Hello and welcome…

Welcome to the second newsletter of 2012, the countdown year for the opening of Llanelly House. With so much going on, we’re keeping a weekly BLOG of events and finds at the House and the activities of the Community team – our Community Journal - so take a look and please join in.

Arts Competition

The Arts Competition as part of the Community programme for the House restoration, has been in planning for two months, with County Arts Ambassador, photographer Terry Morris, advising on how to achieve the project’s goals. The project is due to launch in Spring and will be open to everyone, of any age or ability. A substantial prize is being sought from a well-known sponsor, with a single subject – Llanelli – the only criteria for entry. All visual art forms are welcome, including sculpture, fabrics, photography, film, painting and drawing. The competition will be highlighted through different phases of promotion for the House and CHRT’s Cheryl Kitt will be taking the project to local schools and residential centres to ensure total inclusion. Anyone wishing to enter and needing help to take part should contact the Community team at Llanelly House.

Uncovering Llanelli’s Lost Heritage

Llanelly House is set to showcase much of what has made the town iconic in the country’s cultural heritage. One such exhibit is the Stepney Armorial Dinner Service. Thought of by many to be central to the original identity of Llanelli, the service is being brought back for the people of the town as part of the Llanelly House Project’s ‘lost heritage’ scheme. The dinner service was imported from China in the 18th century and used at the House for many years. It is currently housed at the Museum and Galleries of Wales and was purchased with a £154,000 grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund in 2009. It will be on permanent display when the House opens in 2013.

Town Heritage Tours

What influence has Llanelly House and its inhabitants had on the town? To find out, you can join the Community Engagement Team for one of their regular town tours around Llanelli and see the influence that the people and their activities of Llanelly House had on the growth and development of the town. We meet at the ‘Hub’ – previously the Burton shop, next to Boots the Chemist, in Llanelli town centre, then take a walk that lasts around an hour. The Tours are popular, so booking is essential – contact Estelle Evans on 01554 772857 or email estelle.evans@chrt.org.uk for details and dates. The Tours are suited to all ages and abilities, groups are kept small to ensure that everyone can take part and is able to hear the commentary.

Coming Soon – Become a Friend of Llanelly House

If you would like to become a ‘Friend of Llanelly House’, you will soon have the opportunity to join others with similar interests in the town and its past. The project team is currently putting the final touches to a scheme that will allow anyone to join in. Details will be announced later this month. If you are interested in joining, contact Lydia on 01554 772857 or at lydia.giorgi@chrt.org.uk and you could be among the first group of people to be a Friend of Llanelly House.

Faces of Llanelly House – James Dickson Innes

Throughout this year and after the House has opened, we will be featuring a variety of characters from Llanelli, in the fields of art, science, the military, industry and more. This month we take a look at the artist, James Dickson Innes, who will be featured in the Llanelly House interpretation. James Dickson Innes was born on 27 February 1887 in Llanelli. His father, John Innes, who had travelled to the town from Scotland, was a keen historian and author with an interest in the local brass and copper pieces. His mother was of Catalan descent and he had two brothers, Alfred and Jack. James followed his education at Christ College, Brecon and Carmarthen School of Art, with a scholarship to the Slade School of Art which he attended from 1905 to 1908. Exhibiting with the New English Art Club from 1907, became a member of the famous Camden Town group in 1911. Although much of his later work was completed overseas, he spent time painting in the Arenig Valley area of North Wales, mostly with his friend, Augustus John. Advised to travel in warmer climes after a diagnosis of tuberculosis, he painted in Spain and Morocco but, at the age of just 27, he died on 22 August, 1914, at a nursing home in Swanley in Kent.

Project Features in Gwalia filming

The Gwalia care and support charity, which helps people to make positive changes in their lives, has been filming at The House during January as part of a wide community project. Its aim was to look at the role of the building in the community, particularly in relation to the Stepneys, William Chambers and other early estate owners and industrial pioneers. Craig and Estelle were interviewed on film, focusing on the history of the House. Gwalia has requested information about the future role of the building, following restoration. The last location on the charity’s filming schedule, the Llanelly House shoot, will be followed by editing of the material and a film premiere night has been arranged at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, for Friday March 30th 2012.

Meet the Team – Arthur Mallett

A volunteer photographer, Arthur has been following the progress of Llanelly House over the past year. Much of Arthur’s work can be viewed on our flickr page. A keen and popular member of the Llanelli Photographic Society. Arthur can often be seen capturing the best imagery that the town and its environs has to offer. Here we interview Arthur about his work.
Arthur has been involved with the project now for over 3 years, seeing many events and was involved in the planning of the final start phase in April 2011. He has subsequently photographed the visit by then secretary of state, Cheryl Gillan, in August 2010, the visit of the paint analyst in September 2010, followed by the first beginnings of the refurbishment in March/April 2011.

Arthur started work at the age of 15 and worked as a TV repair engineer, a trainee electrician then as a bakery service engineer, moving on to sales and finally as General Manager – Customer Service, for a Swansea-based manufacturer, until retirement in August 2007. A lifelong interest in photography was only realised about 15 years ago when Arthur joined Llanelli Photographic Society. He has achieved much since then gaining a AWPF (Associate of the Welsh Photographic Federation) distinction in 2010. “I would like to think that my efforts and photos during the Llanelly House project will be put to good use – I only wish I’d had the opportunity to do something like this when I was younger.” His images can be viewed on our flickr site here.

Latest Imagery

More photographs have been taken recently showing the progress made in restoring Llanelly Houseto former glories. The difference is immense and amount of work that has gone into the structural aspects and fabric of the building is clear. Also here are new images of the House exterior, offering views of the drop-banners that now adorn the scaffolding and featuring the new branding. The banners are advertising the ‘Be a Face of Llanelly House’ campaign as well as the Arts Competition that will launch this month. View them all on our Flickr site here.