Social Conditions

Relieving Officers

Relieving officers were employed to receive applications for relief, and make payments when these had been approved by the Board. They also issued orders to admit people to workhouses.

There were three relieving officers working for the Llanfyllin Union at the time of the census: John Davies, Edward Williams and Joseph Watkins. Their salaries varied, possibly to take into account the size of the areas they covered when making their collections. For the meeting of 19th March 1891 their fortnightly takings and quarterly salaries were as follows:

Name of officer Amount collected Salary
John Davies £5.13.5 £17.10/-
Edward Williams £5.16.6 £13.15/-
Joseph Watkins £4.5.5 £16.5/-

In October 1891 Edward Williams, the lowest paid of the three officers, attempted to have an advance, or increase, in his salary:

Edw. Williams Relieving Officer
Powys County Archives

"Edw. Williams Relieving Officer The application of this officer for an advance of salary having been read it was resolved on the motion of Mr David Jones seconded by Mr Rees Davies that the same be considered this day fortnight after notice thereof given to every guardian"

However, it proved rather difficult to persuade the other Guardians to grant his request:


Edw. Williams Relieving Officer
Powys County Archives

"Edw. Williams Relieving Officer The notice sent to the guardians having been read together with the officer's application for an advance of salary it was resolved on the motion of Mr Geo Kempster seconded by Mr J M Jones that the amount of the officer's salary remain undisturbed."



Llanfyllin Board of Guardians