POOR LAWS & WORKHOUSE PAGES
(the following details, unless otherwise stated, are derived from Kelly's 1891 Directory for Monmouthshire, together with the Gwent Archives and Wikipedia websites)
1836 THE NEWPORT POOR LAW UNION
Newport Poor Law Union was formed in 1836 and operated in constituent parishes of:
Bedwas, Bettws, Bishton, Caerleon, Christchurch, Coedcernyw, Dyffryn, Goldcliff, Graig, Henllys, Kemeys Inferior, Llandevenny, Llangattock, Langstone, Llanfihangel Llantarnam, Llanhennock, Llanmartin, Llanwern, Llanvaches, Llanwern, Lower Machen, Machen, Magor, Malpas, Marshfield, Michaelston-y-Fedw, Mynyddislwyn, Nash, Newport, Penhow, Peterstone Wentlooge, Redwick, Risca, Rogerstone, St Brides Wentlooge, St Woolloos, Tredunnock, Whitson and Wilcrick in Monmouthshire and Llanfedw and Rhyd-y-gwern in Glamorgan.
The parishes of Rumney and St Mellons, Monmouthshire, were added in 1895. (details from Cymru Archives Wales website)
Woollaston House Workhouse, at the top of Stow Hill was built in 1837-1838 and is a building of stone & brick, erected in 1837, at a cost of £3,000 on a site given by Sit Charles Morgan Bart. In 1868-9 it was enlarged and additional land purchased at a cost of £10.000; a men's receiving ward was added in 1888 at a cost of £2,000. In 1891 the building was available for 420 inmates.
The Union in 1891:
Board Day was held each Saturday at 12 noon, at the Workhouse.
Clerk to the Guardians & Assessment Committee: William Downing Evans, Woollaston House, Stow Hill
Treasurer: Edwin Webber, National Provincial Bank of England
Relieving Officers:
Central District: W. Baker, Llanbedr House, Devon Road, Newport
Eastern District: John Phelps Williams, Victoria Avenue, Maindee
Northern District: J. Watkins, Croespenmaen, Crumlin
Western District: A.H. Rees, 23 Hill Street, Newport
Inquiry Officers:
Alfred Henry Rees, 23 Hill Street, Newport
Thomas R. Morgan, Caerleon
William Reed, Malpas
Collectors to the Guardians: are the Relieving Officers as above
Vaccination Officers:
Central District: John Lewis, Caerleon, Newport
Eastern District: John Phelps Williams, Victoria Avenue, Maindee, Newport
Northern District: William Morgan, Newbridge, Newport
Western District: Edward Rowland, Tydee, Newport
Medical Officers & Public Vaccinators:
Bedwas District: John Llewellyn, Caerphilly
Caerleon District: Charles William de Gruchy L.R.C.P.Lond, Caerleon
Magor District: William Williams Morgan M.D, Newport
Marshfield District: Henry Rochfort Hudson L.K.Q.C.P.Irel, Newport
Mynyddislwyn District: William Henry Davies L.R.C.P.Lond, Newbridge, Newport
Newport District: T. Limbery & John Nicholls Lewis L.R.C.P.Lond, Christchurch, Newport
Risca District: Richard Istance, Pontymister
St. Woollos District: Octavius Henry Jennings, Newport
Superintendent Registrar: Thomas Parry, Albany Chambers, Newport
Deputy: Tom W. Wring, Albany Chambers, Newport
Registrars of Births & Deaths:
Caerleon Sub-District: John Phelps Williams, Victoria Avenue, Maindee
Deputy: Miss Lois Williams
Newport District: William Downing Evans, Woollaston House, Stow Hill, Newport
Deputy: John Powell, Thornton, Gold Tops, Newport
St. Woollos District: Edward Rowland, Tydee, Newport
Deputy: William M. Rowland
Mynyddislwyn District: William Morgan, Newbridge, Newport
Deputy: William E. Morgan
Registrars of Marriages:
Newport: William Downing Evans, Stow Hill, Newport
Deputy: John Powell, Thornton, Gold Tops, Newport
Mynyddislwyn District: William Morgan, Newbridge, Newport
Deputy: William E. Morgan
THE NEWPORT WORKHOUSE:
Woolaston House, Stow Hill
Staff in 1891:
Master: Frank Needham
Chaplain: Rev. Alfred Wilkins A.C.P.
