Eliane Wigzell - Crickhowell Union Workhouse; the "Spike" and its People - Thursday 12th March

EVENT DETAILS

Thursday 12th March - 7:00pm for 19:30 start

Eliane Wigzell, local historian and author, will talk about the local workhouse, the institution of the Crickhowell Poor Law Union and its wider responsibilities, while weaving in individual stories of those who governed, worked for, or most importantly those in receipt of poor relief.

The ten parishes that fell under the responsibility of the Crickhowell Poor Law Union ranged from the remote and rural communities of Partrishow, Grwynefawr and Grwynefechan to the industrial towns of Brynmawr, Beaufort and Nantyglo and at their heart lay the market town of Crickhowell and its neighbouring village of Llangattock.

The story of the Union and history of its workhouse, set on the hillside of the Dardy, facing Crickhowell has been drawn from original sources such as the Minutes of the Board of Guardians meetings, newspaper reports, and local school records, the development of the Union and its responsibilities is traced.

Interspersed between the reports of the often lively and sometimes argumentative meetings of the Guardians are glimpses of the lives of the inmates and poor residents of the area.

There are tales of marital breakdown, alcoholism, neglect, extreme poverty and abuse. Judgements passed are harsh, punishment is often hard labour.

The Crickhowell Union Workhouse history uses original sources to present an invaluable local study of Victorian poor relief, the social attitudes that guided it and the social conditions it attempted to remedy and address.

Venue: Bowls Pavilion, Crickhowell (Bar Available)