: Following the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 , which mandated the creation of Poor Law Unions and large workhouses, many Welsh districts actively resisted.

: Many became major medical facilities and were later absorbed into the National Health Service (NHS) .

: Several have been converted into private apartments, such as the former Cardigan Union workhouse at St Dogmaels. Others serve as museums, schools, youth hostels, or offices.

: Facilities typically housed the unemployed, elderly, orphans, and the sick.

: Able-bodied inmates were expected to perform tasks such as stone-breaking (often in dedicated cells) or laundry work.