"Launched on Saint David's Day 2004, the society's aim is to consolidate the work of local historians in preserving historic buildings and structures and promoting the community's rich heritage. It is incredible to think that since its inception it has succeeded in setting up interpretive panels in Old Castle Road, Furnace Village, Felinfoel Village, the former Llanelli grammar school site and the site of the famous Llanelli pottery.
"More than 20 blue plaques have been installed commemorating famous buildings such as Hagger's cinema and Capel Adulam, celebrities such as the actress Rachel Roberts and the artist John Innes, and events such as the Rebecca Riots and the Railway strike of 1911.
"The society supplements this work by producing framed interpretive panel proofs, DVDs, leaflets and booklets for use by schools, organisations and individuals, holding lectures and social evenings and producing early history models, which can be seen at Llanelli's Parc Howard Museum.
"This society of dedicated volunteers celebrated its work in September 2006 by holding the first-ever open top bus tour of the area covering the sites of the interpretive panels and the blue plaques.
The work is by no means complete and Llanelli residents will see more panels and plaques in the very near future.
"The society is very grateful to people who have sponsored the plaques and to organisations such as Communities First, Awards for All Wales, Gronfa 1 Fund, Carmarthenshire County Council, Llanelli Town Council, CADW and the Llanelli rural council who have helped fund the panels and blue plaques.
"The society sees its aims as enhancing community awareness, identity and civic pride thus bringing history to the people as well as promoting lifelong learning, recreation and leisure and tourism. Please visit the society's website and contact the chairman John Wynne Hopkins for further information about our work, becoming a member or even sponsoring a blue plaque."
your comments
We're making some changes to the sites shortly and although this form will be closing, you will have other opportunities to contribute on our new-look site.
Christopher Evans from Brighton
I am from Llanelli but now live in Brighton. I think its fantastic that the towns history is being kept alive. Keep up the good work guys!!
Sun Jun 21 22:05:35 2009
Rita Bassett Thomas, Bridgend, Mid Glam
Annie Higgs, Wiltshire. Ambrose Taroni was my great, great grandfather whose daughter, Rosilia, married Daniel Bassett. Their son, David, was my grandfather.
Tue May 19 17:18:32 2009
Anthony Davies Mandurah Western Australia
I thank you for the great news re-panels and plaque, in Dafen, I was in Llanelli four weeks ago to attend the memorial service at Parc Y Stradey for relatives whose ashes had been scattered on the pitch, I came back to Llanelli in 1989 when my father died, and scattered his ashes there very moving service etc.I went to school with Rosemary Suquires she also lived at 4 New Road, I remember going to see Dorothy at the old Astoria Theatre in Station Road just over the mail rail line.
Tue Dec 9 17:30:06 2008
John Wynne Hopkins - Llanelli Community Heritage
Annie Higgs of Wiltshire you will be pleased to know that our vice-chairman Mrs Lyn John has found some info for you.
It appears that in the town of Llanelli in the 1860’s, a certain Mr. Ambrose Taroni was a postman and he delivered the mail in the town.
According to John Innes, the author of the book ‘Old Llanelly’, Taroni came from Turin and “easily did the work giving and taking all the news at the same time”.
Innes also said that, “if you received more than three or four letters a week it was in those days usual to apologetically explain to Taroni, who took it rather ill”.
Ambrose Taroni is recorded to have died in 1877, aged 76. We hope that you find this information useful.
Mon Dec 1 11:10:27 2008
Annie Higgs from Wiltshire
I am trying to trace a family tree and have reached the end of the road at the moment. Does anyone remember any mention of the Taroni family in Llanelli (started with Ambrose in 1832? The most recent info we have is that a relative remembers a couple of descendants, some Williams running a cycle shop and 'Tony' having a barber's shop in 1951. Does this ring any bells please. Thank you.
Tue May 6 09:37:58 2008
John Wynne Hopkins - Llanelli Community Heritage
Adam Vaughan of Dafen. Many thanks and yes we are interested and we had identified the site as the house where she (Dorothy Squires) lived during her youth. We will be interested in placing a blue plaque on this site so will contact you in the future once we can get sponsorship for the project. Diolch Yn Fawr.
Wed Mar 19 12:09:50 2008
Adam Vaughan, Dafen
John Wynne Hopkins: you may know this but Dorothy Squires was a previous resident at my house - 4 New Road Dafen - her name is on the deeds. Just thought you might not know exactly where she lived.
Wed Mar 19 10:34:28 2008
moselle thomas calgary canada
My auntie,Virtie (Virtue Harris) taught nursing for many years in a hospital in Llanelli....I'd love to hear from anyone who remembers her and also the name of the hospital. She went under the title of Sister Tutor.
Thu Dec 27 11:14:02 2007
Bob Nicholls, Bryn, Llanelli.
I would like to see Blue Plaques near the location of pits in Llanelli giving precise details of location in metres to shafts and depths, dates worked, numbers and ages of labour employed, etc. For example Asda car park Bres Pit. Old Castle Pit end of Old Castle Road. Pit Corner of Princess Street and Waun-lan-yr-Afon. Box pit, to name a few. It would be of local and visitor interest I'm sure.
Tue Aug 28 11:18:04 2007
John Wynne Hopkins LCH
Twm the Owl - You will be pleased to know that LCH is now working on a blue plaque for Hugh Percy Wilkins, Astronomer,who produced the most detailed map of the moon as used by the NASA moon mission. More details to follow.
Mon May 14 09:52:08 2007
twm the owl.llanelli
Can anybody name the two brothers that mapped the moon? They actually used them for the moon landing by nasa. I believe they were from Inkerman Street.
Tue May 8 09:42:18 2007
John & Sandra Jones from Llanelli, Felinfoel
I and my wife are members of the Llanelli Community Heritage Society and proud to be associates of these caring individuals, people who care for the past as it is the grounding of our present and the ultimate doorway into our future...
Fri Apr 13 12:17:24 2007
John Wynne Hopkins, Llanelli Community Heritage
Stephen A. hopkins, you will be pleased to know the LCH Vice-Chairman Mr Lyn John and myself recently gave a talk on the Rebeca Riots at the Salvation Army Headquarters, Llanelli. We did ask after you but you were not there. Lyn will contact you and the organisation to discuss this blue plaque.
Fri Feb 16 09:03:09 2007
Stephen A. Hopkins from Llanelli
2007 sees 125 years of The Salvation Army in Llanelli. 1883 saw the visit to Llanelli of General William Booth, the Army's founder, and he led a meeting in the hall above Barclays bank in Vaughan Street. Would you consider this worthy of a blue plaque?
Mon Jan 22 09:20:40 2007
John Wynne Hopkins, Llanelli ,Wales
Anthony Davies- Australia, you will be pleased to know that Llanelli Community Heritage is looking to support the Dafen Forum with an interpretive Panel and Blue Plaques for Dafen. LCH likes your idea and Dorothy Squires is another of a number of potential blue plaque sites for Dafen.
Thu Dec 28 11:48:26 2006
Anthony Davies Mandurah Westren Australia - Dafen
I think a plaque should be located in Dafen village in commemoration of the Gorse Works where my father Sydney Davies and other family members worked for 42 years, this will not happen, but Dafen was once the mini hub of Galvanising and Tinplate production adjacent to the Tinopolis town of Llanelli. Da iawn.
Mon Oct 30 09:15:43 2006
Tell us who or what deserves a plaque
