Hide

Builth (Llanfair-ym-muallt)

hide
Hide

"BUILTH, (or Llanvair-yn-muallt), a parish and market town in the hundred of Builth, in the county of Brecknock, South Wales, 14 miles to the N. of Brecknock, and 172 miles from London. It is situated on the W. bank of the river Wye, which here separates the counties of Radnor and Brecknock, and is crossed by a stone bridge of six arches, built in 1779. The Welsh name for this place is Llanvair-yn-Muallt. It was the site of a castle, erected probably by the Normans soon after the Conquest. ... " [Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]

Hide
topup

Bibliography

A pictorial and descriptive guide to Llandrindod Wells, Llangammarch Wells, Llanwrtyd Wells, Builth Wells and Central Wales : with medical notes : plan of Llandrindod Wells, map of the district, and six sketch maps illustrating walks. London : Ward, Lock and Co., [1920?].

Ashton, Owen R. A short history of Builth Wells from Medieval to Modern times. [Builth] : printed by T. Edward Turner, 1974.

Bidgood, Ruth. Lawrence families of the Builth and Llanelwedd area in the 18th and 19th centuries. Transactions of the Radnorshire Society 59 (1989), p. 90-115

Davies, David P. Builth Wells and its vicinity. Builth Wells, C. Sirett, 1867. 136p

Davies, Gwen. Builth Cottage Hospital : a centenary history 1897-1997. Builth Wells : [Gwen Davies] 1997. 134p

Hinchcliffe, J B. 120 views of Builth Wells : Llandrindod Wells, Elan Valley Waterworks, Llanwrtyd Wells, Llangammarch Wells, Newbridge-on-Wye, Rhayader etc. Builth Wells : J.B. Hinchliffe, [1909] 36p

Hughes, Colin P F. Builth Wells High School : a centenary history 1896 - 1996. Builth Wells : Builth Wells High School, 1996. 186p

Hughes, Colin P F. Builth County School : school and community. Education for Development 10/1 (1986), p. 79-89

Hughes, Colin P F. Intermediate education in north Breconshire : the establishment of Builth County School. Brycheiniog 26 (1993-94), p. 135-52

Morrison, Malcolm. Pictorial history of Builth Wells. [s.l.] : M J Morrison, c1989. 96p

Pugh, Margaret. History of Horeb Congregational Church, Builth Wells, 1808-1988. [Builth Wells] : Horeb Congregational Church, Builth Wells, [1988]

Sinclair, J B. Towns and villages of Wales : Builth Wells. Stroud : Alan Sutton, 1993. 83p

Spurgeon, Clifford J. Builth Castle. Llandrindod Wells : Powys County Council, 1982

The Welsh spa album : containing artistic views, in colour, of Llandrindood Wells, Llangammarch Wells, Llanwrtyd Wells, Builth Wells, Rhayader, Elan Valley, &c. Llandrindod Wells : W. Thomas, [1905?]

topup

Church History

Church of St Mary, Builth Wells on the Brecknockshire Churches Survey site

Various items  - on the People's Collection Wales  site

  • Alpha Calvinistic Methodist chapel, Builth Wells
  • Old St Mary's church, Builth Wells
  • Horeb Congregational church, Builth Wells
topup

Church Records

Detailed information on deposited registers and transcripts for this parish is given under Breconshire Parish Registers on the Powys Archives website

As a guide only, the principal extant parochial church records for this parish span the dates shown below (as detailed in Parish Registers of Wales (NLW 2000) but exact current holdings should be confirmed with the individual Archives:

  • Baptisms 1681-1730, 1750-1765, 1767-1976; Marriages 1681-1730, 1750-1765, 1770-1987; Burials 1681-1730, 1750-1765, 1767-1867, 1869, 1873-1874, 1879-1981; Banns 1877-1979 Parish Registers, or copies, for all or part of these dates are held at the NLW and/or Powys Archives. Bishops Transcripts for various periods are held at the NLW.
topup

Court Records

Petty Sessions were first held in the nineteenth century, a minor court presided over by two or more justices or magistrates. Records include minute books, court registers, adoption registers, licensing and ledger accounts. There is a 75 year closure period for adoption records and 30 years for the rest. Petty Sessions Records from 1911-1991 (reference: BQS/BU) have been deposited at Powys Archives

topup

Description & Travel

Builth Castle on the Castle Wales site

Builth Wells - on the BBC site

Map of Builth in 1836 Victorian Powys for Schools site - Transport theme

Victorian Builth and the Wye Valley Victorian Powys for Schools site

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales  site

  • Various landscapes 
  • Engraving of Builth Wells, 1830
You can see pictures of Builth (Llanfair-ym-muallt) which are provided by:

topup

Gazetteers

The transcription of the section for Builth from The National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin Hinson.

