowlands (right) are quite impressive: he gained a Cer- tificate of Competency, Second Di- vision, and the boys’ school was given a parliamentary grant of £36. The Schoolmistress, Jane Jones, (below) did less well: she received a Certificate of Permission, Third Di- vision, and the grant to the girls’ school was only £4. However Mrs Jones’ Industrial Skill was rated Good: the girls were no doubt well instructed in sewing.

Boys and girls in the Work- house were taught sepa- rately. When Abraham Thomas inspected the boys’ classroom he was critical of the inadequate equipment but found the 30 scholars all in good discipline, intelli- gent and attentive.’ They were learning arithmetic, unlike the girls, of whom he wrote: A large part of their time is allotted to domestic industry; they do all the nee- dlework required in the Llanfyllin. He visited the Vaughan’s house and are employed to charity schools, and also the Union wash &c.’ Far from being frowned School at the Workhouse. His re- upon work of this kind could be re- port must have raised eyebrows in garded as ‘industrial training’: the the town, for he wrote: ‘On compar- boys were employed in growing vege- ing the results of the examination of tables as a preparation for future em- these charity schools with the re- ployment in agriculture, and four sults of the children in the Union years later the Schoolmaster told the Workhouse, it appears, considering Poor Law Board: As far as digging, the disparity in numbers, that the raking, planting, hoeing &c. go the paupers have made better progress boys give satisfaction’ even though in the subjects taught than the free most of them were only nine or ten scholars.’ years old. 2 In the early days trained teachers ness towards [the boys] is generally were almost impossible to find, and liked through the Union.” But the whilst board and lodging were pro- Commissioners told him to use the vided the requirement to supervise rod, and soon afterwards the Guardi- the children throughout the day must ans dismissed him for inefficiency. have deterred many from applying. He was replaced by ‘a respectable Moreover, the Guardians were con- farmer’s son’ previously a carpenter. stantly trying to economise by reduc- ing the officers’ salaries. In 843 the Chairman, Martin Williams, wrote a long letter to the Poor Law Commis- sioners answering their objections to the appointment of William Roberts, In June 1841 the Guardians voted that the ‘a lad of eighteen’ at only £20 a year master and mistress should be told to buy and stressing his excellent refer- their own teaching manuals, in this case ‘A ences and previous experience at Journal of Instruction in Industry’. the National School at . But one man had been a glazier, with Inadequate books and equipment re- no training of any kind. Some clearly flected the parsimony of the Guardi- struggled to meet the demands of ans: the 847 Report says: There the job: after an inspection in 84 were neither copies nor copy-books, an indignant William Day wrote to his nor even a sufficient quantity of superiors: “I transmit herewith a slates; writing-desks were also want- leathern strap used by the School- ed’. Thomas Owens complained he master of the Llanfyllin Union which I had had to buy materials out of his took out of his hand yesterday in that own pocket. Later the Guardians do School and which he stated he used seem to have appreciated the need instead of a rod. I may add I think for basic resources to be provided. the Master stands six feet high.”

The Schoolmaster, Thomas Owens, wrote a furious letter to the Commissioners pro- testing: “every one of the Boys in my School would rather be pun- ished with the little Strap than with a Birch Rod. Therefore it is quite clear the former is the most harmless instrument known in this part of the country... I have By September 1858 the Guardians were pre- pared to buy books and equipment, and his- heard many times that my tender- tory had been added to the curriculum. 22 Finding work

The Guardians were anxious to get children out of the Work- house and into employment as soon as possible. Mostly this meant domestic service for the girls and farm work for the boys. The chil- dren were sent In July 1843 the Guardians were “requested to state at Vestries in their out in their work- respective Parishes that there are a certain number of children in the house uniform, House of 12 years and above and that it will be desirable to procure them employment among the farmers in the Parishes to which they be- (though with long, and that the Relieving Officers be directed to give every publicity to shoes rather than this resolution and personally endeavour to procure them situations”. clogs), which must have exposed them to ridicule. Illegitimacy In a few cases the Guardians agreed to find apprenticeships for the boys, Illegitimacy (or bastardy) was re- though this involved significant ex- garded as a major social problem in pense and there was some reluc- the 840’s. In their Reports the Poor tance to pay the premium required. Law Commissioners printed statistics and other evidence claiming that the new law had greatly reduced the number of illegiti- mate births. They were convinced that the threat of The Guardians agree that Robert Sankey, a pauper child of landrin- the workhouse as io, be bound apprentice to Walter Elliot Davies as a tailor the sole means of relief for single The minutes record a number of ap- mothers and their children acted as a prenticeship agreements, and also deterrent to irresponsible women. requests to the Guardians to adver- tise the availability of children for In December 84 the Llanfyllin Un- work. If a child proved unsatisfactory ion Workhouse housed 40 illegitimate the employer could return him or her children and unmarried mothers. to the Workhouse and choose a re- In March 842 the Board of Guardi- placement. ans, concerned at the scale of the 23 The Guardians’ Appeal to the Rate-Payers, a copy of which was sent to the Poor aw Commis- sioners in ondon and preserved in the Public Record Office. Parishes were asked to convene meetings to find ways of ending “a practice which is proved to be so pernicious to the morals of the labouring classes and which tends so much to increase the burdens of the Rate-payers”.

