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The Blue Books of 1847

The 1847 Government Report on Education is important for social historians of mid nineteenth century Wales because of the wealth of information contained in it on not only the appalling state of the education system in the country, but also on everyday life and work in both the industrialised & rural areas. Genealogists can use these reports to learn the conditions of the schools, literacy rates, prevailing wages & social structure of parishes of interest. It also contains direct comment on the religious and moral standing of the people of Wales. But the blue-covered report is infamously remembered for the furore and agitation it caused in Wales because of the remarks of the three non-Welsh speaking Anglican commissioners regarding the Welsh language, Nonconformity and the morals of the Welsh people in general. Complete scanned images of the printed report from the National Library of Wales.