Bodfan Institution Records

Records of the Bodfan Institution and Eryri Hospital, 1876-1956, including Clerk to the Guardian's records, 1923-1950, consisting of minutes and agendas of Guardians Committee meetings, 1931-1936; case papers of patients transferred from Bodfan to Eryri Hospital, 1923-1950; records relating to patients from Eryri Hospital, 1929-1950; patients' records, 1929-1954; workhouse master's records, 1925-1955, including inmate records, 1921-1955; report books, 1930-1956; financial records, 1930-1954; correspondence, 1925-1946; indoor relief records, 1931-1947; miscellaneous workhouse master's records, 1933-1953; abstracts of outdoor relief lists, 1932-1942; vaccinator's register, 1937-1950; Board of Control records, 1930-1948; and miscellaneous, 1876-1928.

In 1845, Caernarfon Poor Law Union constructed a building called Bodfan to accommodate the poor of Caernarfon and surrounding parishes. In about 1910, the Board of Guardians decided that the Infirmary building had become outdated and laid plans to erect a new, larger, modern building to cater for the sick. This building, known as Eryri, was completed in 1913, providing 70 beds, including a Maternity Section. Following the Local Government Act 1929, the duties of the Board of Guardians were transferred to the Public Assistance Committee of Caernarfonshire County Council. The Bodfan Institution, Caernarfon, continued to function as it had under the Caernarfon Poor Law Union, caring mainly for the old, the mentally deficient, unmarried mothers and vagrants. After the formation of the National Health Service in 1948, control was passed to the Minister of Health. At this time, the hospital section dealt with the chronic sick, whilst Bodfan continued to house the needy and destitute, and the Infirmary was occupied by mentally-defective children, having been opened for this purpose around 1939.

Arranged into the following: Clerk to the Guardians; Workhouse Master; Relieving Officer; Non Poor Law duties; Board of Control; and miscellaneous.

Some case papers and medical records may be subject to closure.

Source not recorded

Compiled by Richard Burman for the ANW project. The following sources were used to compile this description: Caernarfon Record Office, Bodfan Institution Records, catalogue; The North West Wales NHS Trust Homepage (http://www.northwestwales.org/EngNew/Home.htm) viewed 06/07/04.

Hard copies of the catalogue are available in Caernarfon Record Office, the National Library of Wales and the National Register of Archives.

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records deposited at Caernarfon Record Office have been retained.

Accruals are not expected