BRIDGEND 1910/11

( Photo 1 ) . Arial view of Bridgend workhouse 1923.

BRIDGEND 1910/1911

THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

A year in the life of Bridgend town.

BRIDGEND 1910/11

There are only two news reports in this post, as the two articles are longer then the standard reports.

It was a time:- when fatal motorcar accidents were rare, and a witness account of 24 hours in the Bridgend workhouse with Bridgend’s approach on how to deal with vagrant tramps in the town.

The Rhondda Leader

15th July 1911

A Dirty Night.

Bridgend Motor Smash.

A Survivor's Thrilling Story.

The story of the motor car disaster near Bridgend a fortnight ago by which Mr. T. Naunton Morgan, architect and auctioneer, Penygraig, lost his life, was told at the inquest on the deceased At Bridgend on Friday last.

Mr. Hy. S. Haigh, herbalist, Penygraig, said he, together with deceased and Mr. William Richards, of Tonypandy, left Penygraig on Friday afternoon about twenty minutes to three, for Porthcawl. They started from Porthcawl on the return journey soon after nine o'clock, and passed through Bridgend about 10 o'clock, intending to go through Cowbridge. When they left Bridgend a severe rainstorm was raging, and the night was pitch dark.

They went along steadily for some time in silence, witness having all he could do to hold on his straw hat against the wind and rain. The glass wind-screen in front of the car was blurred with rain, and Mr. Morgan, who was driving, would not be able to see anything through it. About two minutes before the accident he heard Mr. Richards say to Mr. Morgan, A dirty night, Tom," and Mr. Morgan replied, An awful night.

" HELP! HELP!

Then suddenly the car gave a lurch, as though something had gone wrong with the rear wheel. Witness was pitched out and knew no more until he recovered consciousness when he found himself lying in the middle of the road. One of the lamps of the car was burning dimly. He caught hold of it and at that instant it went out, leaving him in pitch darkness. He searched about the road for his companions, but could not find them. Then he went down on his hands and knees in the mud and groped about. His hand touched a face. He knew that he had found a body. He could get no response. He attempted to light some matches which he had in his pocket, but they were wet and would not strike. Then he groped about in the roadway, still on his hands and knees, looking for his companion. He could not find him. He reflected for a time in the darkness, and came to the conclusion that both his companions were dead. He went along the road searching for help, and came to a cottage on the roadside in which there was a light.

The wicket gate in the garden was locked, and be could not get in. He shouted, Help, help, a terrible motor tragedy, two killed." He saw lights moving about, but no one came, and at last he went on in the direction of Bridgend, hoping to meet someone who would assist him. At last he was over- taken by a motor car, and he threw up his arms and shouted, Help, help," and the car stopped. He then saw Mr. Willie Richards in the car, and said, Is that you, Willie? Mr. Richards said, Yes: poor Tom is dead." The car belonged to Dr. Bell Thomas, of Maesteg, who had arrived at the scene of the accident after witness had left, and had. Brought on Mr. Richards.

Mr. Richards, who gave evidence, seated, having not quite recovered from his injuries, said he had little recollection of the accident. He remembered the car lurching, and he was then thrown out and rendered unconscious. Dr. Bell Thomas said that he was driving home from Cardiff in his car when they saw something across the road, and in the light of the lamp caught sight of a white face. He stopped, and got out, and found Mr. Richards standing in the middle of the road, dazed and unable to account for what had happened.

HELP REFUSED.

In a ditch he found Mr. Morgan, dead, with his neck broken. The hind wheel was off the damaged car. He tried to get lights and help from a roadside cottage with County Police" on it but was refused.

Inspector Fred Smith said that from an examination of the marks on the road, he was of the opinion that the car had been driven straight into a telegraph pole on the curve. He proceeded to the scene of the accident in a car, and they had great difficulty in keeping to the road owing to the darkness, and. a stranger at that spot would probably think that the road went straight on, instead of curving.

A verdict of Accidental death was returned. The proceedings were watched by Mr. D. W. James, of Tonypandy, on behalf of the relatives of the deceased; and by Mr. H. J. Randall (of Messrs. Randall and Co., Bridgend) on behalf of the insurance company.

The accident had occurred at the bottom of Crack Hill.

The funeral was a large event, reported in a later edition of the Rhondda Leader, with a more complete story and a photograph of Mr. T. Naunton Morgan printed in the paper.

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The Glamorgan Gazette

23rd September 1910

TRAMPS IN BRIDGEND

HOW THEY ARE TREATED IN THE CASUAL WARD.

By THE EXPLORER.