problem and at the moral and finan- The Guardians did occasionally at- cial implications, issued an appeal to tempt to pursue fathers in the courts the Ratepayers asking farmers to for maintenance. But government take more responsibility for their fe- policy at the time was to force moth- male servants. It seems to have had ers rather than fathers to take re- little effect: by January 843 the sponsibility, and the recent number of ‘bastards’ in the House legislation had made court action had risen to 52. more difficult and expensive. 24 the Guardians to make the father, John Hum- phreys, pay mainte- nance, expecting that she would then be able to live at home, but they had told her that aid to unmarried mothers was In August 1841 the Clerk, Humphrey loyd Williams, wrote to offered only in the Work- the Poor aw Commissioners: “That Anne ewis in being of- house: any payments fered only Workhouse Relief for herself and her child has been from the father would be treated under the same principle as all other paupers of the like used to defray the description, a principle which has been found to work well hav- ing a tendency to effect a considerable saving on the Rates and Workhouse expenses. to discourage Bastardy”. Anne wrote an angry letter to the Poor Law The Public Record Office at Kew Commissioners in London, but the holds a number of letters concerning Guardians restated their policy and the Anne Lewis of Llanrhaeadr, who had Commissioners supported them: for a child out of wedlock in August Anne and her son it was the Work- 840. Anne had tried to persuade house or nothing.

Lunatics and Idiots these people were boarded out, often with members of their family who The Poor Law Unions were responsi- were given an allowance to maintain ble for the care of people with learn- them. Nevertheless, in the return of ing difficulties (classified as ‘idiots’) August 844 shown above, seven and for the mentally ill (‘lunatics’), if were living in the Workhouse. Three their own families were unable to ‘lunatics’ were sent to the County support them. Asylum at Shrewsbury, but in view of the cost (ten shillings and sixpence a Staistics from the 840s, preserved week, as compared with two shillings in the Public Record Office, show and twopence elsewhere), the Guard- that in the Llanfyllin Union many of ians avoided this wherever possible. 25 Vagrants Notice board removed from the lanfyllin Tramps or vagrants were regarded th Workhouse with growing hostility during the 9 and preserved Century. They were seen as a threat in Powys to the social order and a potential County Ar- source of contamination, though chives. It is many were in fact unemployed men dated 1897 looking for work. Accommodation and is a stand- had to be provided for them, prefera- ard issue from bly away from the other inmates, but the ocal Gov- ernment both this and the food supplied were Board. Spe- made as unappealing as possible cific tasks of and they had to perform manual la- work were laid down for Casual Paupers re- bour – usually breaking stones for maining for one night. For men this meant road-mending – before being allowed breaking two hundredweight of stones, picking to leave in the morning. one pound of unbeaten or two pounds of beaten oakum, or three hours of digging, At Llanfyllin a special block of cells pumping, chopping wood or grinding corn. was built later in the 9th Century to The women had to pick a smaller quantity of house vagrants, (‘Casual Paupers’) oakum or spend three hours in washing, scrub- bing or cleaning. They were not allowed to each with a small working area for leave until the work had been done. beds ob- structed the doors: the Guardians discussed providing hammocks instead.

Edward Jones, a po- lice constable in Llanfyllin during the stone-breaking. A metal grille was 860’s, kept a journal which has been built into the outside wall through preserved in the National Library of which the broken stones had to be Wales. Vagrants caused him a good passed to ensure that they were deal of work: in 868 he recorded small enough. The block has been 772 “tramps releaved (sic) to Vagrant demolished, but the plans survive in Ward”, and when he was called to the the Public Record Office. The sleep- Workhouse it was often tramps who ing cells proved so small that the were in trouble, typically for tareing 26 their clothes’. In August 867 he went in search of two tramps who “being releaved with a night’s lodging Absconded without breaking stones as ordered by the Board.’ They each got seven days.

