The Town Hall throughout the years
Llanelli's Town Hall pictured in 1947
1807 The Act of Enclosure established a new statutory authority, which was administered by the Portreeve and Trustees to the Burgesses. Before the Act of 1807, the town was administered by Burgesses who had been elected at courts held by the Steward of the Lordship of Kidwelly. It was not a democratic process because only the privileged were elected to the position of Burgess.
Following the establishment of the new administration the Trustees held their first meeting at the Falcon Inn (adjacent to the Parish Churchyard) at the lower end of Thomas Street near Falcon Bridge.
1813 It was obvious that the facilities of the Falcon Inn were not appropriate for the new local government administration. In June Thomas Lewis, Squire of Stradey, offered the Trustees a piece of land near Falcon Bridge in the grounds of the Falcon Inn, to facilitate the building of a Town Hall, Market and Lock-up House. At a meeting of the Trustees it was resolved that £300 should be borrowed for the purpose, and it was also resolved that Henry Child, William Rees, Robert Rees, George Watkins and Thomas Williams, be appointed to a Committee whose function would be to act as Executives to oversee administration of The Great Marsh and the building of the Town Hall and Lock-up House.
1817 No further progress had been made regarding the new Town Hall but a meeting of the Trustees at the Falcon Inn in February passed a resolution that £50 should be contributed towards the new Town Hall. The resolution also proposed that the first money received should go towards compensation for damages caused to the lands on the Marsh, by the Copperworks.
In July tenders for a Town Hall, Lock-up House and Market Place, were opened and read. Tenders ranged from £448 to £511 and the lowest tender of £448 submitted by John Rogers was approved and accepted. It was resolved that a contract between the parties, be drawn up to bind them to complete the building according to the plans and specifications.
1819 Two years after John Rogers’ lowest tender, to build the New Town Hall in the garden of the Falcon Inn, had been accepted, the plans were scrapped and a new Committee was appointed. A resolution was passed to borrow £500 for the purposes of building a Town Hall on a piece of ground to be fixed by the Trustees. No mention was made to the money previously borrowed for the New Town Hall project.
1821 The population of Llanelli was 2,621 and Thomas Lewis, Squire of Stradey, owner of the Stradey Estate, leased land to the Burgesses, for a term of 500 years from 10 August. The lease referred to a new road from Pembrey to Llanelli town centre, which passed over the Stradey Estate. The lease also referred to a building, next to the Mansel Arms, belonging to Thomas Lewis, which had to be demolished to make an opening into the town. The lease also referred to the Trustees having borrowed £500, on mortgage, and the contract between John Rogers, Joiner, of Llanelly, in the sum of £448.
1826 It is not clear exactly when the Town Hall was built but it is known that by December a Mason known as William Jenkins, had been instructed to repair the tiling of the Town Hall.
1827 On 5 January a resolution was passed that the Town Hall should be thoroughly repaired and a bill, dated 2 February, for an Iron Gate had been passed for payment.
At a meeting of the Trustees, it was resolved that Mr Raby, as Portreeve for the Borough, be accepted as tenant for the Town Hall, Lock-up Houses, outlet and yard, from 29 May 1827 for the ensuing year at the sum of £5 13s 4d.
The first meeting convened at the Town Hall was held on 3 August 1827 which had to be adjourned because there were not enough Trustees in attendance.
The first meeting actually held in the Old Town Hall, in Hall Street, was on 19 October 1827, when John Roberts senior, presided with Trustees, John Hopkin, Robert Rees, Alexander Raby junior, Edward Chalinder, John Roberts junior, and William Rees. One of the first resolutions passed at the meeting was ‘That a Dinner for Forty Burgesses, with a quart of Ale for each person, be ordered of John Howell, to be provided at the Town Hall, on Friday 26 October, not later than 2 o’clock’.
1828 It is known that the Market Place did not form part of the Town Hall and Lock-up House, which was built along the road from Pembrey to Llanelli, later known as Hall Street. A Market Place had been built on the opposite side of the road, by David Lewis, son of Thomas Lewis, Squire of Stradey.
