Cemeteries

Notable Churches in and around Llanelli

The information in this section is an edited version taken from Llanelli - Birth of a Town a CdRom by William and Benita Rees

Chapels & Churches

Cemeteries & Memorials

Box Cemetery, Swansea Road

Memorials at Box Cemetery

The Lawn Cemetery of St Paul’s near Tyisha

It is not certain how the district came to be known as ‘Box’ but it has been identified as such since time immemorial. The name suggests that it was called ‘Box’ because it was a cemetery but this is not true. The district was referred to as ‘Box’ long before Box Colliery (one of the oldest in Llanelli), was established at the beginning of the 19th century and certainly long before Box Cemetery came into being.

It is likely that the origins of the cemetery were rooted in the feud between the established church and the chapels during the middle of the 19th century. Traditions and loyalties die hard and many of the older Welsh-speaking inhabitants still refer to the Old Road church cemetery as Mynwent y Crachach (Graveyard of the Snobs) even though there are many memorials to working class families amongst the graves.

From early times Nonconformists were buried at the Old Road cemetery but their ministers were not allowed to officiate at the burials, so when a funeral reached the cemetery gates, the Vicar took over.

1820-1867 The strong-willed Revd Ebenezer Morris was Vicar of Llanelli and he was a character determined to uphold and defend the traditions and rights of the established church. However the Revd David Rees, Minister of Capel Als from (1829-69), was equally strong-minded and determined to uphold and defend the traditions and rights of the Nonconformists.

1850 A meeting was convened to discuss the possibility of obtaining an area of ground near the town for the interment of the dead of all classes regardless of race, colour, or faith. Representatives on behalf of those denominations present agreed to buy a field the size of 2 acres and 12 perches from the Squire of Stradey for the sum of £110. One of the rules adopted by the original trustees was that friends and relatives of the deceased could choose any minister recognised by the Baptists, Independents, Wesleyan and Calvinistic Methodists to perform the burial service.

Although the Revd Rees had championed the establishment of the cemetery no burials were recorded before 1868. The administration stayed faithful to Rees’s concept of no discrimination and a walk around the graveyard will show that Catholics, members of the Church in Wales, Hindu and Moslems are all buried at Box.

1874 The cemetery, originally called Llanelli Cemetery, became known as ‘Box Cemetery’ in 1874 and a year later, in 1875, the Cemetery Chapel, which cost £400, was opened. Around this time more local chapels were included in the administration.

1891 A map published in 1891 of a survey undertaken in 1877-78 shows the Box Cemetery on one side of Swansea Road and Box Colliery marked ‘disused’ the other. The map also refers to the ‘Mortuary Chapel’.

1903, 1915 and 1947. As the town grew the cemetery was extended.

1976, subject to the Charity Commissioners’ consent, trustees representing 22 Nonconformist chapels agreed to sell Box Cemetery.

1977 Llanelli Town and Rural Community Councils established a joint Burial Authority and it was agreed that the new Authority would acquire an area of 38 acres, of which 11 were undeveloped, for £10,000. The Authority decided that ‘Box Cemetery’ was not a suitable name for the cemetery and renamed it ‘Llanelly District Cemetery’.

1980s The Chapel, which had been neglected and used for storage and other purposes, was renovated and services held there once more.

1983 A service was held to commemorate a local Welsh Guardsman who was killed in action in the Falklands War.

1985 It was decided to radically improve the cemetery when nearly £500,000 was spent on ‘Box’ and plans were put forward to change part of the burial site into a lawn cemetery.

Memorials at Box Cemetery

Memorial to John Jones The inscription on this gravestone at Box Cemetery shows that John Jones lived in one of the houses built by Alexander Raby around 1800 for his workers at Cae’relms.

Eliza Williams of New Dock

David Davies, Builder of Lakefield Street

Owen John Harries, aged 21 years, the son of Robert & Sarah Harries of New Dock, Llanelly, who died from injuries received at the Loughor Railway accident of 3r October 1904

and Beatrice Maud, aged 3 years their daughter, who died on 25th February 1890

John Roberts the inscription on this gravestone at Box Cemetery mentions that John Roberts was a Coal Merchant

The Lawn Cemetery of St Paul’s near the Tyisha area of Llanelli

Although thought by some to be a morbid subject, much of a town’s history can be found in local church graveyards or cemeteries.

Headstones in the Lawn Cemetery of St Paul’s near the Tyisha area provide much information.

Daniel Norris Davies, age 41, Cooper who died 6th August 1855

also Daniel, age 17, son of the above who died 18th September 1854

also MARTHA, age 10, daughter of the above, who died 28th September 1854.

William John, age 14, son of John & Mary Maria Lewis of 1 Cambrian Place who died on 4th April.

also of our other son

Richard, age 23, who was killed in action at the Dardenelles on 30th August 1915.

Captain John Richards, age 32, Master of the Maggie of Llanelly, who was lost in the Baltic Sea on 24th June 1876.

John Powell, age 65, who, in 1850, established the Foundry in Copperworks Road. His workshop provided chains and general smith work for the busy shipping port at Seaside. He died at his home Brynrhodin, Myrtle Hill, leaving a widow and a brother but no children. His only son had died just 4 years old in 1856.

Margaret William Powell, age 66, wife of John Powell, who died 6th January 1893

William Powell, age 4, who died on 24th August 1856.

Julia Ann Gurnett, age 49, wife of Captain Jeremiah W Gurnett of Sea Side Llanelly, who died on 21st November 1863.

also Catharine Annie Jones, aged 6 days, granddaughter of the above, who died on 22nd October 1872

also Thomas David Jones, age 6 months, grandson of the above who died on 17th April 1874

also Captain J W Gurnett, aged 68, who died on 18th March 1882.