| A new workhouse for the Union |
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The
better off people in the Newtown and Llanidloes area were the people who
paid the Poor Rate. This was like a
local tax to pay for the care of the poor. Many of them felt that there
should be seperate Poor Law Unions for Newtown and Llanidloes. The government
insisted though, and a site was chosen at Caersws
between the two towns. As the new workhouse was being built in 1838 the building was damaged on Sundays when there was nobody on the site. This was probably done by local people who did not want to see it built. |
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To
find out more about workhouses in general, click on the image above
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| There
was much opposition to the the new system from poorer working people who
were afraid of seeing their families locked away if they lost their jobs. The Chartists, who were trying to get better rights for working people, also saw the workhouses as yet another way the authorities tried to control their lives. When one of the government officials visited the area to see how the new system was being set up, local people threw his gig off the bridge into the river ! |
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After
this the site was protected by soldiers during a Christmas Day meeting of
Chartists at Caersws. The meeting went off peacefully. Despite some local opposition the workhouse did open on the edge of Caersws in 1840. As we can see from this map it was built in the cross shape which was common to most workhouses built around this time and was designed to house up to 350 paupers. By the time it was ready to open the Chartist disturbances in Llanidloes had taken place and the authorities were very uneasy. Local people saw the huge new building with great misgivings. It had barred windows and a surrounding wall and looked like a prison. |
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Life could be difficult for working
people both in the towns and the countryside, with poor diet, cramped
and damp houses, and disease being major problems. At least they would
be in the community with their friends and relatives though. |
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