1830 David Lewis agreed with the Trustees for a straightforward exchange. He would give the Trustees the Market Place in exchange for certain land belonging to them on the Great Marsh. On 23 July 1830 it was resolved to accept the proposition made by David Lewis, Squire of Stradey.
1850 The Trustees to the Burgesses abused their position and the Town Hall became known as ‘The Town Hole’. Matters came to a head when they were forced to give way and the Board of Health took on the role of local government.
The 'Town Hole'
The original plans for the Town Hall had included provision for a market with accommodation for the Trustees on the first floor. In later years the Town Hall was used as the venue for the Petty Sessions, the County Court, Committee and Board Meetings, on the first floor, with the Corn Market on the ground floor.
1863 The Old Town Hall had not been designed for the demands of the growing industrial town and the Board of Health and the Justices began to complain about the standard of accommodation. During a discussion about the need to improve the furniture in the Town Hall, Mr R B Jones complained that consideration should be given to extend the Town Hall or provide a new one.
Proposals were drawn up to extend and improve the Town Hall but there was disagreement as to the cost and the extent of the alterations.
1865 The Annual Meeting of the Local Board of Health resolved that tenders should be procured and by late 1865 alterations and improvements were well in hand.
1868 the old Town Hall Street was too small to accommodate the departments of the Llanelly Local Board of Health and a meeting of the Board was held in February to consider the conversion of ‘inappropriate space under the Town Hall into additional offices for the Clerk’s use’. The ‘inappropriate space’ had been used as a Corn Market, but in March 1868 the Board instructed the Surveyor to carry out alterations under the Town Hall at a cost not exceeding £80.
Throughout the 1870s complaints were made about the inadequacies of the old Town Hall. One of the main ones was that the Town Hall officials had their offices divided all over the place and the inconvenience sustained by the Law Courts was a disgrace to the town.
1880 Conditions at he Old Town Hall had became intolerable and proposals were underway to provide alternative accommodation.
1881 the Clerk of the Local Board of Health wrote to the Postmaster General enquiring whether the Post Office would be prepared to contribute financial assistance for the erection of a new Town Hall if the Post Office formed part of it.
1882 In January the transfer of the ownership of the Athenaeum to the Llanelly Board of Health was considered and it was agreed that the Charity Commission would be approached with a view to obtaining their approval for the transfer. By August 1883 the Board of Health controlled the Athenaeum and they held most of their meetings in the building that now houses the Public Library. The Old Town Hall was still used for judicial and administrative functions.
1885 In December the Clerk to the Local Board of Health reported on the legal situation regarding the Board’s intention to build a Town Hall on People’s Park, and it was concluded that it had no powers to do so. Mr Stewart, as Agent to Sir Arthur Emile Cowell Stepney, of The Dell, suggested alternative sites on the Stepney Estate, which Sir Arthur was prepared to ‘give to the Town for the purpose of a Town Hall, Public Hall and Offices’. A committee was set up to consider four alternative sites, three that were on Stepney lands and one that was not.
1886 The committee deliberated and reported back in January 1886 on the unsuitability of the site of the ‘Old Market’. This site was thought to be either the open market around the Parish Church or the butter and poultry market opposite the Town Hall where the Hall Street Fire Station was later built. The Board also considered that the other site offered by Sir Arthur near the west entrance to the Market in Stepney Street, was also unsuitable. Another alternative site, situated opposite Greenfield House, where Castle Buildings stand today [2002], was also declared ‘not suitable’.
Greenfield House, also known as Greenfield Workingmen’s Club was situated where the Odeon cinema was built and which in now [2002] houses the Llanelli Entertainment Centre.
Castle Buildings became the offices of Llanelly Rural District Council, which took over responsibilities of the former Llanelly Union Rural Sanitary Authority and Llanelly District Highways Board, following the Local Government Act of 1894.
