Thomas Pugh Jones was born at Broad Oak, Llangathen, on 8 June 1862 and attended school at Llangathen and Court Henry.

His father was a builder and contractor in the Llangathen area and at a very young age Thomas was apprenticed to his father, gaining experience of the building trade. After four years as an apprentice Thomas left his father’s employment and joined the firm of Messrs Thomas, Watkins & Jenkins at Swansea and then went to Wolverhampton where he was engaged by Mr Henry Lovat, who was said to be one of the largest individual contractors in the world.

Later Thomas Pugh Jones came to Llanelli and joined Mr George Mercer. At that time there was a very fine cycle track at People’s Park and ‘TP’ being an enthusiastic cyclist was said to be attracted to Llanelli because of the track. It was not very long before he could be seen spinning away merrily on his ‘ordinary’ and before long “Jones Llangathen” was a name to be reckoned with in cycling circles. He was ‘a cyclist of splendid stamina who took the most rigorous care of himself and as a result he gained several valuable prizes in local sports events and in time swept the boards.’ For many years he was the recognised Welsh champion cyclist on the high wheel which was before a change in the safety regulations.

1887 Thomas Pugh Jones married Rachel May.

1888 Started his own business as a builder and contractor.

1893-1896 ‘TP’ worked to build up his business as a builders’ merchant and had decided to invest in stocks of gas-fittings and sanitary goods. With an eye for the future he became involved with a patent automatic water closet which he believed would revolutionise that particular trade. ‘TP’ was said to generally know a good thing when he saw it and he was confident that this little invention would be a great success.

His business prospered, so much so that in 1896 he employed 230 men and was the main contractor commissioned to build the New Town Hall. The Guardian newspaper reported in 1896 that business was not quite as brisk as it had been but even so ‘TP’ was at the head of 170 tradesmen who were made up of masons, bricklayers, carpenters, joiners, plasterers, slaters, cement layers and paviors, plumbers, gas-fitters, decorators, painters, glaziers and even terne-roofers.

His masterpiece was the New Town Hall completed in 1896 and was said to be a monument to his enterprise and practical skill. He also built the New Custom House and Bonded Stores in New Dock Road, the masonry on the Royalty Theatre, Emmanuel Chapel and additions to Tabernacle Chapel. He was also responsible for alterations at Rock House, Pembrey, for the Earl of Ashburnham, Uplands House, Bryn, Halfway House, and a number of handsome villas, which dotted suburban Llanelli.

In 1896 ‘TP’ tried to introduce terne plate roofing to the town and at his own expense employed an expert terne-plate roofer who had gained a lifetime of experience in the United States. His enterprise was proving successful and he covered several buildings in the town with the new roofing material.

Thomas Pugh Jones, was appointed official contractor to Her Majesty’s Board of Works. Although only 34 years old in 1896 he was described as a man with an excellent record and like the celebrated

1903 Documents in the Local Collection at Llanelli Library (LC9209) show that Thomas Pugh Jones took a mortgage on Llangathen Yard, Heol Fawr and No 48 Station Road, on 11 August 1903.

1911 In April 1911 he took a lease of ‘All that piece or parcel of ground part of which is or was known as Arvon Yard situated abutting on Station Road, north east of Marsh Street and Arvon Shop for the sum of £4,500.’ He carried on his business as a Builders’ Merchant & Ironmonger from Arvon Yard, Station Road and Llangathen Yard, Heol Fawr.

1912 When Willie White, a builder of Brighton Road, Gorseinon, trading as White & Company went into receivership on 3 June 1912 Thomas Pugh Jones helped him financially.

1915 A document dated 25 October 1915 indicates that The Stepney Cinema Limited surrendered a lease of a Hall situate in Old Castle Road used as a Picture Palace, to Thomas Pugh Jones, Esq. The builders’ merchant and contractor had become involved in the local entertainment business.

It is said that before he died Pugh Jones went bankrupt three times but managed to survive and start again.

1926 Thomas Pugh Jones who lived at Pentwyn, Loughor, died on 6 October 1926, leaving a widow, Rachel May Jones. His sons and grandsons carried on the business trading as T. P. Jones Limited.

1988 The business of T. P. Jones Ltd was closed.

Clifford Vaughan had worked for T. P. Jones since he left school, working his way up the ladder of success to hold the responsible position of Manager. Before the business closed the directors asked Mr Vaughan to arrange for an engraved glass goblet to be given to each employee as a memento and to mark their loyal service to the company. When the final details were settled the business started by Thomas Pugh Jones in the latter part of the 19th century and which had been a landmark in Station Road for 100 years, came to an end.

The South Wales Stores, Arvon Yard, was demolished and in 2001 was the site of a Kwik Save supermarket.

Llangathan Yard in Heol Fawr, later known as Gathan Terrace, became a small housing development.

Gathan House, was renovated and is the only reminder near Station Road of Thomas Pugh Jones, the entrepreneurial builder and contractor who came to Llanelli, made a name for himself, and was consigned to the history books.

Memorandum