GWILYM ROBERT LOUGHER
1880 – 21st September 1917
Gwilym Robert Lougher was born in 1880, on the family farm at Llanvithyn House in Llancarfan,
Glamorgan. He was the son of William and Mary Ann Lougher. In the1881 census he is living with
his parents, who are farming 220 acres, his sister Annie Jane, who was born in 1877 and a younger
brother, David, aged 1 month. The family also employed several servants, including a niece, Sarah
J, who was employed as a General Servant, together with farm workers and Fanny Axton who was
a monthly nurse.
In 1891, the family has grown, with the addition of Edith Mary - age 8, Walter David - age 6,
Arthur William - age 3 and Tudor Treharne - age 1. The family were both English and Welsh
speakers. In the 1901 census Gwilym was a Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths. In 1911
census Gwilym, who is the only family member who does not appear to be actively employed on
the farm, is employed as the Parish Relieving Officer for Penarth. A relieving officer was an official
appointed by a parish or union to administer relief to the poor. The poor laws were still in place
during WW1, until a Royal Commission was set up to review this law, and of course, Workhouses
were still in use. David Lloyd George was the architect of the Liberal welfare reforms which were
implemented outside of the Poor Law system and paved the way for the eventual abolition of the
Poor Law.
(The Lougher family)