Parishes were grouped into Poor Law Unions which were charged to provide a workhouse for the relief of the able-bodied poor. St Asaph Poor Law Union was formed in 1837; its operation was overseen by an elected Board of Guardians, representing its constituent parishes of Abergele, Bettws Abergele, Denbigh, Henllan, Llanddulas, Llanfair Talhaearn, Llansannan, Llanyfydd, in Denbighshire, Bodfari, in the counties of Denbigh and Flint, and Cwm, Diserth, Meliden with Prestatyn, Rhuddlan and Rhyl, St Asaph and Tremeirchion, in Flintshire.
The Board of Guardians responsible for the Union had other duties, including the registration of births, marriages and deaths, vaccinations, assessments of rates, sanitation, school attendance and infant life protection. By the time of the Local Government Act 1929, Unions were abolished and their duties transferred to County Councils, responsibility for the poor being transferred to the Public Assistance Committee until 1948.
Records of St Asaph Poor Law Union, 1861-1925, including rate books, 1861-1925; valuation lists; and returns of assessable values, 1889-1891.