| A Master and Matron for the new workhouse | ||
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The Rhayader Union managed to get the authorities to let them build a smaller workhouse for just 40 inmates, claiming that the local population was small, and a large building wouldn't be needed. |
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Rhayader
workhouse
as it appears today |
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The Union
did need a Master and Matron to run
the workhouse. It was usual for a married couple to be chosen. The inmates of the workhouse were kept separate, the men in one part of the building and the women and children in the other. The Master would look after the men's side and the Matron would look after the women and children's side. |
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Photograph
by
kind permission of Mr Winston Collins |
The Union appointed a
farmer and his wife from St Harmon to be the Master and Matron, but the
authorities in London stepped in and insisted that a couple be chosen with
experience of running a workhouse. As none of the men who ran the Union had any experience either, this was probably a good idea! A Mr and Mrs Rose were finally appointed. |
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We do not have any photographs of them, but the photograph above shows the Master and Matron with an inmate just after the Victorian period. Back to Rhayader Care of the poor menu
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