Seeing the number of tramps who came into Bridgend from Swansea, the Rhondda, and Cardiff the other evening, makes me believe that the Tramp Pest is on the increase in South Wales. Whether this is due to the free and easy" regime adopted in the casual wards they visit I will leave my readers to judge for themselves, but in my opinion this has a lot to do with the tramp invasion of the Principality. Householders in Bridgend are well acquainted with the tramp or roadster." Generally four classes of these nomads visit the town: the "griddler," that obnoxious individual who sings, Where is my wandering boy to-night?" in a terribly raucous voice: the "gagger," the gentleman with the plausible tales of a sick wife, starving children, loss of business by fire, and broken-down health, the door thumper." who visits the back doors of the houses, asking for food: and the navvy tramp," the stoutly built, rough, uncouth personage who often gets a job on the public works and as often "chucks" it after a few days' toil. Specimens of all these individuals will be found every evening about 6 o'clock lined up in front of the Police Station waiting to receive the necessary ticket for admission to the casual ward. But these tramps do not speak of it as a casual ward. They call it a "Spike," a "Grubber." or a "Derrick": the food they receive There as Soran." Tommy." or Rooty," and the bed a "Lay down." However, in my endeavours to see something of the Poor Law System in South Wales.

I visited Bridgend the other day, and in the evening just after six o'clock attended at the Police Station with about a score of the tramping fraternity. They were a motley crew in all stages of tire" and attire, but I noticed that the majority had the appearance of navvies. Townsfolk passing by at the time past curious glances at this mob perchance they were wondering whether the poor rate would go up. "What are they staring at? " Growled a stalwart navvy, next me; "Ain't they seen anyone on the road before? " And he shot a savage glance across at a little group watching us. I won't add his expletives. I myself was rather glad when the office window was opened, and the booking commenced, Below is a facsimile of the ticket furnished to each vagrant:—

Bridgend and Cowbridge Union.

Sept. 1910.

To the Master of the Union. Admit John Jones, age 32, occupation, labourer, to Casual Ward. From Cardiff To Swansea For One Night Only.

Signed.

I noticed that, with the exception of two, the applicants gave their occupations as labourers." A tramp the other week, asked by a magistrate what he laboured at, replied "Walking," and certainly this is often his one and only trade. It was nearly seven o'clock when I reached the Workhouse and handed in my ticket. Make all your property into a bundle," commanded the porter and forthwith I packed up pipe, tobacco, matches, knife, etc., and handed them to the Tramp Major, receiving in exchange a numbered ticket. The Tramp Major, I might here explain, is an inmate of the Workhouse whose duties are to assist the porter in dealing with visitors to the casual ward. In many Workhouses the Tramp Major is a much-hated and reviled personage, the one at Bridgend, however, was a decent fellow, and, strange to say, I heard his praises sung by several of the tramps. In company with the Tramp Major I was taken to that part of the Workhouse buildings used for the accommodation of casuals. Here I received my supper, and was shown into a good-sized room, where I found my other tramp friends assembled busily engaged on their meal. So I set to also. And honestly enjoyed my supper, which consisted of a pint of really good soup with about 1oz. Of bread. This consumed, came the bath ordeal! I write ordeal," for the regular tramp shuns bathing. Lets the crowd run right enter my bones," he says. To me the bath was enjoyable, and here Bridgend may pride itself on the way this most necessary cleaning operation is done in the vagrant ward.

Many Spikes" dispense altogether with ablutions. Some day when an epidemic breaks out in the locality through uncleanliness. They will realise their fault. "Fresh water for each person" is the rule at Bridgend, a rule which might well be copied by other Unionist in the district, where it is generally "Fresh water for eight persons." After drying and tying all my clothes in a bundle, I attired myself in a Workhouse night shirt, and was shown ray bed-chamber. The tramps' bedrooms at the Union are made up of about a dozen roomy cells, each capable of holding two people. In most of these are small bedsteads with spring mattresses, the bed clothing consisting of two thick rugs. Unfortunately, I and my navvy friend who occupied the same cell had no bedsteads, and were constrained to make our beds on the floor. After carefully selecting the softest boards, I arranged my rugs and settled myself for slumber. Reader, have you ever endeavoured to sleep on the floor? It is not pleasant, even for the most "fleshy" person whilst I, being one of the lean kind, felt the hardness acutely. I dozed, woke, stretched and turned, and was glad when morning came and the door was opened. To dress was not a long business, and after a wash we received breakfast, consisting of 1 pint of very thin gruel and 6oz. Of bread. After this meal the tramp is expected to do some task of work in return for the accommodation. According to the Poor Law Regulations he may be compelled to break not more than 5 cwt. And not less than l & half cwt. of stones to a size required by the Guardians, or do three hours' work wood sawing, gardening, corn grinding, pumping, or cleaning. At Bridgend casual ward the task is very light, being an hour's work at wood sawing or chopping. This in itself is an incentive for tramps to come, to Bridgend. The only remedy is to deal with the "regulars" more stringently. In concluding this short article. I may say that in my opinion. Bridgend casual ward is a well regulated and well-ordered branch of the Union work. Everything in it is kept spotlessly clean, and there is little of the bullying and hectoring so often to be found in these places.