Social Conditions

Boarding out of children

By the end of the nineteenth century, there was a move away from keeping children in the workhouse. It was not seen as a suitable environment in which to raise a child. Efforts were made to foster them with families, known as boarding out. This could be a lucrative source of income to families who took in workhouse children as the boarding out account shows:

Powys County Archives

On 19th March it was agreed by the Llanfyllin Board of Guardians that Lewis Edwards should be boarded out:

Powys County Archives

"Boarded out children  On the recommendation of Miss A M Hayhurst it was resolved to board Lewis Edwards aged nine, with Mr Edward Jones, Carpenter, of Gelli Bach Llansaintffraid, provided if the usual terms be accepted."

It seems that the Board did endeavour to find good homes for the children and continued their responsibilities towards them even when they were over the age of 14 and able to work. This is shown by the following extract from the minutes from 14th May where the children were too ill to begin work.

Powys County Archives

"Boarded out children  On the recommendation of Mrs Price it was agreed to continue the weekly payments for another month in the case of David Owen he being unwell, and to continue the weekly payments for another year in the case of Elizabeth Richards she being deformed and weakly."

John Tudor is shown in the workhouse census for 1891. However there is also a Charles Tudor who was his brother, although no mention was made of his boarding out. If this was the case, it must have been very difficult for the brothers to have been separated from each other.

There was one other Tudor living in Guilsfield at the time of the census.

This was John and Charles' little sister, as shown in the parish baptism registers:

There is not a William Owen at Cloddia in Guilsfield on the census, but the Board may not have had his correct Christian name: