Newspaper extracts for Brecon

There are many references to this area in the 15 million Welsh and English language articles from Welsh newspapers transcribed by the NLW and viewable on Welsh Newspapers Online
Below are English language articles that have been re-transcribed and extracted randomly to illustrate what is available, there are many that are not extracted here that include names of local people

•  From the Monmouthshire Merlin 11th November 1881

BRECON. It is proposed to erect a memorial window in the Priory Church at Brecon to the officers and men of the 24th Regiment who fell in South Africa.

•  From the Evening Express (Third Edition) 22nd May 1900

BRECON. The spontaneous outburst of joy with which the inhabitants received the news of the relief of Mafeking on Friday night was succeeded on Monday by demonstrations on an extensive scale. The day was observed at a general holiday, all the places of business and the various colleges and schools being closed. The town was ablaze with bunting and miniature portraits of Baden Powell, and tricolour rosettes were worn on nearly every coat and dress. In the evening there was a grand patriotic procession of Yeomanry, roughriders, and cyclists, with "General Buller." "General White." and "Baden Powell" leading the way. A collection was mads for the war fund. Colonel John Morgan (the mayor) entertained over 100 guests to dinner at the Wellington Hotel, and the toast of "The Hero of Mafeking" was received with unbounded enthusiasm. Later on there was a display of fire- works on the bulwark, and a huge bonfire burned merrily until midnight.

• From the Evening Express (Extra Football Edition) 11th October 1902

BRECON. We are pleased to hear that the Brecon Soccer club has not allowed another season to lapse without an effort being made to revive a club with such good past records. The club is being "engineered" by the assistant to the county surveyor, Mr. Douglas Lloyd, as captain, and Mr. Harold Brace the assistant engineer on the Midland Railway, as hon. secretary. The club opened the season at Aberdare last Saturday, being defeated by that warm organisation by three goals. The club has a strong committee, with the mayor (Mr. D. Powell) as chairman. Several members of the old team have turned out. and the new blood introduced shows signs of bringing the organisation to its former standpoint. The senior team will make a bold bid for the South Wales Cup. and the Juniors for the Adelaide Shield, which competition grows more popular in the county every season.

•  From the Evening Express (Third Edition) 29th August 1899

BRECON. Brewster Sessions were held at Brecon on Monday. The whole of the old licences, forty- six in number, were renewed. Four wine and spirit and one sweet licence were renewed. —The police reported that the whole of the licensed houses had been well conducted during the past year with one exception.—The Mayor (Colonel Morgan) congratulated the publicans upon this satisfactory state of things.

•  From the Evening Express (Pink Edition) 16th February 1898

BRECON INFIRMARY. The annual meeting of subscribers to the Brecon County and Borough Infirmary was held on Tuesday afternoon at the Shire- hall, Brecon, the Rev. Prebendary Garnons Williams presiding. A vote of condolence was passed with the family of the late Mr. J. R. Cobb, who had been a generous supporter of the institution.—In the annual report it was stated that the Infirmary Jubilee Fund, which was adopted as the county fund after inquiries by the lord- lieutenant, now amounted to a 1,000 guineas and upwards, which was chiefly due to the foresight and energy of the secretary (Mr. W. Powell Price). This fund will provide the institution with increased accommodation and appliances, of which it stands greatly in need. The committee also noted that their late valued colleague, Mr.. John Evans, Mount View, testified his interest in the institute by a legacy of £100, free of duty—Mr. G. Wheatley Cobb was elected to succeed his father on the committee of management.

•  From the Evening Express (Fifth Edition) 13th June 1896

BRECON GUARDIANS. A letter read to the Brecon Guardians on Friday from the Rev. Prebendary Garnons Williams, Abercamlais, stating although he appreciated the gracious resolution passed by the board, he could not withdraw his resignation and continue the occupation of the chair of the board. He had come to this decision the day after the inquiry into the master's conduct at the workhouse, where he found himself at direct issue with the great majority of the guardians upon a vital question, according to his judgment, of right and wrong, involving consequences to which he could not be party. On the motion of Mr. Owen Price, the election of a chairman was deferred for the present.—The Rev. Prebendary Garnons Williams has occupied the position of chairman to the Brecon Board of Guardians for a period extending over 30 years.

•  From the Evening Express (Special Edition) 29th August 1894

BRECON EISTEDDFOD. The "Chair" Dispute Settled and a Prize Given to Mr. Hutchinson. Our readers will remember the unfortunate dispute in reference to the award of the chair prize at the Brecon Eisteddfod. The committee recently wound up its affairs, and came to the conclusion that, as- Mr.J. Hutchinson ("Lady- lift"), of the Middle Temple Library, had been declared winner, a carved oak chair and seven guineas should be given to that gentleman, as was intended. Accordingly, a splendid chair. with Mr. Hutchinson's coat of arms, and a silver plate bearing an inscription recording the event, together with a cheque, was recently forwarded him. The committee have thus honourably discharged the responsibility devolving upon them. We hear that Mr. Hutchinson has remitted two guineas to the object for which the eisteddfod was promoted. A balance of about £300 remains to the credit of the committee.

