Llandrindod Wells
The Llandrindod area in 1833
Long before there was ever a town here, people came to exploit the medicinal properties of local springs. It has been claimed that the Romans - from the fort and vicus at Castell Collen - were aware these springs. Development of the area as a spa really began when saline and sulfur springs were discovered to complement the chalybeate springs on ground near the site of the current County Hall building in 1732. Seeing the possibilities a Mr William Grosvenor of Shrewsbury developed a hotel near Llandrindod Hall, and farms in the area (e.g. Trefonnen Farm) offered accommodation to visitors coming to take the waters. The Pump House Hotel was built to exploit nearby springs in 1805 (see below).
Two events which led to the creation of a new town occured in the 1860s. The railway from Shrewsbury to Swansea was built in stages from the North, reaching Llandrindod in 1865. This made the spas of the area much more accessible and travel to the area cheaper.
The second event was the enclosure of the Cefnllys and Llandrindod Commons (see map). Local lords of the manor and landowners got the lions share of the newly enclosed land and moves were afoot immediately to create a new town to provide accommodation and entertainment for the visitors. Between 1901 and 1911 the resident population rose from 920 to 2,779 (in 1951 it was 3,213) and the visitors during the season totalled 80,000.
Two events which led to the creation of a new town occured in the 1860s. The railway from Shrewsbury to Swansea was built in stages from the North, reaching Llandrindod in 1865. This made the spas of the area much more accessible and travel to the area cheaper.
The second event was the enclosure of the Cefnllys and Llandrindod Commons (see map). Local lords of the manor and landowners got the lions share of the newly enclosed land and moves were afoot immediately to create a new town to provide accommodation and entertainment for the visitors. Between 1901 and 1911 the resident population rose from 920 to 2,779 (in 1951 it was 3,213) and the visitors during the season totalled 80,000.
Llandrindod Wells: Automobile Palace
Site purchased by Tom Norton in 1906, completed in 1911 at a cost of around £11,000; architect Thomas Wellings; there were attempts to arouse interest in aeronautics by Norton in 1913-14 when he arranged for flying displays from the old race course, and again in 1933 and 1937. It is not known if any planes were actually sold as a result, but the Palace still carries the word Aircraft on its sign; started one of the first public bus services in Wales, between Llandrindod and Newtown, 1906; acquired the Ford agency for whole of Wales; also dealer- and distributorships with Austin, Singer, G.M.C. trucks, etc.; before 1925 there were depots at Wrexham, Cardiff, Knighton and Rhayader but in that year recession forced many of the smaller ones to close; also in 1925 The Automobile Palace Ltd. company was formed; 1935 a wholesale depot opened in Conway and the Ferguson tractor concession was granted to the Palace; 1941-46 the army commandeered the top floor of the building.
[Reprint from Motor Sport, 1963, "A Pioneer Welsh Motor Business" - see County Archives cuttings files]
[Reprint from Motor Sport, 1963, "A Pioneer Welsh Motor Business" - see County Archives cuttings files]
Llandrindod Wells: Ddole Field
Site of old racecourse. Used for air displays promoted by Tom Norton of the Automobile Palace. First demonstration c.1913-14 by Swedish pioneer Gustav Hamal; another in 1933; last display in 1937, when Cathcart-Jones and Campbell-Black led a Jubilee display. (Apparently Universal Air Services were interested in running regular air services from there, although nothing came of this.)
[Reprint from Motor Sport, 1963, "A Pioneer Welsh Motor Business"]
[Reprint from Motor Sport, 1963, "A Pioneer Welsh Motor Business"]
Llandrindod Wells: Emporium
Established by a Mr. Thomas in 1879, when Llandrindod was expanding as a popular resort, by 1908 it was a limited company. The grandfather of the proprietor had founded a grocery and draper's business in 1799, with shops in Howey and Penybont. The business expanded to sell a wide variety of items, from tailored suits and ladies' hats to groceries and souvenirs. There was also a postal service which advertised as a speciality the 'celebrated spa flannel'.
[Newspaper Cutting from Mid Wales Journal of 19 Jan 1979 - ]
[Newspaper Cutting from Mid Wales Journal of 19 Jan 1979 - ]
Llandrindod Wells: Highland Moors Hospital
Originally a hotel and spa the building was used for convalescent soldiers during the first world war. It was later a boys' school and hospital until its closure (date unknown) was announced at the Brecon & Radnor Hospital Committee by Alderman T P Davies. The 26 boys remaining were to be transferred to Abercrave. Because the Llandrindod Wells High Street Baths had burnt down, Ald. Tudor Watkins, M.P. suggested that it should be used for spa treatments as it was originally built as an hotel and hydro. The building was later used as a convent.
[Newspaper cutting (un-named and undated)]
[Newspaper cutting (un-named and undated)]