Rhymney to create Bedwellty Poor Law Union. The Union was overseen by a Board of Guardians that had been elected by local landowners. The old workhouse Prior to the formation of poor law unions, the parishes supported those in poverty, either maintaining them in their homes with 'outdoor' relief or ‘indoor relief' in already existing workhouses. Tredegar had an existing workhouse, known as Twyn Y Ddraenen (Thornhill), situated in the centre of Queen Square. The building still stands today, and has been converted into three houses. Building the new workhouse The Bedwellty Board of Guardians built a new workhouse in the Georgetown area of Tredegar and they also continued to give ‘outdoor relief’, as there was a lack of adequate workhouse accommodation in periods of high unemployment. This was evident in the Welsh Coal Strike of 1889, when Adams states "a deputation of unemployed men from Abertillery and Blaina waited on the Board, asking for help." The Board of Guardians did not allow relief in industrial disputes so stone breaking was offered as a means of employment for outdoor relief. There are some positive things to note about life in the workhouse in Bedwellty Union there was provisions made educating for the workhouse children with the employment of a school mistress from the beginning and a positive School inspection by a committee in 1857. This would be seen as forward thinking as Compulsory education had not been introduced into England and Wales until the Elementary Education Act 1880. The origins of the nurse training that became part of St James Hospital also began in the workhouse infirmary when probationary nurses were first employed in 1901. The building designed by a Mr Humphries of Cheltenham, was completed and opened with capacity for 300 ‘inmates’ in 1852. Husband and wife Mr and Mrs Keogh were the first employed members of staff as Master and Matron. Other employees to the workhouse a Medical Officer, a Dr T.G. Anthony; a Vicar Rev. Wm. Jones in the role as chaplain; a school-mistress; a nurse and a porter. The new workhouse soon became feared and hated, families who entered were separated many regarded it as a prison and discipline was harsh. The community tried to keep ill, aged and families of those men injured at work in their homes by collections to provide money for food and rent. People would avoid the workhouse due to the