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Ancestry UK

Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire

[Up to 1834] [After 1834] [Staff] [Inmates] [Records] [Bibliography] [Links]

Up to 1834

No information.

After 1834

Aberystwyth (or Aberystwith) Poor Law Union was formed on 5th May, 1837. Its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, 33 in number, representing its 30 constituent parishes as listed below (figures in brackets indicate numbers of Guardians if more than one):

Cardiganshire: Broncastellan, Caelan y Maesmor, Clarach, Cwm Rheidol, Cyfoeth y Brenin, Cynill Mawr, Elerch, Henllys, Issayndre, Llanafan, Lower Llanbadarn y Croyddin, Upper Llanbadarn y Croyddin, Llancynfelin, Llanddeinol, Lower Llanfihangel y Croyddin, Upper Llanfihangel y Croyddin or Eglwys Newydd, Llangwyryfon, or Llangrwyddon, Town and Liberties of Abertstwith (4), Upper and Lower Llanilar, Llanrhystyd Haminiog, Llanrhystyd Mevenidd, Llanychaiarn, Melindwr, Parcel Canol, Rhosdie, Trefeirig, Tyr y Mynach, Uchaynydre, Upper Vainor, Lower Vainor.

The population falling within the union at the 1831 census had been 20,026 — ranging from Broncastellan (population 144) to Aberystwith itself (4,128). The average annual poor-rate expenditure for the period 1834-36 had been £4,914.

Aberystwyth Union workhouse was opened in 1840 on the south side of the Penglais Road to the east of the town. The workhouse had a frontage of 220 feet and could accommodate 200 inmates. The building was designed by WR Coulthart. The site layout is shown on the 1905 map below.

Aberystwyth workhouse site, 1905.

The two-storey main building faced to the west and had an E-shaped layout. The master's quarters were at the centre with males accommodated to one side and females to the other. The centre rear wing contained kitchens and dining hall.

Aberystwyth workhouse entrance from the worth-west
© Ceredigion Archives.

Tramps and vagrants were accommodated overight in a special block which included stone-breaking cells. Inside each cell, large lumps of stone had to be broken with a hammer untill the pieces were small enough to be pushed thorough a metal grille to the outer yard.

Aberystwyth stone-breaking cells, c.1890.

In 1894, the British Medical Journal set up a "commission" to investigate conditions in provincial workhouses and their infirmaries. Following a visit to Aberystwyth, the commission's report described the workhouse as "a cheerful-looking place, clean and well cared for." The sick, too, received genereally good care. The commission's recommendations included: an enlargement of the infirmary, to give more space in the wards, especially for the women, and to provide wards for isolation; the provision of separate quarters for the imbeciles and idiots, a new lying-in ward, and bathrooms attached to the wards. As regards staffing, the report suggested the employment of a paid attendant in the sick wards during the night, and of trained nurses for dealing with fever cases. Further details are available in the full report.

Aberystwyth workhouse inmates c.1900.

The site is now occupied by the Bronglais Hospital. A hospital car-park now occupies the area where the workhouse stood and all the original buildings have been demolished. However, several older buildings of unknown date, including of a small block used by the hospital's estates department, stand (2000) roughly where some of the workhouse perimeter blocks were located.

Aberystwyth site from the north, 2000.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Aberystwyth estates office from the south-west, 2000.
© Peter Higginbotham.

Staff

Inmates

Records

Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.

  • Ceredigion Archives, Old Town Hall, Queen's Square, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 2EB. Surviving records include: Guardians' minute books (1869-1930); Financial records (1881-1930); Vaccination records (1853-1918); Births (1883-1930); Deaths (1883-1914); etc.
  • Transcriptions of various Aberystwyth Union records, e.g birth records, dietary, recipes etc.

Bibliography

Links

Acknowledgment

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  • Thanks to Ceredigion Archives for permission to use the picture of the workhouse entrance.

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