1889 The location of the New Town Hall was discussed on numerous occasions and during September 1889, Mr G Watkeys, Board of Health Surveyor, proposed another four sites. These new sites were:
1. A site in the Park, west of the junction of the roads opposite the old Steam Mill (Y Felin Dan).
2. Immediately opposite the old Steam Mill.
3. In Mr Robinson’s field.
4. Captain Scott’s Garden close to the site of the Entertainment Centre.
Finally, the first site opposite the old Steam Mill was chosen, which proved to be an ideal location and ensured that the new, impressive, Town Hall could be viewed to its best advantage from all directions. Mr Watkeys recommended the site saying ‘In my opinion there is not the least doubt as to the appropriate site, and being more elevated than the others would be prominent’.
1891 Despite the strong recommendation of the town’s surveyor, proposals were delayed and it was not until September 1891 that the decision was made to build the Town and Public Hall. Proposals included accommodation for 2,000 persons, excluding the orchestra, but including two retiring rooms and two cloakrooms; accommodation for the County Court and Petty Sessions; 300 seats and accommodation for a Judge, Magistrates, Solicitors, Barristers and Clerks, together with a Council Chamber with space for 30 members and officers. Specifications also had to provide space for County Court staff. It was agreed that plans would have to be referred to a professional adjudicator and the building works should not exceed £15,000 with an additional £3,000 set aside for contingencies, fixtures and fittings etc.
Before a decision was made to accept the proposals, the Llanelly Board of Health decided to hold a public meeting to endorse their recommendation. The meeting, which was not well attended, was held in September 1891. Most of the people present were supporters and it was no surprise that there was unanimous support for the resolution to be passed to proceed with scheme as quickly as possible.
It seems that one of the main factors for the delay in making a decision was that the Board did not have the powers to borrow money. The situation was rectified by the provisions of the Llanelly Local Board Act of 1888, which conferred specific power to erect a New Town Hall and Public Hall, with offices, at a total cost, including site, not exceeding £25,000. Provision was also made for the Board to use any two acres of land, or any piece of land, not exceeding one acre, of the People’s Park.
1892 In March 1892, the Board confirmed that plans for the New Town Hall should be obtained but the scheme did not include the Public Hall accommodation – much to the public’s disquiet. By August 1892 Mr Charles Barry, a London Architect, appointed official adjudicator, considered 25 plans and duly reported to the Board.
The winning design was ‘Motto Equity’ submitted by Simon and Tweedey, Architects of Edinburgh and ‘Falcon’ submitted by William Griffiths, Estate Agent of Thomas Street, Llanelli, was second. The Board did not make an instant decision and after lengthy discussions and great deliberations, it was decided to accept the design ‘Falcon’ submitted by the local architect. The decision to accept was carried by eleven votes to four. The first prize money of 50 guineas was given to Simon Tweedey, Architects of Edinburgh.
1894 The decision to accept tenders for the building was made in January 1894 and 13 tenders were opened. T P Jones of Llanelli submitted the lowest at £11,000 and a week later, after Mr Jones had supplied names of his sureties, the contract to build the New Town Hall awarded to him. Two years passed from the acceptance of the tender to the completion and official opening of the Town Hall. In the meantime the Local Board of Health had ceased to function.
The Local Government Act of 1894 resulted in the Llanelly Urban District Council replacing the old authority. Elections for the new Urban Council of Llanelly were held on 17 December 1894 and the first meeting was held on 31 December 1894.
1895 The new Council was formally named the Llanelly Urban District Council on 1 July 1895. When Llanelly Rural District Council took over responsibilities of the former Llanelly Union Rural Sanitation Authority and the Llanelly District Highways Board, they occupied the upper floors of the ornate Castle Buildings. In December of the same year the newly formed Llanelly Co-operative Society rented one of the lock-up shops.
