Llanelly, Carmarthenshire

Ward Lock Red Gude, 1965. - Llanelly is the largest town and port (now closed for trading purposes since 1951) in Carmarthenshire, the population exceeding 29,000. Having in the vicinity vast stores of the finest anthracite coal, it is ideally placed for a booming trade. Through the generosity of Sir Stafford and Lady Howard the inhabitants are in possession of Bryncaerau Castle and park of about 24 acres, formerly a seat of the Buckley family. The park, now called Parc Howard, has been laid out for games, with a children's paddling pool, while the mansion has been converted into a picture gallery, museum and refreshment rooms. It may interest some readers to recall that the Friendship, the first seaplane to be flown across the Atlantic, came down off Burry Point after flying non-stop from Trepassey, Newfoundland, in about 22 hours, in June 1928. A modern tin-plate works has been opened at Trostre, as part of the Steel Company of Wales.

Pigot's Trade Directory, 1830. - Llanelly is a flourishing and respectable market and borough town, in the hundred of Carnwallan and county of Carmarthen; 217 miles from London, 15 from Carmarthen, 13 from Swansea, and 9 from Kidwelly; situated on a port or creek of the Bristol channel, and where the custom-house for the county of Carmarthen is established. Of late years this town has greatly increased in importance, in trade, and in population - and the improvements in its appearance has kept pace with its prosperity: many old and unsightly habitations have been removed and new ones erected on their site, with ranges of handsome shops; a new and convenient market-house has also been built, which is well attended on the market-days. The town is governed by a portrieve and an unlimited number of burgesses, to whom valuable estates belong, the rental of which is directed by act of parliament to be expended in improving the town and port; nor have those with such funds at their disposal been negligent in applying them to the purpose intended. Llanelly has long been noted for the excellent quality of its bituminous or binding coal, stone-coal, culm, and fire-clay; this has induced wealthy and spirited individuals to establish copper, iron, lead and fire-brick works, upon most extensive scales; and the copper smelting-works of Messrs. Daniell and Co., and the Messrs. Shears, employ a great number of hands. The several important establishments are the sources from which the present flourishing trade of the port is derived; to accommodate which, three commodious docks have been formed, furnished with convenient loading stages, and the copper-works dock has a wet-dock, sunk to the depth of 12 feet at the lowest neap-tides. The Railway Company's dock is considered one of the best graving-docks in the Principality; from one end of it, a breakwater stretches out, of great extent, which enables vessels to ride in perfect safety. Each of these docks has a reservoir for scouring it; and there is also a public reservoir, of great capacity, for cleansing the harbour and channel. A steam-tug is actively employed in towing vessels and lighters into the harbour. There are two very good Inns here, well deserving the patronage of the traveller visiting this town; they are the 'Falcon' and the 'Thomas's Arms'.

The church, which is situated in the centre of the town, and is an ancient and irregular pile, has lately been furnished with a new set of bells. The market, which is a well supplied one with all necessary commodities for domestic consumption, is held on Thursday; and the two annual fairs take place on Ascension Thursday and the 30th of September. The parish of Llanelly comprises the hamlets of BERWICK, BOROUGH, GLYN, HENGOED, and WESTOAC; which collectively contained, according to the returns of the parliamentary commissioners in the year 1821, 5,649 inhabitants.

Llanelly Town Hall