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Union Workhouse, Pontypool, Monmouthshire
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Union Workhouse, Pontypool, Monmouthshire
Pontypool Union workhouse was built in 1837 on Coedygric Road, Griffithstown, Monmouthshire (now Gwent). It later became Panteg County Hospital. This atmospheric view was taken from the far side of the railway that ran alongside the workhouse. A boy on the bridge looks around suspiciously at the photographer
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Media ID 4464357
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10415963
1830s 1837 Atmospheric Commissioners Dickensian Gwent Health Institution Institutional L Aw Legal Legislation Monmouthshire Paupers Pontypool Poor Poverty Status Viaduct Workhouse Workhouses
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the Union Workhouse in Pontypool, Monmouthshire (now Gwent), as it stood in the late 19th or early 20th century. Built in 1837 on Coedygric Road, Griffithstown, the workhouse later became Panteg County Hospital. The atmospheric scene is viewed from the far side of the railway that ran alongside the institution, with a boy on the bridge looking around suspiciously at the photographer. During the 1830s, the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 led to the establishment of workhouses as a means of providing for the poor, the sick, and the destitute. These institutions were run by Boards of Guardians, appointed by the local gentry and clergy, and were intended to be a deterrent to those seeking relief. The Union Workhouse in Pontypool was a large, imposing building, designed to house and provide for the local paupers. The institution was surrounded by a high wall, with only one entrance, and was intended to be a place of last resort for those who had no other means of support. The addition of a railway line nearby added an extra layer of isolation and institutionalization to the workhouse. The bridge in the photograph serves as a reminder of the connection between the workhouse and the outside world, but also highlights the divide between those inside and those outside the walls. The photograph is a poignant reminder of the history of poverty and social welfare in Wales during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Dickensian image of the workhouse, with its cold, harsh atmosphere, is a stark contrast to the modern-day healthcare and social services that now exist in the area. The Union Workhouse in Pontypool, now known as Panteg County Hospital, continues to stand as a testament to the history of social welfare in Monmouthshire and Gwent. The building, which was once a symbol of the harsh realities of poverty and destitution, now serves as a reminder of the importance of providing care and support for those in need.
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