History

Built as a private house for Dr William Bowen- Davies, c1872, in the first generation of Llandrindod's rapid growth, and extended c1890, probably to provide enhanced space for the doctor's surgery. In 1910 it became the town hall for the newly emerged town of Llandrindod Wells, which had gained urban district council status in 1894.The principal public rooms occupy the extension to the original building, which is the northern section of the building. The original building comprised a square in plan block with hipped roof facing south, with a large rear wing, also with hipped roof. The extensions brought forward a further wing and new entrance, facing Temple Street. Dr Bowen-Davies practiced as a doctor in Llandrindod Wells from 1872 until 1907. He was instrumental in founding the Llandrindod Wells hospital in 1880, and was the fisrt chairman of the Llandrindod Wells Urban Distict Council.

Exterior

Rusticated stone work, with yellow-brick dressing including quoins, architraves, string course and eaves cornice. Slate roofs, with yellow brick stacks. Hipped slate roofs with yellow-brick chimneys comprising grouped shafts with projecting caps. 2 storeyed, the original house has 3-bay elevation facing south and 2-bay return to Temple Street. Hipped roofed wing set back behind extensions of c1890, comprising 2-storeyed wing with canted front to street, entrance porch and narrow bay alongside it to left, in angle with original main block. Glass-roofed arcade to rear enclosing 3 sides of a square, the remains of a conservatory added in 1894. Original entrance front to south is symmetrical with central entrance with 4-centred arch to recessed porch (4-panelled door with overlight within) between canted bay windows with chamfered brick surrounds to sash windows. 4-pane sash windows to first floor, and tall triple tiered sash window at centre. Return to Temple Street has 2x4-pane sash windows on each floor, and canted bay window beyond (added in c1890 alterations). C1890 extensions comprises bold 2-storeyed canted bay to left, with paired 2-pane sash windows with chamfered brick surrounds, and high parapet with curved profile swept down over narrow additional bay to rear of entrance. This has porch with muscular gothic architrave: columns with strong bases and capitals, stilted arched head. Immediately right of entrance, is a squared bay with tripartite sash to ground floor, ironwork rail as parapet. 4-paned sash window in original rear wing above. At rear, a 3-sided glass-roofed arcade (the remains of the 1894 conservatory) has rear 'grotto' wall of water-worn limestone, cast-iron columns to front, and tiled floor.

Interior

High quality detail internally, including good joinery (doors and architraves especially) throughout, fine main staircase of c1890 with ironwork balusters and swept rail leading to galleried upper landing, ornate plaster ceiling in principal ground floor room where there are elaborate architraves to windows, which incorporate stained glass armorial panels. Further stained glass to porch, front door, c1890 windows to Temple Street and rear stair window.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as a good example of a mid-Victorian house and small-scale civic building, retaining character reflecting principal periods of building in 1870s and 1890s. Significant in the context of the history of Llandrindod Wells not only as the home of a leading local medical and civic figure, but also as an early civic building for the rapidly developing new town.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Brynarlais at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q29508100

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)