Welsh Journals

MELINDWR, CARDIGANSHIRE: a study of the Censuses 1841-71. The most prominent feature of this study is its exposure of the development of the lead-mining industry over the period covered by these censuses. Lead-mining was by far the biggest employer of labour during that period, with farming ranking a poor second. A number of productive mines existed in the district, producing a good return on the capital invested in them by some of the owners. Such was the attraction of the possibilities of work and profit in the industry that many miners were drawn from other parts of the country, princ- ipally from Cornwall and Devon. Many descendants of these miners still remaind in an around North Cardiganshire, though active mining ceased over fifty years ago. It should be noted that all four of the Melindwr censuses broadly cover the same geographical area, namely that between Penllwyn Crossroads and Dyffryn Castell. Some good mixed-farming land is within the area, but there is also much isolated and mountainous sheepwalk country. Here and there, the beautiful district is scarred by lead-mine wastes, but some of these are slowly grassing over. Table 1 Basic Census Statistics Census No. of houses No. of persons listed year Inhabited Uninhabited In building Males Females Total 1841 127 351 323 674 1851 175 2 596 555 1,151 1861 180 approx. 4 6 652 659 1,311 I 1871 289 652 690 1,342 Table 2 Population growth and inhabitants' origins. Year Pop. Growth No. of inhabitants born in Cardiganshire Cornwall Devon Ireland Elsewhere 1841 674 542 60 approx. 72 approx 1851 1,151 71% 894 [78%] 112 20 46 79 1861 1,311 14% 1,158 [88%] 30 7 30 86 1871 1,342 2% 1,206 [90%] 46 14 7 69 It will be seen from Table 2 that 132 of the 1841 inhabitants were not native to Cardiganshire, accounting for nearly 20% of the total.