:County Hall, Llandrindod Wells

File:Pump House Hotel, Llandrindod Wells.jpg

Following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1888, which established county councils in every county, it became necessary to find a meeting place for Radnorshire County Council: from an early stage the full county council established a tradition of holding its meetings at the Pump House Hotel on Spa Road East in Llandrindod Wells.{{cite web|url=http://a-day-in-the-life.powys.org.uk/eng/civ/ec_rcc.php|title=Radnorshire County Council|publisher=Powys: a day in the life |access-date=31 October 2020}} However, the county council also needed premises for council officers and their departments and established the "County Buildings" in the High Street at Llandrindod Wells in 1909.{{cite web|url=http://historypoints.org/index.php?page=county-buildings-llandrindod-wells|title=County Buildings, Llandrindod Wells|publisher=History Points|access-date=21 October 2019}} The county council then moved their staff to larger offices at the former Gwalia Hotel in Ithon Road in 1950.{{Coflein|num=30680|desc=Gwalia Hotel; Radnor District Council Offices|access-date=21 October 2019}}

Following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1972, Radnorshire County Council was abolished and the new Powys County Council decided to acquire the disused Pump House Hotel, not just as their meeting place but for use as their office headquarters as well, in 1974.Whitaker's Almanack 1979, p. 677{{efn|The Pump House Hotel had its origins in an early 18th century farmhouse known as Bach y Craig; after a saline and a sulphur spring was found on the farm in 1736, the medicinal properties of the spring were publicised by a German physician, Diederick Linden, in 1756.{{cite web|url=http://built-heritage.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=5365&L=0|title=The Pump House Hotel|publisher=Powys Built Heritage|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224163041/http://built-heritage.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=5365&L=0|access-date=21 October 2019|archive-date=2017-02-24}} After a change of ownership in 1868, the aging hotel was replaced by a modern structure designed by Shepherd & Sons of Cardiff which was completed in 1888.{{Coflein|num=695|desc=Pump House Hotel|access-date=31 October 2020|fewer-links=yes}} It was used as a military hospital during the Second World War and then became a teacher training college in 1947 before being converted for use as a school for deaf people in 1950 and then falling vacant in 1971.}} After the former hotel was found to be structurally unsound, county leaders decided to procure a new building; the site they selected was just to the east of the former hotel but still within its grounds.

The works began with the demolition of the Pump House Hotel: the former pump house itself, where the mineral spring had been used for the treatment of patients, was retained.{{Coflein|num=408743|desc=Pump House|access-date=21 October 2019|fewer-links=yes}} The new building, which was designed in the Postmodern style as a series of connected pavilions, was officially opened on 27 November 1990.{{cite web|url=https://en.powys.gov.uk/media/830/P_C_CD_E_bi/pdf/P_C_CD_E_bi.pdf?m=1513598589337|publisher=Powys County Council|title= Chief Executive's Department|access-date=31 October 2020}}

The county council moved its archives centre off the cramped County Hall site to new premises in Ddole Road in October 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.brecon-radnor.co.uk/article.cfm?id=105693&headline=Archive%20centre%20opened%20by%20Powys%20council%20leader§ionIs=news&searchyear=2017|title=Archive centre opened by Powys council leader|date=13 October 2017|publisher=The Brecon and Radnor Express|access-date=14 November 2020}} It then sought planning permission (from its own planning committee) to expand the capacity of the County Hall complex, by erecting a single storey extension and a new reception hall, in February 2020.{{cite web|url=https://powys.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s47919/19-1955-FUL%20-%20COMMITTEE%20REPORT.pdf|title=Erection of a single storey front extension to create a new reception hall and all associated works|publisher=Powys County Council|date=18 December 2019|access-date=14 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/18211931.powys-county-hall-extension-go-planning-committee/|title=Powys County Hall extension to go before planning committee|date=5 February 2020|publisher=Powys County Times|access-date=14 November 2020}}

Works of art in County Hall include a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Leonard Boden.{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/elizabeth-ii-b-1926-181441|title=Elizabeth II (b.1926)|first=Leonard|last=Boden|publisher=Art UK|access-date=31 October 2020}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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Category:Buildings and structures in Powys

Category:Government buildings completed in 1990

Category:Llandrindod Wells