Vagrants continued to be accommo- dated at Llanfyllin well into the 20th Century. Residents of Llangynog, on the road to Bala, remember tramps arriving at the village shop during the 950s with tokens given to them at Y Dolydd, as the Workhouse was then known. These were supposed to be exchanged for tea and sugar, but were usually spent on tobacco.

he Dartmoor Shepherd

The most famous inmate of the Llan- fyllin Union Workhouse was David David Davies, the Dartmoor Shepherd: a Davies, the Dartmoor Shepherd. photograph from the biography by A. Scriv- en, published in Oswestry in 1931. David Davies was born in 849 at Llanfihangel, but when he was still a years for stealing two shillings from child his family moved to Rock Cot- an alms box. He was sent to Dart- tage, Llanfyllin, just down the road moor, where his agricultural back- from the Workhouse. Though he ground caused him to be given the came of a respectable family, he job of looking after the prison’s flock soon became involved in petty crime. of sheep. In 90 he was visited in In his lifetime he was sentenced to prison by Winston Churchill and over 60 years imprisonment, and he David Lloyd George: Churchill, then must have spent more than 50 years Home Secretary, arranged for him to in prison. All the sentences were for be released and sent to work on a minor burglaries or – his speciality – farm near Rhuthun. He quickly ab- robbing church poor-boxes. He was sconded, and went back to his old only once convicted of violence: for ways. throwing a work-basket at a police- man who caught him red-handed. In 923, in court at Oswestry for rob- bing another poor box, David told a David’s case received national pub- policeman: ‘I don’t want to die in pris- licity when an exasperated judge at on. I want the magistrates to settle it, Shrewsbury sentenced him to 3 and send me to Llanfyllin Workhouse, 27 my native place.’ In May 924 the away and replaced with leather slip- magistrates arranged for him to go to pers. the Workhouse: the following month he was caught breaking into Lland- In the night of April 2 929, in his 80th rinio Church and was returned to year, David slipped out of the Work- Llanfyllin. house in his slippers and set off along the lane towards Llanfechain. Near The Master of the Workhouse, Cap- Bodynfoel he must have collapsed, tain Astley, obtained an old age pen- for his body was found there next sion for David and found work for morning. David avoided a pauper’s him on a nearby farm. However, he grave: sympathisers made a collec- soon broke into the church at Llan- tion, and his body was taken on a fechain, and later absconded and farm cart to be buried in Llanfyllin. A was arrested at Congleton Church in Wesleyan minister and three deacons Cheshire. He absconded so many saw him laid to rest. times that his shoes were taken

The Board of Guardians just before its dissolution in 1930. The Master, Captain Astley, stands second from the left in the middle row between the nurse, and the porter, David loyd.

Last Days Llanfyllin Guardians: soon after the press were first admitted to their The Poor Law System was slow to meetings a young reporter listened to change. In the 880’s the govern- their deliberations and years later, as ment made renewed efforts to force the distinguished administrator Sir able-bodied paupers into the work- Percy Watkins, described the experi- houses. Economy seems to have ence in his memoirs. “Their main remained the prime concern of the concern seemed to be to keep down 28 the rates,’ though otherwise I am white pinnies’ over their grey dress- quite sure they were very worthy peo- es. I remember one such woman ple. A typical case might be that of coming up to me saying You know an old woman between 70 and 80 me, don’t you?’ So pathetic... I think years of age, crippled with rheuma- they wore black stockings.” tism, living in a tiny roadside cottage in the heart of the country, and rear- In 930 the Poor Law system ended ing in it three of her orphaned grand- and the workhouses – known offi- children. After hearing the details of cially since 93 as Poor Law Institu- such a case, the Board would dis- tions - were transferred to local cuss with great solemnity, if not unc- authority control. The Workhouse tion, whether the amount of poor became the Llanfyllin Public Assist- relief to be voted for the maintenance ance Institution, administered by the of this little family should be 2s. 6d. or District Council and later by Mont- 2s. 9d. a week! As often as not the gomeryshire C.C. Some time before decision would be in favour of the – when is not yet clear – it had been lower figure... And the irony was that given the name ‘Y Dolydd’ (The these good people felt they were do- Meadows) which had a friendlier ring. ing their duty.” But there was no sudden change in the establishment: in the early years Mrs Rowena Thomas, who was born of the Twentieth Century the work- in Llanfyllin in 92, remembers visit- house regime had gradually become ing the Workhouse as a small child. more benign, and the process contin- “I was rather overawed by the place. ued. Captain Astley stayed on until In a child’s mind it had a bad, sad 936, and when Mr John Bowen be- reputation. Bare walls, long tables, came Superintendent in 969 he benches with no backs - that was the found that the older residents still dining room. Women inmates wore called him ‘Master’.