1896 The Old Town Hall continued to be used for local government administration until the New Town Hall was officially opened by Mrs D A Jones, wife of Dr James Arthur Jones, the Chairman of the Llanelly Urban District Council in the presence of a host of local dignitaries and thousands of spectators on Tuesday 31 March 1896. The list of official guests at the official opening read like a ‘Who’s Who’ of Llanelli: J S Tregoning; Dr S J Roderick; J Maybery; R C Jenkins; R Guest, David Evans; John Jennings; David Randall; George Watkeys; Alderman David Evans; Joseph Joseph; Gwilym Evans; W W Brodie; J Beavan Phillips; D W Rees; Architect William Griffiths; Contractor T P Jones; Choral Society Leader John Thomas and Caterer Mrs Bazzard.
The spectators were entertained by the Town Band under the leadership of Sergeant Samuel and the official celebratory luncheon, organised by the Council, at a total cost of 2s 6d.was held at the Athenaeum. Mrs Bazzard of the adjoining Salutation Hotel provided catering for the official function. After lunch there were 32 speeches which were followed by a free concert at the Market Hall. Local artistes, assisted by the Llanelly Choral Society under the leadership of John Thomas, gave their services to entertain the guests.
1913 On Saturday August 23 1913 the formal proclamation of the Charter of Incorporation was made from the balcony of the Town Hall. This was followed by a large procession of representatives from most of the public bodies in the town and district, accompanied by four brass bands, which proceeded to Parc Howard where another meeting was held and more speeches were made.
In June 1913 Lady Howard Stepney presented the Llanelly Urban District Council with a new coat of arms and badge as a gift to the town and the people of Llanelli, in anticipation of Borough status being achieved. Sir Stafford Howard was elected the first Charter Mayor on 10 November 1913, at the first meeting of the new authority.
1966 For more than 40 years the Old Town Hall was used by the Public Health Department as a distribution centre for babies’ powdered milk and a medical centre where Town Hall employees attended for medical tests. For many years the writing had been on the wall for the Old Town Hall, which was demolished along with chapels, public houses and streets, including Jerusalem Chapel, Gelli Onn Chapel, Edgar Street (Oxen Street), Union Square, Cil Heol and Wind Street. The plaque commemorating the spot where John Wesley had preached, was rescued from the rear wall of the Old Town Hall and is now fixed to the front wall of the Public Library, once known as the Athenaeum.
In 1973 the Borough Council's various departments of Local Government were housed in different buildings around the town; the Llanelli Rural District Council was in Castle Buildings, and Burry Port Urban Council was in the old Brynmor House. After many years of discussion and thought, in 1979 a decision was made to proceed with building a centralised office where all the separate departments could be housed under one roof.
A number of sites were considered including the former Wales Gas Offices in Murray Street, the Water Board premises at Stradey (which later housed the Llanelli RFC offices) and the site of the Regal Cinema (in Town Hall Square) which had been destroyed by fire in 1969. The Regal Cinema site was described as a ‘bad black spot in Llanelli’s town centre’, but it was close to the Town Hall and was considered to be an acceptable location for the additional office accommodation that was required.
The Borough Council instructed the Borough Architect, Mr R B Mowbray, to design office accommodation for the site they had chosen. The plans were completed early in 1980 and the first phase of the contract was let in March of that year. After the first phase was complete the second phase contract was let in December 1980 which was completed by January 1982. The building works took 22 months and the Borough Council’s central administration quarters in the town centre was officially opened on 19 March 1982.
The new office block was named after Frederick Elwyn Jones who had been born at 132 Old Castle Road, the son of Frederick Jones, a tinplate worker at the Old Castle Works and Elizabeth Jones, whose parents were formerly of Penygaer and Cyncoed Bach. Elizabeth’s grandmother had left her £50 in her will, which enabled Elizabeth and Frederick to place a deposit on numbers 130 and 132 Old Castle Road. The two houses, which cost £300, were converted into one house. Elizabeth worked for ten years in the Sorting House at the Old Castle Tinplate Works and her wages were just 15s a week.
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Page updated Monday August 27, 2007