Welsh Journals

PAUPERISM IN THE ABERYSTWYTH POOR LAW UNION 1870-1914 The changing picture of pauperism in the Aberystwyth Poor Law Union is investigated for the 45 year period 1870-1914. Official paup- erism returns, local newspapers, records kept by the local poor law administration, the annual reports of the central poor law authority all provide evidence which reveals interesting changes in the compo- sition of the pauper class' and in the nature of the relief itself. At any one time the reasons behind relief practice lie in a combination of variable factors. The locality supplies economic background and the traditions, opinions, people and personalities of a unique society. In addition, there are general factors to consider such as the policy and actions of the central poor law authority and the social ideologies of Victorian and Edwardian Britain as a whole. Perhaps it would be as well to start at the local level. After a look at the local scene, and a brief explanation of the poor law process, relief practice in the Aberystwyth union will be described in detail before the causal factors are examined. The Aberystwyth Poor Law Union covered the whole of Cardigan- shire northward from Llanrhystud except for the parish of Yscybor-y- coed which was included in neighbouring Machynlleth Union. In 1871 the district recorded a population of 26,659 persons who mostly depended for their livelihood on either the commercial fortunes of the port and resort of Aberystwyth itself or the prosperity of the farms and lead mines of the hinterland. During the subsequent 40 years the economic structure of both town and country gradually altered. Aber- ystwyth Borough, with its commercial and professional interests, shop- keepers, tradespeople, landladies and domestic servants, grew in size from 6,898 to 8,794 inhabitants. An increase in railway traffic had corresponded with a decline in shipping trade. The lines from Shrews- bury and Carmarthen had already reached Aberystwyth in the mid 1860s to provide easier access for the summer seasons' visitors to the "Queen of Welsh watering places". By the end of the period the town had also acquired academic status in the shape of a University College and the National Library of Wales. Meanwhile, in the rural remainder the scene was not so cheerful. Persistant migration, particularly high during 1881-01, accounted for an overall 35% decrease in population. Although the 1870S had seen a revival in activity, by 1914 the lead mines were all but abandoned. Only 463 Cardiganshire lead miners were enumerated in the 191 I census where in 1871 the figure had been 1,823. On the land, farming fortunes suffered a less drastic decline. A downward trend in prices and profits in the last quarter of the nineteenth century caused hardship to the tenant farmer with rent