Dr Morgan Rees's report to the Local Government Board on conditions of housing and other sanitary circumstances in the St Dogmells Rural District.
- Rees, Morgan J.
- Date:
- 1913
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Dr Morgan Rees's report to the Local Government Board on conditions of housing and other sanitary circumstances in the St Dogmells Rural District. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![On the former occasion the water supplies were found to be defective and liable to pollution, and the sewerage imijerfect, while the means for the disposal of excrement, ashes, and house- refuse were objectionable. On the latter occasion recommenda- tions were made, and the following is an extract from the concluding portion of Dr. Sweeting’s report: “ The most urgent necessities for tlie St. Dogmells Itural District appear to be : (1) The provision of proper main drainage for the more populous and quasi-urbaii portions of the district, such as the villages of St. Dogmells, Cilgerran, Newport, and part of Dinas; (2) the culvert- ing of sfreanis, to prevent their Avater being used for drinking; (8) improved methods of refuse disposal; (4) the undertaking of or contracting for scaA^'enging; (5) the acquisition of urban powers Avith a vieAv to byelaAvs for the regulation of slaughter-houses and of iieAV buildings; (6) the registration of coAvsheds, dairies, and milk-shops, and the adoption of regulations for their control; (7) the carrying out of improA^ed methods of disinfection; (8) the provision of an isolation hospital for infectious diseases.” General Description.—The rural district is situated in the northern part of Pembrokeshire. On the south-west it is bounded b}^ the HaverfordAvest Rural District, on the south by the Nar- berth Rural District, on the south-east by the Llanfyrnach and Cardigan Rural Districts, on the north-east by the Borough of Cardigan and Cardigan Rural District, and on the north-west by the St. George’s Channel The district consists of 17 parishes and has an area of 68,872 acres. It measures about 15J miles from east to west and 104 miles from north to south and is hilly throughout. In the extreme eastern corner of the district the Great Western Railway runs for a feAv miles; while in the rest of its area roads, of which county roads measure 20J miles and district roads 166J miles, form the only means of travelling. The population is thinly scattered except in the Aullages of St. Dogmells, Cilgerran, Newport, and Dinas which are, as Dr. Sweeting described, quasi-urban in character. It was enumerated in 1911 at 7,888, which is a decrease of 364 on the previous census. In six parishes, namely, Bayvil, Llaufair Nant Gwyn, Llanfihangel Penbedw, Llanychlwydog, Meline, and White- church, the population had not decreased but was practically stationary. Cattle or sheep farming is the staple industry of tlie district, most of the land being used for grazing purposes. Along the coast, fishing proAudes a means of livelihood, while in Cilgerran quarrying of slate affords employment to some fifty men. The wages paid to farm labourers are low, ranging from Is. 6r/. to i2.y Gc7. a Aveelv, out of Avhich house-rent and rates liav’e generally to ])e paid. As a rule, tlie labourer is given his food at the farm, and a ‘‘ drill ” of potatoes, i.e., a furrow in which potatoes are soAvn, for the use of liis family, the Amlue of the latter emolument being estimated at from 3.y to 6.s. a year. Quarrymen are better [)aid, their Avages ranging from 18.<?. to 2(ks\ n Aveek, AA’hile road labourers receive IS.v. or IG.s. a week. Geologically the district is composed of Llandeilo rock con- sisting of limesiones, sandstones, slates and shales, Avhile in the](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28143449_0006.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
