Wikipedia

Carmarthen Workhouse

Carmarthen Workhouse (also known as Carmarthen Union Workhouse) was a workhouse in Carmarthen, South Wales, UK. It was attacked during the Rebecca Riots in 1843.[1][2]

Carmarthen Workhouse
Map
Interactive map of the Carmarthen Workhouse area
Alternative names
Carmarthen Union Workhouse
General information
Location1 Penlan Road, Carmarthen, Wales
Coordinates51°51′39″N 4°18′32″W / 51.860851°N 4.308924°W / 51.860851; -4.308924
Year builtoriginally built in 1805; enlarged in 1837
Renovatedextended in 1839-1840; extended in 1879-1890s; rebuilt in 1907-1908
Design and construction
ArchitectThomas Evans
Renovating team
ArchitectsJ. L. Collard (1839-1840); George Morgan (1879-1890s); Arthur I. Jones (1907-1908)
Main contractorMr. Rees Davies (1907-1908)

History

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A poorhouse was opened in Carmarthen in 1805.[3] It was renamed to a workhouse in 1821.[4] The Carmarthen Poor Law Union was formed on 2 July 1836. In October 1836, plans were made to enlarge the 1805 building, keeping the gatehouse from the earlier building.[3][4] The workhouse building was built in the 1830s,[5][6][7][8] in response to the Poor Law Act 1834, requiring parishes to look after their own poor.[8][9] The enlarged workhouse was opened in 1837.[1][2][10]

Rebecca Riots

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The workhouse was stormed by protesters during the Rebecca Riots[1][2][4][5][6][7][8] to protest the New Poor Law of 1834.[1] This was a turning point in the riots, with previous attacks being on tollgates.[11] On 19th June 1843, rioters forced the workhouse master to hand over his keys. The protesters wrecked the workhouse, smashing furniture and windows.[1][3][12][13][14][15] There were 500 protesters on horses and 2000 on foot.[12]

Five troops of the 4th (Queen's Own) Light Dragoons were ordered to march into South Wales from Exeter to control the Rebecca Riots.[16] They marched to Carmarthen from Cardiff.[8][12] The 4th Light Dragoons used a cavalry charge to end the riot.[2][3][4][10][17] This was the last cavalry action in Britain.[18] As a result, 60 protesters were taken prisoner.[1][2][3][17]

20th Century

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At the start of the 20th century, the workhouse became more commonly known as No. 1 Penlan Road.[19][20] Birth certificates used this address to avoid future disadvantage to those born at the workhouse.[3] The workhouse's buildings were used as an Auxillary Military Red Cross Hospital during World War I.[1][3][10][18] During the war, rationing meant residents at the workhouse received less bread, substituted by porridge at breakfast and rice at dinner.[21] The building stopped being used as a workhouse in the 1930s.[2][5][7][8] It became a Public Assistance Institute.[3][12] Troops were stationed at the workhouse during World War II.[1][10][18] Towards the end of the 20th Century, the building was used by Carmarthenshire Council, the BBC and local charities.[1][2][3][8][18]

Fires

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In February 1844, there was a fire at the Carmarthen Workhouse. It was extinguished by a party of the 76th regiment stationed at the workhouse before the Carmarthen fire engines could arrive. It was believed to be caused by a builder placing a rafter too close to a chimney.[22] There was a fire at Carmarthen Workhouse on 26 March 1906.[12][23] It broke out in the master and matron's quarters of the main building, possibly caused by an inmate stirring the fire. At the time, the workhouse housed 103 inmates, but there were no casualties.[3] An old chaplain's book from the days of the Rebecca Riots was saved from the fire.[24][25] A fire at Carmarthen Workhouse on 2 March 2018 was extinguished by 20 firefighters.[5][7] The fire heavily damaged the building.[3][6][26] It was believed that the fire was started maliciously by two youths.[2]

Life at the workhouse

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Inmates at the workhouse were required to wear a uniform and follow a repetitive routine. Men, women and children were confined to different parts of the building, which resulted in families being split up.[1] Inmates were usually served a Christmas dinner of roast beef and plum pudding.[27][28][29] However, in 1865, inmates were not given Christmas dinner.[30] In 1868, a report stated that the accommodation at the workhouse was insufficient, with a lack of light and ventilation, particularly to the water-closet system. Inmates had straw beds. At the time, there was no infirmary, and sick inmates were treated on various wards in the main building.[31]

Number of residents

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When the workhouse was opened in 1837, it could house 140 inmates.[1][2][10] In 1869, there were 92 "paupers" in the workhouse.[32] In 1906, there were 88 residents.[29] After the workhouse was rebuilt in 1908, it could accommodate 115 people.[23]

Staff

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Masters and Matrons of Carmarthen Workhouse
Year Master Matron
1846 Henry Winchcombe[33]
1852 Mr Johns[27] Mrs Johns[27]
1865 Thomas Furlong[34]
1868 Benjamin Jones[35]
1869 John Canton[32] Mrs Canton[32]
1881-1901 Edwin Price[3][36][37] Margaret Price[3]
1908-1913 Mr Rees Price[23][19] Mrs Rees Price[23][19]

Building

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The workhouse building is located where Penlan Road meets Brewery Road.[7] The foundation stone was laid in 1837 with Thomas Evans as the contractor.[4][10][18] At the time, workhouse buildings were designed to look imposing and unpleasant.[1] The building was extended in 1839-40 by J. L. Collard.[4] In 1879, a new children's block was built, designed by George Morgan.[3] The building was further extended by George Morgan through the 1880s and 1890s.[4]