•  From The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General… 24th July 1919

BRECON. Girl Guides' Church Parade.—The local corps of Girl Guides had a parade to St. David's Church on Sunday morning in charge of Mrs J. D. D. Evans, Ffrwdgrech, commissioner for Breconshire. The parade was led by the Llanfaes Boy Scouts Band. The Rev. J. Simon (vicar) preached and referred with pleasure to the good work being done by the Girl Guides.

•  From The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General… 13th September 1917

BRECON. Sugar Rations.—Customers'  names are now being registered in view of the contemplated rationing of sugar by the Food Controller,— Meredith and Sons, The Stores, Brecon.

•  From the South Wales Daily News (Third Edition) 15th July 1896

BRECON. TOWN COUNCIL.—This body met under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr John Williams), on Tuesday. A new general district rate for the ensuing half-year was submitted, amounting to Is 7d in the £ for St. David's, and Is 5d for £1.8½d for St. John's and St. Mary's. 4d in the £ of this rate, it was stated, would go to defray the expense incurred by the Corporation in providing aa isolation hospital, &c., in stamping out the late outbreak of smallpox. In the afternoon, the Corporation went in company with Mr Duckham. of Hereford, on a tour of inspection through the cattle market, which has recently been acquired by the Town Council. They were entertained to luncheon at the Castle Hotel by the Mayor.

• From the  South Wales Daily News (Third Edition) 10th December 1896

BRECON. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD INQUIRY.—The Brecon Town Council having applied to the Local Government Board for sanction to borrow £2,600 for market-place purposes and for works of water supply, Col. John Ord Hasted, R.E., held a public inquiry at the Guildhall on Wednesday, when the position of affairs was placed before the inspector by Mr Rhys Davies (borough surveyor), Mr G. Hyatt Williams (town clerk), and Councillors Lewis Williams (deputy-mayor), J. A. Jebb, and Aneurm George. The inspector subsequently visited the waterworks intake and inspected the market plans.

• From the  South Wales Daily News (Third Edition) 23rd November 1900

BRECON. Philharmonic Society.—This society, which has new reached its 24th season, gave a grand evening concert at the Guildhall on Wednesday, ..... (part extract).....

•  From the South Wales Daily News 28th April 1891

BRECON. The 1891 census will reveal a reduction in the population of the municipal borough of Brecon of over 9 per cent. The number has even fallen below that of 1871. The inhabitants in 1881 numbered 6,247. While there has been a diminution in the population, there has been an appreciable increase in the ratable value of the borough.

•  From The Western Mail 17th November 1871

BRECON. DEATH FROM STARVATION.—On Wednesday an inquest was held at the Bridgend Inn, Brecon, on the body of a womon who had died on the previous Monday, The woman resided in a wretched hovel with her two boys, and was receiving parish relief to the amount of 4s. per week, upon which the whole of them depended after deducting 1.6d for rent. The evidence was most heart-rending. The eldest boy, a sharp-looking little fellow, stated that he had no bed to lie upon, and nothing but the bare boards with his mother's scanty clothing to cover them, and that his youngest brother was "put in the middle to prevent the chilling cold from killing him". The windows of the home were nearly all broken, and the wind and rain poured in through them. The woman's husband had deserted her some years ago, and her "spirit" was such as to prevent her from going to the workhouse. A verdict of "Death from want of proper nourishment" was returned.

• From The Western Mail 12th September 1871

BRECON. BRECON BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The fortnightly meeting was held on Saturday, the Rev. Rees Price presiding.— After some little discussion, it was resolved that the board should subscribe a guinea a year to the eye infirmary at Bristol, in order to allow them the privilege of admitting any person within the union who might bo suffering from any ailment to the eye.—It was also resolved that Jones, the former porter at the house, be sent to the hospital at a cost of 4s.per week.—During the past fortnight there had been three admissions and one discharged. Remaining in the house, 73; being a decrease of 23 over the corresponding period of last year. It was resolved that a woman be engaged for one month as nurse at the small-pox hospital-it having been reported by Dr. Williams that a patient, in the absence of the temporary nurse, and whilst in the heat of the disease, had twice made her escape from the house whilst suffering from delirium tremens

• From The Western Mail 14th December 1874

BRECON. DONATION TO THE BRECON INFIRMARY.—The Brecon Chamber of Trade have decided to apply the surplus money resulting from the Brecon eisteddfod to charitable purposes. £20 will at once be handed over to the Brecon Infirmary, and the remainder will be kept in hand for a little while and applied in a manner which may be thought best suited to benefit the poor of the town.

READING ROOM FOR BRECON.—At a meeting held last week, over which the Mayor of Brecon (Mr. William Games) presided, it was decided to establish a public reading room for the town, under the title of the Brecon Literary Institute. ..(part extract)....

•  From The Western Mail 31st May 1875

BRECON. THE STRIKE.—On Saturday morning, when It became known that the strike was at an end, the greatest gratification was expressed among all classes. Like most towns in South Wales, Brecon has indirectly suffered a good deal from the recent conflict between capital and labour, and the announcement of a new era of peace and prosperity has therefore been heartily recelved

• From  The Western Mail 14th January 1892

BRECON. SOUP KITCHENS.—In consequence of the hard weather, soup kitchens have been opened for the parishes of St. John, St. Mary, and St. David, and the town, council have voted the sum of £10 out of the" Patti Nicolini" Fund towards this object