Medical Officer: O.H. Jennings
Matron: Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Edwards
Download the programme to the 1904 opening ceremony here:
Newport Workhouse & Infirmary 1904
Transcribed by Jo Doe, and reproduced courtesy of the Newport Reference Library
Newport Board of Guardians Records
www.gwentarchives.gov.uk/media/6978/cswbgn.html
The school-age children of the Workhouse are boarded out at the CAERLEON INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, Cambria House, Caerleon.
THE NEWPORT UNION - The CAERLEON INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS
Mill Street, Caerleon
This was a branch of the Newport Poor Law Union, established in 1859 and enlarged in 1881: at a cost of £6,000.
The Industrial Schools:
Staff in 1891:
Superintendent: Gilbert William Harding
Medical Officer: Charles William de Grunchy L.R.C.P.Lond.
Chaplain: Rev. Alfred Wilkins
Industrial Trainer: Miss Sarah Davies
Matron: Mrs. Mary Harding
School-master: Charles Axtell
Bailiff: Walter Davies
School-mistress: Miss Jane Wylie
Infants' mistress: Miss Alice A.Jones
In 1891 there are about 200 children at the school. 30 acres of land is attached to the School and the boys are taught farming & garden work, tailoring & instrumental music; the girls are instructed in house-work, sewing & washing to fit them for domestic service.
The population of the Newport Union in 1881 was 70,673; rateable value in 1890, £549,182.
Newport Board of Guardians Records
www.gwentarchives.gov.uk/media/6978/cswbgn.html
1836 THE PONTYPOOL POOR LAW UNION
Pontypool Poor Law Union was formed in 1836 and operated in constituent parishes of:
Glascoed, Goetre, Gwehelog, Gwernesney, Kemeys Commander, Llanbadoc, Llanddewi Fach, Llandegveth, Llangeview, Llangibby, Llanhilleth, Llanllowel, Llantrisant, Llanvihangel Pontymoel, Llanfrechfa Lower, Llanfrechfa Upper, Mamhilad, Monkswood, Panteg, Pontypool, Trevethin, Trostre and Usk in Monmouthshire. (details from Cymru Archives Wales website)
The Union Workhouse was built at Griffiths Town, near Pontypool, in 1837. Cottage Homes were erected in 1881, giving accommodation for 270, including 64 children in the Cottage Homes.
The Union in 1891:
Board Day: held on alternate Thursdays, 1t 10 a.m. at the Workhouse, Griffiths Town, near Pontypool
Clerk to the Guardians & Assessment Committee: Martin Edwards, Town Hall, Pontypool
Treasurer: William Collins, Bristol & West of England Bank, Pontypool
Collector to the Guardians: Henry Bythway, Glantorvaen House, Pontypool
Relieving & School Inquiry Officers:
Trevethin District: William Maliphant, Abersychan
Panteg District: John Reginald Jerroms, Trosnant Street, Pontypool
Usk District: William Jerroms, Usk
Vaccination Officers:
Pontypool: Robert Darrett
Usk: William Jerroms
Medical Officers & Public Vaccinators:
Abersychan District: Abraham Robert Verity, Garniffaith
Panteg District: John O'Keeffe M.R.C.S.Eng, L.R.C.S.Edin, Griffiths Town
Pontypool District: Samuel Bulter Mason M.R.C.P.Edin, Denham House, Park Terrace, Pontypool
Usk District: Alexander John Shepard, Usk
Superintendent Registrar: Thomas Watkins, Club Chambers, Pontypool
Deputy: Alfred Henry Watkins, Club Chambers, Pontypool
Registrars of Births & Deaths:
Llangibby Sub-District: William Maddy, Croesyceiliog
Deputy: Thomas Parker, Race Farm, Panteg
Pontypool Sub-District: Martin Edwards, Town Hall, Pontypool
Deputy: James Lewis Morgan, Hanbury Road, Pontypool
Usk Sub-District: William Jerroms, Usk
Deputy: James Cassidy, Usk
Registrar of Marriages: William Jerroms, Usk
Deputy: Francis Huggins, Pontnewynydd
THE PONTYPOOL WORKHOUSE:
Coedygric Road, Griffithstown
Staff in 1891:
Master: Hartley Feather
Chaplain: Rev. John Robert Phillips
Medical Officer: John O'Keeffe L.R.C.P.Edin.
Matron: Mrs L. Feather
Schoolmaster: John Francis Stephens
Schoolmistress: Mrs. Stephens
The population of the Pontypool Union in 1881 was 35,335; rateable value in 1890, £152,909.
The Pontypool Union Workhouse later became the County Hospital.
Pontypool Board of Guardians Records
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