The main block building had to be demolished after the fire in 1906,[23] as the existing walls were deemed unsafe to use.[38] While removing debris from the site in preparation for rebuilding, a wall fell on a labourer, causing serious scalp injuries.[39] The main block building was rebuilt in 1907-08 in a new layout.[1][3] Mr. Rees Davies was the builder and Arthur I. Jones was the architect.[4][23]

Disused buildings at the old Carmarthen Workhouse in 2009

Edgar and Jonathan Stephens took ownership in 2007 and obtained planning permission to turn the buildings into flats. They planned to sell to a developer but struggled to find one.[2] Carmarthen Workhouse was on the market in 2015, with planning permission to convert into flats.[1][18] It hadn't sold by 2019.[2] By 2017, the buildings of Carmarthen Workhouse had fallen into disrepair.[10]

After a fire in 2018, the state of the building was further degraded. The owners (still Edgar and Jonathan Stephens) were ordered to carry out repair works, but the building was still deteriorating in 2019, with worries that people walking near the building may be injured by failing tiles or masonry. An enforcement notice required them to fix the roof, chimneys and walls damaged by fire and reglaze windows by February 2020.[2]

The building has a blue plaque from Carmarthen Civil Society to mark the Rebecca Riots attack on the workhouse.[8][10] The gatehouse, possibly dating from the original 1805 poorhouse, is a Grade II listed building.[4]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Ridout, Joanne (2015-10-21). "Old Carmarthen Workhouse goes up for sale". Wales Online. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Lewis, Ian; Hembery, Sandra (2019-03-18). "Pitiful and potentially dangerous state of historic former workhouse". Wales Online. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Higginbotham, Peter. "Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire". The Workhouse Website. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Full Report for Listed Buildings". Cadw. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Blaze at town landmark building". BBC News. 2018-03-02. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  6. 1 2 3 "Heritage buildings: Carmarthen going to 'rack and ruin' fears". BBC News. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Carmarthen workhouse fire 'alarms and dismays' residents". BBC News. 2018-03-03. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Call to save Carmarthen workhouse from 'rack and ruin'". BBC News. 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  9. ↑ Davies, John (1994). A History of Wales. London; New York: Penguin Books. p. 371. ISBN 978-0-14-014581-6.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lewis, Ian (2017-03-21). "Calls made to save Carmarthen's historic Rebecca Riots workhouse from ruin". Wales Online. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  11. ↑ "Why men in 19th century Wales dressed as women to protest taxation". Bangor University. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Hicks, Gareth (2018-04-09). "Carmarthen Workhouse 1906". People's Collection Wales. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  13. ↑ Lloyd, Sir John Edward, ed. (1939). A History of Carmarthenshire. Vol. 2.
  14. ↑ Roberts, Glyn (1969). Aspects of Welsh History. Cardiff: University of Wales P. ISBN 978-0-900768-22-4.
  15. ↑ Inglis-Jones, Elisabeth. The Story of Wales. Faber & Faber. p. 196. ISBN 9787250010744.
  16. ↑ Atkins, Tommy (2021-08-12). "The Rebecca Riots 1843". QRH Museum. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  17. 1 2 Grigg, Dr Russell (2015). Little Book of Carmarthenshire. Little Book. New York: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-6346-6.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Service, Wales News (2015-12-23). "Historic Carmarthen Workhouse finally finds a buyer". Wales Online. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  19. 1 2 3 "Sumptuous Treat to Carmarthen Workhouse Inmates". The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 1913-09-12. p. 5 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  20. ↑ Higginbotham, Peter (2012). Voices from the Workhouse. Stroud: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-7717-6.
  21. ↑ "War Rations at Carmarthen Workhouse". The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 1917-04-06. p. 3. Retrieved 2026-06-18 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  22. ↑ "Carmarthen". The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser. 1844-03-01. p. 2 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Carmarthen Workhouse: Description of New Building". The Welshman. 1908-10-09. p. 8 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  24. ↑ "Rebecca Riots Recalled". The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser. 1910-11-18. p. 4 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  25. ↑ "Relict of Rebecca Riots: Carmarthen Guardian Un-earth Interesting Book". Weekly Mail. 1910-11-19. p. 4 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  26. ↑ "Carmarthen workhouse gutted by fire". BBC News. 2018-03-02. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  27. 1 2 3 "Carmarthen Union". The Welshman. 1852-12-31. p. 2 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  28. ↑ "The Workhouse". The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 1910-12-30. p. 3 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  29. 1 2 "The Workhouse". The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 1906-12-28. p. 3 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  30. ↑ "Carmarthen Board of Guardians". The Welshman. 1865-12-29. p. 6 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  31. ↑ "Carmarthen: Board of Guardians". The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian Glamorgan Monmouth and Brecon Gazette. 1868-02-08. p. 7 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  32. 1 2 3 "Carmarthen Board of Guardians". The Welshman. 1869-06-25. p. 3 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  33. ↑ "Carmarthen Union Workhouse – Coroner's Inquest". The Welshman. 1846-10-16. p. 2.
  34. ↑ "[No title]". The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian Glamorgan Monmouth and Brecon Gazette. 1856-10-04. p. 6.
  35. ↑ "Saint Clears - Petty Sessions". The Welshman. 1868-12-18. p. 2 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  36. ↑ "Sudden Death at the Carmarthen Workhouse". The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 1896-01-10. p. 2 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  37. ↑ "[No title]". Weekly Mail. 1901-03-02. p. 7 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  38. ↑ "Re-building Carmarthen Workhouse". Evening Express. 1906-05-07. p. 3 – via Welsh Newspapers.
  39. ↑ "Wall Fell On Him". Evening Express. 1907-01-28. p. 3 – via Welsh Newspapers.
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