Work

Occupations of residents of Pelican Street, Ystradgynlais

Pelican Street, Ystradgynlais, 1906
Colour added for emphasis
Powys County Archives

Pelican Street is part of the 'Island' on which Ystradgynlais is centred and ran from the canal to the river. It ran parallel to Oddfellows Street and contained a pub. The Butcher's Arms was run by the licensee Frederick Jones who lived there with his wife Mary, their five children and a 15 year old servant, Rachel Griffiths.

As with Oddfellows Street, the largest occupation was that of coal miner. In fact, over half were employed in the coal industry, with 31 miners, two labourers, one haulier and one 16 year old collier's mate. Even boys as young as 14 were employed as miners.

However the street also had some less usual professions, such as the clock and watch maker, the wood feller, the tailor and the well sinker. It also contained a pupil teacher, 18 year old Gwen Edwards, who perhaps worked at one of the schools in Oddfellows Street. An accountant lived next door - Dafydd Tomos Davies - with his widowed mother, Mary.

As well as Gwen Edwards, there were other working women living on Pelican Street. A few were domestic servants, and half a dozen were dressmakers. One was a duster: these women were employed in the iron works on machinery used to clean off residues accumulated during the manufacturing process. However, many women would have worked but not informed the enumerator that they had an occupation of any kind.

You can find out more about this area of Ystradgynlais on the Powys Digital History Project.