Care of the poor 12
Changes at the Board
A new town in the Union
In 1878 the Board of Guardians,
with the approval of the authorities, added a second Guardian
to represent Cefnllys parish. This was probably because the new
spa town of Llandrindod Wells was growing rapidly. Most of the
town at that time stood in the parish of Cefnllys and quite rightly
the Board felt that this new population centre deserved better
representation. The elected Guardian was one Henry Hurst, succeeded
by Robert Ellis of the Llanerch Hotel. In 1907 representation
of the parish was increased to three Guardians.
A Master and Matron for the workhouse
With building at the workhouse
site proceeding apace the Guardians took steps to appoint a Master
and Matron (a married couple) to have charge of the new institution.
They interviewed applicants from across the country with experience
of working in workhouses, but appointed a local farmer and his
wife Mr and Mrs Hamer of Bryncennarth, St Harmon.
The authorities pointed out that as no-one in the Board of Guardians
had any experience whatsoever in managing a workhouse it was
imperative that the Master and Matron had at least some experience,
and promptly blocked the Hamers' appointment. Consequently a
new appointment was made, as this entry records.
County Archives
R/G/C/8/1/6
"Moved by the Chairman, seconded by the Rev. James John Evans, and carried unanimously,
That Mr Samuel Rose, and his wife Mrs Sarah Rose, be and they are hereby respectively appointed to the offices of Master and Matron of the workhouse of the Rhayader Union, subject to the approval of the Local Government Board."
by kind permission
of Winston Collins