topup

History

Builth High Street packed with horned cattle on a market day in 1905. - on the People's Collection Wales  site

topup

Maps

Parish of Builth in the County of Brecon - on the People's Collection Wales  site

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SO043505 (Lat/Lon: 52.144865, -3.39941), Builth (Llanfair-ym-muallt) which are provided by:

topup

Military History

Builth Wells War Memorial - on the People's Collection Wales  site

topup

Newspapers

There are many references to this area in the 15 million Welsh and English language articles from Welsh newspapers transcribed by the NLW and viewable on Welsh Newspapers Online
Below are English language articles that have been re-transcribed and extracted randomly to illustrate what is available, there are many that are not extracted here that include names of local people

  • From the Evening Express (Sports Edition) 2nd May 1903

BUILTH WELLS. The prospects of the Builth Wells Cricket Club for the approaching season are most encouraging. Several fixtures have been arranged, but the secretaries are still prepared to make further arrangements for open dates. The new pavilion will be erected in May, and will be a picturesque and roomy building. Last year the team were only beaten twice out of 22 matches. The professional and groundsman engaged is James Bank, of Workington, Cumberland.

  •  From the Evening Express (Revival Edition) 11th February 1905

BUILTH WELLS. The Revival converts for Builth Wells and district now total 182. An interesting feature of the efforts made is the children's service, conducted weekly by the Rev. F. C. Beecher. The prayer meetings at all the places of worship are still characterised by intense earnestness, fervour, and spontaneity.

  • From the Evening Express (First Edition) 2nd August 1904

BUILTH WELLS TRECYNON WINS THE MALE VOICE CONTEST. The Builth Wells annual eisteddfod took place at the Strand-hall on Monday. The weather favoured the event, and hundreds of visitors and district inhabitants assembled by mid-day. This year's president was the Hon. R. C. Devereux. Mr. E. Hurren Harding, Mus. Bac., was the adjudicator of music, and the Rev. R. W. Owen, Eglwys Oenddu, conductor and literary adjudicator. The secretarial work was performed by Mr. R. Williams.

  •  From the Evening Express (Third Edition) 6th August 1909

BUILTH WELLS. Favourable weather, liberal patronage, and high quality exhibits were the leading characteristics of the first annual flower show at Builth Wells. There were over 200 entries.....(part extract).....

  •  From the Evening Express (Second Edition) 8th November 1910

BUILTH WORKHOUSE Builth Board of Guardians' fortnightly meeting on Monday was presided over by Mr Thomas Davies, J.P.. C.C. The board decided to invite tenders for an improved water service to the workhouse. £203 4s. 7d, had been paid to the treasurer under the Agricultural Rates Relief Act in respect to the current half-year.

  • From the  Evening Express (First Edition) 3rd October 1894

BUILTH SHEEP FAIR. The annual sheep fair was held on Tuesday at Builth, and proved highly successful. Prices were advanced upon recent markets. Cluns and cross-breds sold from 35s to 43s, second Radnors from 26s to 32s. and Welsh ewes from 20s to 23s. A great quantity of cattle was on offer. Store cattle were a drug. Beef sold at 5½d and 6d. Yearlings fetched from £6 to £8 and two-year-olds £10 to £ 14, but there was little demand.

topup

Poor Houses, Poor Law

The Workhouse - The Wales/Breconshire section of Peter Higginbotham's comprehensive account of British workhouses includes a description of the Builth Poor Law Union, together with a list of staff and inmates residing at Builth Union Workhouse, extracted from the 1881 census.

Builth Union abstract and list of paupers 1867 - on the People's Collection Wales  site

topup

Schools

Headmaster and staff of Builth Wells Primary School nd - on the People's Collection Wales  site

topup

Social Life & Customs

Various items - on the People's Collection Wales  site

  • Builth Wells gentlemen golfers nd 
  • Mens cricket team at Builth Wells nd
  • Group of people, Builth Wells Golf Club nd
  • Builth Juniors football team 1949-50, taken at the Gro, Builth Wells