Mumbles Community Radio: Bernard Lewis, author, interviewed by Chris Bickford as part of a live show. Bernard is a historian and author of books on The Swansea Workhouse, Swansea Solders of the First World War

[00:00:10] Personal Details: Bernard Lewis, author, interviewed by Clive Suddington, Radio Mumbles, "Mumbles Memories". [00:00:45] Historiography: Interest in history: UC Swansea Diploma in Local History, evenings. [00:00:54] Historiography: Dissertation on Swansea Workhouse, reworked, published in 2003, West Glam Archives Service, Swansea & the Workhouse. [00:01:29] Historiography: Research in West Glam Archives, & National Archives, Kew - Local Govt Board papers. [00:02:10] Historiography: Swansea & the Workhouse research took 3-4 hours pw, 2 years, 10 weeks to write. [00:02:55] Historiography: Archives: some documents couldn't be copied, so hand transcription; digital cameras solved this. [00:03:39] Poverty: 19th century: Workhouse was only safety net. [00:03:58] Poverty: Relieving Officer decided Workhouse entry. [00:04:10] Swansea Workhouse: Built for c260 paupers; demand exceeded supply, eventually 400+. [00:04:34] Swansea Workhouse: Could leave - as long as had means of support. [00:04:50] Swansea Workhouse: Types of work; breaking stones (men), picking oakum (women) - unpicking ropes, for caulking RN ships. [00:05:13] Swansea Workhouse: Children's work: light, domestic chores, etc. [00:05:35] Swansea Workhouse: Difficulties of allocating work in limited space. [00:05:46] Swansea Workhouse: Outside work (road repair) required supervision, hence uneconomic. [00:06:03] Swansea Workhouse: If no work, and poor weather: sit all day, wait for gruel. [00:06:25] Poor Laws: New Poor Law 1834, architect Edwin Chadwick, founder of Public Health. [00:06:43] Swansea Workhouse: Built 1861, latterly Mount Pleasant Hospital, now flats. [00:07:00] Swansea Workhouse: Ward blocks still extant, and Master's House. [00:07:36] Industrial Revolution: Rural to town migration. [00:07:50] Housing: Overcrowding, wrack renting. [00:07:57] Employment: No unions, no job security. [00:08:27] Benefits: Out Relief under Poor Law. [00:08:45] Philanthropy: John Morris (Morriston), Vivian family presents, help for children. [00:09:48] Great War: Swansea Pals: A History of the 14th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment During the Great War, by Bernard Lewis. [00:10:15] Historiography: John Aldman, Swansea City Archivist: battalion archives in archives, and National Archives, Kew. [00:11:07] Great War: 1914: patriotism, Mayor's formation of Pals battalion. [00:12:06] Great War: Human cost; memorials (Southend). [00:13:12] Adverts: Adverts until 16m 16s. [00:16:19] Crime: Foul Deeds & Suspicious Circumstances Around Swansea, by Bernard Lewis (volume in series), written to commission. [00:17:34] Crime: Baron Spulasko [?], quack doctor: real name John Smith; 1830s Swansea & area medical practice. [00:18:56] Crime: "Cures" for cancer, etc. [00:19:37] Crime: Baron Spulasko's death in USA 1858, wealth. [00:20:30] Disease: SS HECLA, 1865: yellow fever mosquitoes, deaths and trade effect. [00:21:31] Disease: Yellow Fever. [00:22:13] Rebecca Riots: Against road tolls. [00:22:49] Rebecca Riots: Pontardulais riot, killed toll keeper, leaders transported. [00:23:23] Rebecca Riots: Nature of road tolls. [00:24:02] Rebecca Riots: Tolls not reinvested, roads poor. [00:24:25] Rebecca Riots: "Rebecca", quote from bible, methodology, drag [Alexander Cordell's novel The Hosts of Rebecca, covers these events]. [00:26:46] Historiography: Improved technology, transport. [00:27:38] Great War: Swansea Pals: A History of the 14th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment During the Great War. [00:28:20] Army: Regimental and battalion numbering system. [00:28:49] Army: "Service battalion" explanation. [00:29:19] Army: 1914 recruitment surge. [00:29:57] Army: 14th Welsh training. [00:30:34] Army: COs. [00:31:27] Army: Recruitment - voluntary, conscripted (Jan '16). [00:32:04] Army: Shellshock, PTSD, "neurasthenia". [00:33:21] Society: Reintegration of damaged men into society, post war. [00:33:41] Great War: Swansea in the Great War, by Bernard Lewis. [00:34:16] Historiography: Pen & Sword Books, Barnsley. [00:35:08] Army: Units in Swansea. [00:35:19] Historiography: Methodology, primary sources. [00:36:32] Historiography: Difficulties. [00:38:52] Historiography: Methodology, research (West Glam Archives, library). [00:39:17] Historiography: Swansea in the Great War: themed, not chronological. [00:39:46] Great War: Changing role of women in society. [00:40:05] Historiography: Difficulty of research into women's experiences. [00:40:33] Great War: Swansea men involvement. [00:45:02] Adverts: Adverts until end, 46m 10s