Welsh Journals

'THE FIRST CHARITY IN WALES': CARDIFF INFIRMARY AND SOUTH WALES SOCIETY, 1837-19141 IN an appeal for funds for the newly expanded Cardiff Infirmary, published on the eve of the First World War, Colonel E. M. Bruce Vaughan, chairman of the House Committee, wrote: 'Today the Cardiff Infirmary stands unchallenged as the first and greatest charitable institution in Wales'.2 Bruce Vaughan, who was, both literally and metaphorically, the architect of the Edwardian expansion of the institution, obviously had an axe to grind; but it would be unwise to dismiss his claim as mere rhetoric. The claim he made was at least plausible in 1914, whereas in 1837 it would have been ludicrous. But, more important, he drew attention to the central role which the provincial voluntary hospitals played in nineteenth-century philanthropy. Eighteenth-century historians have recognised the importance of metropolitan hospitals in philanthropy,3 but, apart from the controversy over their role in population growth, the nineteenth-century provincial voluntary hospital has been largely neglected by historians.4 The origins of social work, and especially the activities of the Charity Organization Society, have been the concern of most historians of philanthropy.5 Bruce Vaughan recog- nized what historians have almost forgotten: that institutions cater- ing for the sick and afflicted were the mainstays of Victorian phil- anthropy, and their successes and failures must greatly influence our 1 This article is based upon records formerly held by the Cardiff United Hospital Board (now transferred to Glamorgan Record Office). I am grateful to the Board for permission to consult this material and to the staffs of Cardiff Infirmary, the University Hospital, Cardiff, the Glamorgan Record Office and Cardiff Central Library (particularly Mr. T. J. Hopkins) for their courtesy and assistance. In thanking Martin Daunton, Michael Simpson and Peter Stead for their helpful comments on a draft, I acknowledge only a small part of my debt to them all. Also I must thank Mrs. E. O. A. Checkland and my colleague David Sullivan for their help and comments. Colonel Bruce Vaughan's Appeal, Western Mail [W.M.], 8 April 1914, reprinted in Cardiff Infirmary Annual Report [C.I.A.R.], 1913, p. 31. The title of this article is taken from a heading in Bruce Vaughan's appeal. I D. Owen, English Philanthropy, 1660-1960 (Oxford, 1965), ch. II. 4 J. Woodward, To Do the Sick No Harm (London, 1975); S. Cherry, 'The Role of a Provincial Hospital: The Norfolk and Norwich Hospital 1771-1880', Population Studies, XXVI, part 2 (July 1972). Fielder, G.D., 'Public Health and Hospital Administration in Swansea since the end of the 18th century to 1914' (Unpublished M.A. thesis, Univeristy of Wales, 1962),has an excellent chapter on Swansea Infirmary which I have used for comparative purposes, though my approach is rather different. I am grateful to Professor I. G. Jones for drawing my attention to this thesis. e.g. M. Simey, Charitable Effort in Liverpool in the Nineteenth Century (London, 1951); K. Woodruff, From Charity to Social Work (London, 1962); C. L. Mowat The Charity Organization Society (London, 1961); A. F. Young and E. T. Ashton, British Social Work in the Nineteenth Century (London, 1956). However, B. Harrison, 'Philanthropy and the Victorians', Victorian Studies, Vol. 9 (1965-66), has a much wider view of Victorian phil- anthropy.