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Notable Houses in and around Llanelli

The story of Parc Howard is covered in greater detail on the CD Rom Parc Howard - From Mansion to Museum by William & Benita Rees available from Meiros Publications

Parc Howard

(Bryncaerau Castle)

Notes

Census details 1841-1891

Bryncaerau and the Bath connection

Welsh does not always translate literally so Bryncaerau could be:

Bryn (Hill)

Caer (fort, castle, city, wall)

Caerau (plural) Bryncaerau – hill forts or castles

During the1840s Bryncaerau was not the grand mansion house that we now know as Parc Howard Mansion, it was a more modest house, known as Bryncaerau Cottage, that had been the residence of John Roberts and his family.

1805 John Roberts, a bachelor, married Caroline Yalden by licence on 6 October. The marriage was witnessed by Charles Griffiths and William Yalden. John and Caroline settled at Bryncaerau where Caroline died aged 44 in April 1829.

1830 In May of that year John Roberts described as ‘of Bryncaerau’, was involved in a serious accident whilst returning home in a one-horse phaeton with Henry Child (junior) and died on 15 November 1830.

1832 Following the death of her parents, Frances Elizabeth Roberts of Brynycaerau died aged 26 and was buried on 4 August 1832.

1834 Martin John Roberts was living at Bryncaerau, which was described as ‘near Ty’rfran’.

1853 Bryncaerau House, which formed part of the Stepney Estate, was held under lease for a term of 99 years.

1861 local entrepreneur Richard Thomas Howell, who had married Sarah Morris (daughter of the Revd Ebenezer Morris) was resident at Bryncaerau with his family. Richard Thomas Howell was Chairman of the Local Board of Health and was the Harbour Commissioner. When Howell died, the property passed to the Buckley family and became the home of James Buckley (1838-95) his wife Marianne and their children. Maria Buckley, who was the sister of James Buckey (1802-83) and aunt to James Buckley (1838-95) had married James Wilson of Bath in 1843 and it was her son – James Buckley Wilson, an architect – who designed the new Bryncaerau Mansion House. James Buckley Wilson was the grandson of the Rev. James Buckley (1770-1839), founder of the Brewery dynasty.

1882-1884 James Buckley Wilson was the grandson of James Buckley (1770-1839), and the great grandson of Henry Child (1742-1824), founder of the town’s Brewery. Buckley Wilson, designed large scale additions to Bryncaerau and the Mansion was transformed into its present Italianate Mansion style with its Belvedere tower, fine staircase and Doulton-tiled fireplaces. Renovation work continued throughout 1886. James Buckley Wilson also designed other buildings in Llanelli, including the building situated at the junction of Cowell Street and Stepney Street. Designed in 1891, this Bank Chambers originally housed the South Wales Union Bank, later known as the Metropolitan Banking Company, the fore-runner of Midland Bank PLC. Although he designed both the Bank Building and Bryncaerau Castle or Bryncaerau Mansion as it was known, he considered the latter to be the more important, and used this when he applied to be admitted as a Fellow to the Royal Institute of Architects.

1895 South Wales Daily Post, 27th November 1895: "The engagement is announced of Mr James F Buckley, Bryncaerau, Llanelly, eldest and only surviving son of the late Mr James Buckley, JP counties of Carmarthen and Brecon, DL county of Carmarthen, and High Sheriff 1895, to Miss Edith Crosse, eldest daughter of Mr Andrew Crosse of Johannesburg, South Africa and grand-daughter of the late Mr Andrew Crosse, JP of Fyne Court, Somersetshire.

1911 Lt James Frances Hughes Buckley (son of James Buckley 1838-1895), Chairman of Buckleys Brewery and his wife Marianne owned the Mansion and gardens and they sold Bryncaerau to Sir Edward and Lady Stafford Howard. It was the Stafford Howards who changed the name to Parc Howard.

1912 To celebrate their first wedding anniversary Sir Edward and Lady Stafford Howard presented Parc Howard to Llanelli Urban District Council on the understanding that it should be made available for the benefit of the townsfolk. Sir Edward insisted that any alterations should be completed within eight months to coincide with celebrations to mark his first wedding anniversary.

On 21 September 1912, Lady Catharine Meriel Stafford Howard performed the opening ceremony and Parc Howard Mansion had been transformed into a museum, picture gallery, reading room, refreshment area, with surrounding parklands.

1913 On Saturday August 23 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.

1915 In November 1915 the Mansion was converted into a hospital for wounded soldiers of the First World War.

1921-1924 Parc Howard Mansion continued to serve as a hospital run by the War Pensions Committee.

