DENBIGHSHIRE ARCHIVES SERVICE GD/C Records of Wrexham Poor Law Union, 1837-1930 Prior to 1834, poor relief was administered by individual parishes. Churchwardens and Overseers were responsible for collecting poor rates and allocating relief. The 1834 Poor Law Act (later known as the 'New Poor Law') led to the creation of Poor Law Unions across England and Wales. Wrexham Poor Law Union was founded on 30th March 1837 and the Union workhouse was built in 1838 on Croesnewydd Road. The Union was administered by the Board of Guardians comprising of representatives from each constituent parish. Constitution: Abenbury Fawr, Acton, Allington, Bersham, Bieston, Borras Hovah, Borras Riffri, Broughton, Brymbo, Burton, Cacca Dutton, Dutton y Bran, Dutton Diffeth, Erlas, Erddig, Esclusham Above, Esclusham Below, Erbistock, Eyton, Gourton, Gwersyllt, Gresford, Holt, Llay, Marchwiel, Minera, Pickhill, Ridley, Royton, Ruabon, Sesswick, Stansty, Sutton, Wrexham Abbot, Wrexham Regis, co. Denbigh; Abenbury Fechan (transferred to co. Denbigh in 1884), Bangor, Hope, Marford and Hoseley, Treuddun and Worthenbury, co. Flint; Agden, Bradley, Charlton, Cuddington, Malpas, Oldcastle, Overton, Shocklach Church, Shocklach Oviatt, Stockton, Whichlaugh and Wigland, co. Chester. In 1929 The Local Government Act was passed which abolished Poor Law Unions in both England and Wales. Responsibility for public assistance was then passed to county councils and county boroughs. Following this act, Wrexham Workhouse became Plas Maelor Public Assistance Institution in 1930. After the Second World War, this site became part of the Wrexham Maelor Hospital. For records relating to public assistance see CD/PA. NB: Poor Law Union records containing personal or sensitive information are closed for 75 years under the Data Protection Act. Arrangement This collection is arranged by; • Records of the Board of Guardians and its officers - Lists of Guardians and officers (pg. 4) - Minutes of the Board of Guardians (pg. 4-8) - Correspondence (pg. 8) - Relieving officer (pg. 8) - Rating officer (pg. 8) • Financial records - General ledgers (pg. 9-12) - Treasurers accounts (pg. 12) - Parochial ledgers (pg. 13-14) - Accounts of non-settled and non-resident poor (pg. 14) - Statements of expenditure (pg. 15) - Necessaries accounts (pg. 15) - Overseers balance sheets and receipt/ payment books (pg. 15-16) Acc No: 577, 816, 1488, 1818 Acc Date: 1978, 1981, 1987, 1990 Creator: SLW Page 1 of 25 DENBIGHSHIRE ARCHIVES SERVICE - Collectors monthly statements (pg. 16-17) • Staff records - Superannuation registers (pg. 17) - Staff salaries and wages (pg. 17-18) - Correspondence (pg. 18) • Workhouse records - Master’s reports (pg. 19) - Medical officer (pg. 20) - Vaccination officer (pg. 20) - Visiting committee for lunatics (pg. 20) - Inmates (pg. 20-22) - Children (pg. 22-23) - Lunacy (pg. 23) - Family Case Papers (pg. 23-24) • Wrexham rural Sanitary Authority - Minutes (pg. 24) - Parochial registers (pg. 24-25) - Correspondence (pg. 25) • Miscellaneous records (pg. 25) Related materials For further material also see indexes. Newspaper cuttings relating to- NCD/47 Life in Wrexham Workhouse in the 1840s NCD/198 Wrexham workhouse 1903 NCD/269 The days of Wrexham Workhouse NCD/275 Children of the Workhouse, 1904 NCD/845 ‘Guardians who kept in touch’ and workhouse children in Wrexham NCD/890 A meeting of the Board of Guardians NCD/975 Christmas celebrations at the workhouse Other records- DD/DM/64 Extracts from Medical Officers reports, 1919-1948 DD/DM/228/60-61 Photocopies of parish assessments and Board of Guardian minutes DD/DM/305/9 Photograph of Wrexham Board of Guardians at their last meeting, 1948 DD/DM/445 Apprenticeship indenture between Guardians of Wrexham Union and Alfred Fletcher, 1900 Acc No: 577, 816, 1488, 1818 Acc Date: 1978, 1981, 1987, 1990 Creator: SLW Page 2 of 25 DENBIGHSHIRE ARCHIVES SERVICE DD/DM/943 Copy will of Luke Ralph, Workhouse Master, 1884 DD/DM/1354 Various records relating to Wrexham Workhouse HD/10/1 Ground plans and elevations of proposed casual ward, Wrexham Poor Law Institution, 1936 CD/PA Public Assistance records Acc No: 577, 816, 1488, 1818 Acc Date: 1978, 1981, 1987, 1990 Creator: SLW Page 3 of 25 DENBIGHSHIRE ARCHIVES SERVICE The Board of Guardians and its officers Lists of Guardians and Officers Annual printed booklets, containing much statistical information such as list of committees, farm accounts, statements of out-relief, return of births and deaths, school attendance, census information for each parish in Wrexham, number of vagrants and general reports. GD/C/4/1 List of Guardians and officers 1877-1894 17 items GD/C/4/2 List of Guardians and officers 1895-1912 17 items GD/C/4/3 List of Guardians and officers 1912-1929 Some gaps in coverage. Records 8 items cover; 1912-1916, 1919-1920, 1925-1927, 1928-1929 Minutes of the Board of Guardians GD/C/8(a)/1 Minute book 