Glamorgan

In much of Wales, the workhouse was an institution that was at best tolerated, and at worst met by violent resistance. This talk will look at the history of the workhouse in the Wales, covering both the pre-1834 era of parish poor relief administration and the subsequent decades when the country was carved up into Poor Law Unions run by locally elected Boards of Guardians. It will also examine how life changed for workhouse inmates over that time, until the Poor Laws were finally abolished in 1948.

Our speaker: Peter Higginbotham

Peter Higginbotham is well-known for his extensive writings on the workhouse and related subjects, which stretch back more than twenty years. This includes not only books such as The Workhouse Encyclopedia, Voices from the Workhouse, the Workhouse Cookbook and, most recently, Workhouses of Wales and the Welsh Borders, but also the highly regarded websites workhouses.org.uk and childrenshomes.org.uk. He has also made many appearances on radio and TV in programmes such as Who Do You Think You Are?, Heir Hunters and Coming Home.

This free session via Zoom is open to all who register, but to find out more about the Glamorgan Family History Society and the benefits of being a member, please visit our website

Please note that the Zoom link will be sent out after registration closes.