Llanelly House stands, more or less, in the centre of Llanelli and, since its recent restoration, it provides visitors with a perfect example of a Georgian town house. Built at the beginning of the 18th century, it is probably the finest domestic building of its type to be found anywhere in south Wales.
Llanelly House
Creation of the house was the brain-child of Sir Thomas Stepney, Member of Parliament for Carmarthenshire and head of the most significant landed gentry family in Llanelli, possibly the whole of the county.
The Stepney’s were originally a London family who had come to Wales, via St Albans, as far back as 1559 when Alban Stepney took up residence in Pembrokeshire. In 1714 one of his descendants, Thomas, decided to build himself a house in the town of Llanelli. The town was beginning to grow to the extent that it would soon become the largest urban conurbation in Carmarthenshire.
Lady Stepney's chamber following restoration
The place was already becoming a renowned centre for copper and lead smelting although it was tin plate that really made the town’s name. That was not all the town became famous for – a pottery was also operated in Llanelli and, later in the 19th and 20th centuries, the famous town rugby club became a sporting force to be reckoned with.
The production of tin plate, however, was the most significant product of the town and the Stepneys, like most other wealthy families, benefitted greatly. At one time there were no fewer than thirty tin plate mills in the town, an industry that made many people very wealthy. It was natural that Sir Thomas Stepney would choose to display his wealth and social position.
The house was originally thought to stand on “virgin ground” but archaeological excavations during the recent renovations have shown that there was a dwelling on the site that dated back to the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. The new house was spectacular, attracting visitors like John Wesley when he came to preach in the nearby parish church, and the Stepney family lived there for many years. The baronetcy that was awarded to the family finally became extinct around 1825.
Llanelly House passed through the hands of several successive owners, most of them related to the Stepneys in some way. It was eventually purchased by the town council and much of the frontage was soon in use for shops and other businesses. The building fell into a sad state of repair.
Enter the BBC Restoration television series. Championed by designer Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen, the house was a finalist in the competition when it became clear to everyone that they were sitting on a cultural and architectural gem.
In November 2009 the Carmarthen Heritage Restoration Trust obtained a £6 million grant to begin work on restoring the property to something like its original glory. The plan was always to create a revolutionary visitor experience so that anyone entering Llanelli House would gain a clear insight into what life in 18th and 19th century Llanelli was really like.
In 2011 architects Austin-Smith were employed to begin the restoration work. This was a costly and complicated business that involved taking out the 18th century shop fronts, re-vamping the stair and hallway – always the core of the old building – and giving the rooms, such as Sir Thomas’s study, a new lease of life.
Restoration is now complete and Llanelly House is open to the public. As well as the house itself – now a Genealogy Heritage Centre - there is a wide range of period artefacts to see. Guided tours are informative and regular.
Llanelli House, like all old buildings, has an interesting past. It was recently voted in the top three most haunted buildings in Carmarthenshire, the others being the Parc Howard Museum and Kidwelly Castle.
The attic after restoration.
The ghost of Mia Turner, who was present in the house on the night of the 1851 census but disappeared soon afterwards, provides guides with a ready-made ghost story that will have all imaginative visitors quaking in their shoes.
Llanelly House, although dating back to the beginning of the Georgian period, is one of the newest tourist attractions in Wales. It provides valuable insights and a superb atmosphere for anyone who has a feeling for the history of Wales.
