The Blue Books of 1847: Reports of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the State of Education in Wales

In March 1846, William Williams, the Member of Parliament for Coventry (but originally from Llanpumsaint in Carmarthenshire), tabled a measure before the House of Commons, calling for an inquiry into the state of education in Wales. Three commissioners visited every part of Wales collecting evidence and statistics. The work was completed by 3 April 1847, and the report was presented to the Government on 1 July of that year in three large volumes.

It is impossible to overemphasise the importance of these Reports 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 and rural areas. It also contains direct comment on the religious and moral standing of the people of Wales.

The report caused a furore and a great deal of agitation in Wales because of the arrogant remarks of the three non-Welsh speaking Anglican commissioners regarding the Welsh language, Nonconformity and the morals of the Welsh people in general. As a result, the Report came to be known as 'Brad y Llyfrau Gleision', or 'Treachery of the Blue Books'.