Llandrindod Wells: Holy Trinity Church (old parish church)
Situated on a slope above the boggy valley floor the old Llandrindod parish church may have early medieval origins. Recorded as Llandduw or ‘the church of God’ in the medieval records it had become Llandrindod by 1535. It was probably a simple medieval structure but was completely rebuilt at the same time as Cefnllys parish church. It has been asserted that both churches were left unroofed by Archdeacon De Winton to force the parishioners to use the new parish church in the town. Whether this is the case or not, a replacement building for the old parish church was built on different foundations by Nicholson & Son in 1894.
[Haslam; RT; CPAT website]
[Haslam; RT; CPAT website]
Llandrindod Wells: Holy Trinity Church (new parish church)
The New or Town Church was designed as a Chapel of Ease to the Old Church of St. Michael in Cefnllys parish and opened in Llandrindod on 26 July, 1871. To some extent the new church was a leap of faith in the idea of a new town, little of which had been built when it opened. The architect was Mr Thomas Nicholson of Hereford and it was funded largely by Mr Middleton Evans and Mr (later Sir) Richard Green-Price.
[R.C.B. Oliver - "The Centenary of Holy Trinity Church, Llandrindod Wells"]
[R.C.B. Oliver - "The Centenary of Holy Trinity Church, Llandrindod Wells"]
Llandrindod Wells: Hotels - Commodore
Built as a grand rectory by Archdeacon De Winton to a design by Rhayader architect Stephen William Williams it later became the Commodore Hotel. Visited by King Hussein of Jordan in March 1955 who signed the hotel register. He was accompanied by his uncle, Prince Nazin Jamil and personal bodyguard. He was welcomed by Mr J.F. Ritchie, the managing director and by Mr C.G. Williams (chairman of the Urban Council) at the time.
[Newspaper cutting from Mid Wales Independent, 7 March 1955]
[Newspaper cutting from Mid Wales Independent, 7 March 1955]
Llandrindod Wells: Hotels - Grosvenor
Mansion situated near the old church, converted to the first hotel in town by a Mr Grosvenor of Shrewsbury, 1749; after the death of Grosvenor in 1757 the hotel became notorious for gambling, etc., but ended up as resort for the physically infirm; closed 1790; subsequently briefly used as a House of Industry for able-bodied poor and as a woollen factory; demolished c.1800; Hall Farm now stands on the site.
[RT 1982, pp.58-9; Howse, pp.120-1]
[RT 1982, pp.58-9; Howse, pp.120-1]
Llandrindod Wells: Hotels, Pump House
Victorian visitors to the Pump House
Built by 1805 on the site of the farmhouse of Mrs. Jenkins (who was the first person to promote the spa waters of Llandrindod c.1732); may have started to fill the gap left by the decline of the Grosvenor Hotel; originally just known as "The Pump House", it was extended early in the 19thC, and again in 1840 under John Cane, who was the first to call it an hotel; customers were divided into first- and second-class, and the two groups were known as the "House of Lords" and the "House of Commons"; in 1888 the Old Pump House was demolished and a new luxury hotel was built; with the outbreak of the second world war it was requisitioned by the Government and used as an Officers' Cadet Training Unit; 1947-50 it became an emergency teacher training college, Coleg Llandrindod q.v.; c.1950-1971 it was used as a residential school for the deaf; purchased for Powys County Council, 1973 and used as County Hall; structurally unsound, demolished in late 1980s; new County Council premises opened on site, 1991.
[RT 1982 pp.58-61; Welsh Architect, pp.20-27; Howse, p.121 ]
[RT 1982 pp.58-61; Welsh Architect, pp.20-27; Howse, p.121 ]
Llandrindod Wells: Medicinal Baths, High St.
Destroyed by fire in March 1957, cause unknown. The premises had been used as a British Restaurant during the war. It was also the headquarters for Llandrindod Wells Silver Band, local Youth Club and local Male Voice Choir, who lost nearly all their instruments and equipment. A special meeting was then convened by Llandrindod Wells Urban Council to decide on the contingency to continue spa treatments, with the facilities at the Rock Park Winter Gardens as a possible alternative site.
[Newspaper cutting, un-named, but dated March 1957, held at the County Archives Office]
[Newspaper cutting, un-named, but dated March 1957, held at the County Archives Office]