Connections with Llanelli Old and New –

The Douglas Family

The name Douglas has links with the town going back as far as the early 1800s. Parish Registers show that the Douglas family were living at Hen Gastell Fach in 1833 when young Alfred Douglas died aged 13 months.

Another reference to the family occurs in May 1859 when Edward Morgan Douglas, Contractor, as lessee of Llanelly’s Park advertised tickets for sale for 10/6d. for families, single tickets at 2/6d. for the admirable purposes of sport and recreation.

Again in 1862 locals were informed that the Contract for the New Market which Lt. Col Stepney intended to erect, had been taken by Messrs, Douglas & Co., Building Contractors.

In 1947 the Steel Company of Wales appointed Messrs R M Douglas of Birmingham as contractors to build the new steel works at Trostre.

The Market place built by Douglas & Company was demolished in 1962 when a New Market and Car park was planned.

In modern times, the name of Douglas was still linked with Llanelli when Tilbury Construction and R M Douglas, amalgamated to form a new company – Messrs Tilbury Douglas – who demolished the Gas Works and built Asda, the Car Park and the New Market.