Lewis Partnership help restore historic Llanelli landmark

Award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership Ltd are playing a key role in the restoration of one of Llanelli’s most historic landmarks.
Llanelli Town Hall is being refurbished and upgraded by Carmarthenshire Council.
“As one of Llanelli’s favourite buildings, it is in need of some TLC, some tender, loving care,” said the Lewis Partnership Ltd’s managing director Philip Lewis.
“As an older building, care must be taken to ensure it is properly maintained and our plan will tackle the usual routine problems which come with older buildings and prepare the Town Hall for a bright future.
“The Town Hall is very much a cherished building in Llanelli and, as a town-based firm of architects, operating from headquarters just around the corner from the building, we are delighted to be helping with this work.”
The Town Hall came into being after the old Local Board of Health first suggested the idea back in 1892.
William Griffiths, Estate Agent of Thomas Street, Llanelli, provided the chosen design for the building. T P Jones, builders of Llanelli, submitted the lowest tender for the project at £11,000.
Two years passed from the acceptance of the tender to the completion and official opening of the Town Hall. In the meantime the Local Board of Health had ceased to function.
The Local Government Act of 1894 resulted in the Llanelly Urban District Council replacing the old authority. Elections for the new Urban Council of Llanelly were held on 17 December 1894 and the first meeting was held on 31 December 1894.
The ‘New Town Hall’ was officially opened by Mrs D A Jones, wife of Dr James Arthur Jones, the Chairman of the Llanelly Urban District Council in the presence of a host of local dignitaries and thousands of spectators on Tuesday 31 March 1896.
The list of official guests at the official opening read like a ‘Who’s Who’ of Llanelli: J S Tregoning; Dr S J Roderick; J Maybery; R C Jenkins; R Guest, David Evans; John Jennings; David Randall; George Watkeys; Alderman David Evans; Joseph Joseph; Gwilym Evans; W W Brodie; J Beavan Phillips; D W Rees; Architect William Griffiths; Contractor T P Jones; Choral Society Leader John Thomas and Caterer Mrs Bazzard.
The spectators at the opening were entertained by the Town Band under the leadership of Sergeant Samuel and the official celebratory luncheon, organised by the Council, at a total cost of 2s 6d.was held at the Athenaeum. Mrs Bazzard of the adjoining Salutation Hotel provided catering for the official function.
After lunch there were 32 speeches which were followed by a free concert at the Market Hall. Local artistes, assisted by the Llanelly Choral Society under the leadership of John Thomas, gave their services to entertain the guests.