2 Jan 1840-15 Dec 1842 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/2 Minute book 22 Dec 1842-8 May 1845 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/3 Minute book 22 May 1845-15 Mar 1848 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/4 Minute book 30 Mar 1848-25 Apr 1850 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/5 Minute book 2 May 1850-21 Feb 1853 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/6 Minute book 3 Mar 1853-7 Dec 1854 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/7 Minute book 14 Dec 1854-19 Mar 1857 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/8 Minute book 26 Mar 1857-23 Sep 1858 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/9 Minute book 30 Sep 1858-6 Oct 1859 1 vol. Acc No: 577, 816, 1488, 1818 Acc Date: 1978, 1981, 1987, 1990 Creator: SLW Page 4 of 25 DENBIGHSHIRE ARCHIVES SERVICE GD/C/8(a)/10 Minute book 13 Oct 1859-8 Oct 1860 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/11 Minute book 22 Nov 1860-26 Dec 1861 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/12 Minute book 2 Jan 1862-15 Jan 1863 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/13 Minute book 29 Jan 1863-18 Feb 1864 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/14 Minute book 25 Feb 1864-9 Feb 1865 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/15 Minute book 16 Feb 1865-22 Feb 1866 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/16 Minute book 8 Mar 1866-21 Mar 1867 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/17 Minute book 28 Mar 1867-2 Jul 1868 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/18 Minute book 9 Jul 1868-21 Oct 1869 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/19 Minute book 28 Oct 1869-22 Dec 1870 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/20 Minute book 29 Dec 1870-28 Mar 1872 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/21 Minute book 4 Apr 1872-2 Oct 1873 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/22 Minute book 9 Oct 1873-18 Mar 1875 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/23 Minute book 25 Mar 1875-6 Jul 1876 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/24 Minute book 13 Jul 1876-3 Jan 1878 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/25 Minute book 17 Jan 1878-19 Jun 1879 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/26 Minute book 6 Jul 1879-30 Sep 1880 1 vol. Acc No: 577, 816, 1488, 1818 Acc Date: 1978, 1981, 1987, 1990 Creator: SLW Page 5 of 25 DENBIGHSHIRE ARCHIVES SERVICE GD/C/8(a)/27 Minute book 7 Oct 1880-2 Mar 1882 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/28 Minute book 9 Mar 1882-24 May 1883 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/29 Minute book 31 May 1883-14 Aug 1884 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/30 Minute book 28 Aug 1884-5 Nov 1885 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/31 Minute book 12 Nov-31 Mar 1887 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/32 Minute book 14 Apr 1887-14 Sep 1888 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/33 Minute book 4 Oct 1888-10 Apr 1890 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/34 Minute book 17 Apr 1890-8 Oct 1891 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/35 Minute book 22 Oct 1891-5 Oct 1893 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/36 Minute book 19 Oct 1893-27 Dec 1894 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/37 Minute book 10 Jan 1895-15 Oct 1896 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/38 Minute book 29 Oct 1896-1 Sep 1898 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/39 Minute book 15 Sep 1898-9 Jul 1900 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/40 Minute book 2 Aug 1900-8 May 1902 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/41 Minute book 22 May 1902-10 Mar 1904 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/42 Minute book 24 Mar 1904-27 Mar 1906 1 vol. Acc No: 577, 816, 1488, 1818 Acc Date: 1978, 1981, 1987, 1990 Creator: SLW Page 6 of 25 DENBIGHSHIRE ARCHIVES SERVICE GD/C/8(a)/43 Minute book 5 Apr 1906-9 Jan 1908 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/44 Minute book 16 Jan 1908-27 May 1909 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/45 Minute book 10 Jun 1909-2 Mar 1911 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/46 Minute book 16 Mar 1911-5 Dec 1912 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/47 Minute book 19 Dec 1912-25 Sep 1913 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/48 Minute book 7 Oct 1913-7 May 1914 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/49 Minute book 29 May 1914-31 Dec 1914 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/50 Minute book 22 Jan 1915-26 Aug 1915 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/51 Minute book 17 Sep 1915-18 May 1916 1 vol. GD/C/8(a)/52 Minute book 6 Jul 1916-19 Apr 1917 1 vol.