The Workhouse seen from the back: a detail of a post card dating from the 1930’s or 1940’s. Some of the low buildings surrounding the former men’s courtyard on the left have since been demolished. Note the neat rows of vegetables grown by the inmates. 29 Residents of Y Dolydd at their Christmas party some time during the 1970’s. By this time the old Work- house, now a home for the elderly, had gained a new image: resi- dents lived in reasonable comfort, and the workhouse stigma had gone.

kind were frowned upon: the focus In 948 the Council produced plans was now on smaller, local units or on for a modernisation of the building, private provision. Local authorities but in the end it was not till the 960’s suffered cutbacks, and had to make that a thorough re-modelling took savings. Despite all the investment place. Y Dolydd was to be an old that had taken place, Y Dolydd was people’s home serving much of the suddenly earmarked for closure. county, with residents from as far away as Newtown and . Externally there were changes: the tall chimneys disappeared, most of he Campaign to save Y the cast-iron window frames were Dolydd replaced, sadly it seems now, by steel casements in larger openings. Ironically, the building which had once The building was re-roofed, and the been so feared and reviled had now interior transformed beyond recogni- become a well-loved institution. The tion. Even now, not all the residents majority of the residents of Y Dolydd were elderly: mothers with children did not want to move, and locally the were still living in Y Dolydd in 969, Home enjoyed strong support. A and tramps were being given lodging campaign against closure was mount- for the night into the 970s. But a ed, and in 98, after a public meet- pattern for the future had been set, ing and strong pressure on Powys and it seemed as though the old County Council, Y Dolydd was re- Workhouse would continue to serve prieved for twelve months. the into the next century. By 982 further cuts forced the Coun- But with a new government, policy cil to re-table the closure proposal. changed. Large institutions of any Once again the campaigners took to 30 In February 1982 residents of lanfyl- lin and district crowded into County Hall at landrindod Wells for a further protest against the closure of Y Dolydd. Ironi- cally, the once hated Workhouse was now an object of affection and pride. the platform: a meeting at Llanfyllin broken glass. One of Mid-Wales’s Town Hall attracted 250 people, and finest buildings seemed ready for the there was extensive publicity in the bulldozer. press. The Council backed down again, throwing its own budget plans In 200 a local businesswoman, Hi- into confusion, and Y Dolydd was lary Collins, stepped in and bought Y given another six months grace. But Dolydd. Her plan was to restore the financial pressures were inexorable, building and use it to run a successful and the decision was made to close business along with a heritage centre the home at the end of September and parkland beside the river, which 982. would bring visitors and employment to the area. It became clear that he End of the Road? grant aid would be needed to fund the restoration, and that this required the Y Dolydd was offered for sale, and setting up of a charitable trust. Ad- bought by a group which established a vice was given by the Architectural centre for outdoor pursuits: the Chal- Heritage Fund, and this led to the for- lenge Centre. The scheme seemed mation of the Llanfyllin Dolydd Build- full of promise. But sadlly, one of the ing Preservation Trust. partners suffered a fatal accident and the project ran into difficulties. Eventu- ally the building had to sold again. he Future

Y Dolydd passed into the hands of The Trust acquired the building in Oc- speculators who proceeded to rip out tober 2004 with the help of a grant everything of value. Fittings, fireplac- from the Architectural Heritage Fund. es, even stairs and floorboards were Y Dolydd had been selected by the removed until the building was empty BBC in July 2004 as one of three and derelict. Vandals broke in, damp buildings to represent Wales in the penetrated, the courtyards were over- second series of ‘Restoration’, and its grown with brambles and strewn with importance was widely recognised. 3 An options appraisal was commis- cation, environment and heritage with sioned and a conservation manage- a gallery, venue, bunkhouse, work- ment plan drawn up with funding from shops, education spaces and garden. the AHF, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Refurbishment to date has been the Welsh Development Agency and largely by volunteers. The Trust in- . Subsequently tends that the restored building will the Trust joined forces with the award- continue to benefit to the community winning Workhouse Festival to create it served, in its different roles, for over a community enterprise for arts, edu- a century.

A volunteer working party at Y Dolydd in 2008

Acknowledgements he Llanfyllin Guardians’ Minutes and Accounts are held by Powys County Archives: the help of their staff has been much appreciated. Material from the Public Record Office has been reproduced with the permission of the National Archives. he portrait of Martin Williams appears by kind permission of his descendant, the Marchioness of Linlithgow. Other illustrations have been provided by courtesy of: Mr and Mrs C.A. Davies, Mr and Mrs John Bowen, Mrs Bethan Jones, Mr Gordon Jones and Mr Richard Kretch- mer. wo photographs are reproduced from ‘Llanfyllin: An Illustrated History’ by permission of Llanfyllin & District Civic Society. he map of parishes in the Union is based on one included in the ‘Historical Atlas of Montgomeryshire’, published by the Powysland Club. Additional research by Dr Bob Yarwood and Mrs Philippa Owen. Published by the rust at anymarian, Llangynog, Oswestry SY10 0HA 32