1934-1935 Parc Howard Mansion lands were enlarged when additional ground was purchased by Llanelli Borough Council, including some from Ty’r Fran Farm. Lady Catharine Meriel Howard Stepney presented a flagstaff which was erected at the entrance to the Mansion House.

1937 Parc Howard celebrated its Silver Jubilee when Lady Howard Stepney opened new shelters and a rose garden.

1954 In August the children’s paddling pool was opened.

1965 In September 1965 Llanelli Borough Council finally bought the Stepney Estate for £350,000 which included the Parc Howard House and Estate comprising 32 acres of land. The present acreage of Parc Howard is said to be 57 acres.

2007 Parc Howard Museum and Art Gallery continues to be a major attraction. The park is well worth a visit, especially when the formal planting is in full bloom. The Llanelli Pottery exhibits in the museum are unique and the Art Gallery has changing exhibit throughout the year.

Admission to house and grounds is free.

Notes

Pigot’s Directory of 1830-31 shows that John Roberts, Esq., (Gentry) was living at Bryn y Kyre (sic)

The Voters List of 1834 shows that Martin (Martyn) John Roberts had been eligible to vote by reason of his house – Bryncaerau – near Ty’rfran.

Trade Directory

1866 Bryncaerau Richard Thomas Howell

1872 Bryncaerau James Buckley (junior)

1897 Bryncaerau Castle Frank J Buckley

Rumours that Parc Howard has ghostly spirits probably stem from the belief that the Mansion may have been built on the site of an ancient burial ground. The house is said to be haunted by the ghost of a kitchen maid’s lover who became lost in the network of chimney flues and his ghost can be heard tapping the walls at the back of the Mansion House.

Details from the 1841-91 censuses showing residents of Bryncaerau

1841 Bryncaerau

John Lynch Head 35 Agent

Mary Lynch Wife 35

Mary Lynch Daughter 11

Susannah Lynch Daughter 10

Louisa Lynch Daughter 9

Josiah Lynch Son 3

Mary Miller SV 20 Governess

Mary Davies SV 20 Female Servant

Betty Davies SV 25 Female Servant

1851 Bryncaerau Lodge

Benjamin Morris Head 22 House Servant

Martha Morris Wife 24 House Servant from Slebech

1861 Bryncaerau House

Richard Howell Head 39 Corn Merchant & Steam Mill Proprietor

Sarah Howell Wife 45

Elizabeth B Daughter 18 Scholar

Ann M P Daughter 14 Scholar

Alice S Daughter 12 Scholar

Arthur Son 9 Scholar

Agnes L Daughter 8 Scholar

Clara E Daughter 6 Scholar

Griffith Howell Father 75 Widower Retired Merchant

Mary William SV 29 Unmarried Kitchen Maid from Llanegwad

Frances Walters SV 19 Unmarried House Maid from Camrose Pembs

1871 Bryncaerau House

May Bassett Ser UM 19 General Servant from Llanarthney

Cesey Davies Ser UM 24 General Servant from Llanon

1881 Bryncaerau House

James Buckley Head 42 Brewer

Marianne H Wife 34 from Brecon

Blanche E W Daughter 8

Gwladys M C Daughter 4

Katherine E R Daughter 9 months

Note: A Governess and two General Servants were included. This may have been the Governess that the poor hapless lover was trying to hide from when he got lost in the chimney flues.

1891 Bryncaerau

Marian H Buckley Head 44 Husband abroad, from Brecon

Gwladys Daughter 14

Katherine Daughter 10

Bryncaerau and the Bath Connection

James Buckley (1770-1839) was an itinerant Wesleyan Preacher who married Maria Child in 1798. Maria accompanied her husband during his many preaching tours, which included Bath in 1804 and in 1816, where their sons Joseph and William died. Their son James Mark ran away to sea from Kingswood and was later killed in the Crimea War. Their other children including James, Elizabeth, Catherine and Maria must have found Bath more comfortable than travelling around from town to town every year or so. James ‘was dragged away’ from Bath to settle in Llanelli and married Elizabeth Wedge in 1834 and in 1843 his sister Maria married James Wilson, son of Jacob Wilson (an upholsterer from Bath). It was Maria and James Wilson’s son James Buckley Wilson who designed the new Bryncaerau Mansion House.

Sources

Census Records

Llanelli Library

Local newspaper reports

Parish Records and Wesley Church Carmarthen

Friends of Llanelli Museum (Parc Howard) Leaflet

1861-1961 Centenary Handbook at Carmarthenshire Public Records Office