Builth Wells

Builth is a longstanding anglicisation of the Old Welsh {{lang|owl|Buellt}} or {{lang|owl|Buallt}}, which combines {{lang|owl|bu}} ({{IPA|cy|bɨː|}}) 'ox' and {{lang|owl|gellt}} (later {{lang|cy|gwellt}}) 'lea or leas'.

The town added Wells in the 19th century when its springs were promoted as a visitor attraction. Its modern Welsh name {{lang|cy|Llanfair-ym-Muallt}} means 'Saint Mary in Ox Leas'.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/whatsinaname/sites/placenames/pages/builth.shtml |title=What's in a name: Builth Wells |year=2013 |publisher=BBC Wales |access-date=February 12, 2013}}{{cite encyclopedia |first=A. D. |last=Mills |year=2003 |title=Builth Wells |encyclopedia=Oxford Dictionary of British Place Names |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0191578479 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_B0Ouj5VC0C&q=%22Builth+Wells%22&pg=PT159 |access-date=February 14, 2013 }}

In the centre of the town is a large mural (about {{convert|35|ft}} by {{convert|30|ft}} wide) depicting {{lang|cy|Llywelyn ap Gruffudd|italic=no}}, who was killed at the Battle of Orewin Bridge on 11 December 1282.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/mid_/3072269.stm |title=Unveiling of ancient prince mural |work=BBC News Online |access-date=13 October 2019 |date=16 July 2003 }}

File:Builth - 20 Uchaf Emynau Cymru - The Top 20 Best.ogg

File:Strand Hall, Builth Wells - geograph.org.uk - 2873707.jpg

There are two tiers of local government covering Builth Wells, at community (town) and county level: Builth Wells Town Council and Powys County Council. The town council is based at Strand Hall on Strand Street, which also serves as a community hall and events venue.{{cite web |title=Contact Builth Wells Town Council |url=https://builthwellstowncouncil.org.uk/contact-us |website=Builth Wells Town Council |access-date=16 November 2024}}{{cite web |title=Strand Hall, Builth Wells |url=https://historypoints.org/index.php?page=strand-hall-builth-wells |website=History Points |access-date=16 November 2024}}

For elections to Powys County Council the community boundaries are coterminous with the Builth electoral ward, which sends one county councillor to sit on the council. Since 1995 the ward had been represented by Independent councillors.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Powys-1995-2012.pdf|title=Powys County Council Election Results 1995-2012 |publisher=The Elections Centre|access-date=7 September 2018}} At the May 2017 elections the seat was won by former international rugby player, Jeremy Pugh.{{cite news|author=Twm Owen|url=http://www.brecon-radnor.co.uk/article.cfm?id=105057&headline=Powys%20council%20election%20%E2%80%93%20the%20counting%20continues%C2%A0§ionIs=news&searchyear=2017|title=Powys council election – the counting continues|work=Brecon & Radnor Express|date=5 May 2017|access-date=5 October 2018}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Builth Wells is in the Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe constituency for elections to the UK parliament and Brecon and Radnorshire for elections to the Senedd.

The ancient parish covering the town was called Builth, which formed part of the Builth hundred of Brecknockshire.{{cite web |title=Builth Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10213861#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=16 November 2024}} In 1866 a local government district was created covering the more built-up part of the parish, governed by an elected local board.{{London Gazette|issue=23057|page=87|date=5 January 1866}}

Such local government districts were converted into urban districts under the Local Government Act 1894. The urban district was extended at the same time to cover the whole parish of Builth.{{cite book |title=Annual Report of the Local Government Board |date=1895 |page=235 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Annual_Report_of_the_Local_Government_Bo/gFIwAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA235&printsec=frontcover |access-date=16 November 2024}} In 1898, Breconshire County Council changed the urban district's name from Builth to Builth Wells, at the urban district council's request.{{cite news |title=Local Government Act, 1894: Administrative County of Brecon |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=Radnor Express |date=10 November 1898 |location=Llandrindod Wells |page=4}}

Builth Wells Urban District was abolished in 1974, with its area instead becoming a community called Builth Wells within the Borough of Brecknock in the new county of Powys. The former urban district council's functions therefore passed to Brecknock Borough Council, which was in turn abolished in 1996 and its functions passed to Powys County Council.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|accessdate=6 October 2022}}{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Wales) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=19|accessdate=9 October 2022}}

Image:Welsh-black-bull-builth-wells-2.jpg bull by Gavin Fifield{{cite news |title=Welsh Black bull takes a firm stand |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/welsh-black-bull-takes-firm-2363065 |work=Wales Online |date=13 December 2005}}]]

The White Bull of Builth may be a reference to a herd of White Park Cattle that lived in the area from Post-Roman times. Two herds survived in Wales to modern times. The laws of the time suggest that the medieval and later economy of the Welsh borders was strongly dependent on cattle. The Hereford cattle breed, named after Hereford market where it was most prominently sold was the main breed of the Welsh borders. Builth was the market for a variant of the Hereford called the Builth Smokey Face. This was the traditional animal of the area but the breed has not existed for many, many decades.

The Beulah Speckled Face is a local breed of sheep. Nearby Mynydd Epynt was famous for its horses until it was seized for military training purposes.

The beef cattle market has vanished and economically sheep are now vastly more important than cattle with consequences for the traditional woodlands of the area, the salmon runs and other important ecological features.

Llanelwedd Quarry was the source of the stone used in many of Builth's buildings, and in the dams along the Elan Valley. The quarry was the source of the first laumontite mined in Wales.{{cite web|url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-4895.html|title=Llanelwedd Quarry, Builth Wells, Powys (Radnorshire), Wales, UK|access-date=23 September 2014}} It is operated by Hanson Aggregates.{{cite web|url=http://www.agg-net.com/directories/builth-wells-quarry|title=Builth Wells Quarry|access-date=23 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140923231211/http://www.agg-net.com/directories/builth-wells-quarry|archive-date=23 September 2014}}

File:Builth Wells Station 1935817.jpg in 1967]]

The town is served by Builth Road railway station on the Heart of Wales Line, which is located just over 2 miles to the north-west. The more central (Builth Wells) railway station on the Mid-Wales Railway was opened in 1864, and closed with the line in 1962 – actually before the Beeching Axe. It was located across the river, next to the present showground.

A dedicated cycle route linking the town with Swansea (NCR 43) has been proposed and a 13-mile section of the route from Swansea has already been developed.

One of the main Wales north-south trunk roads, the A483, passes through the town, using the former railway route. As of June 2009 part of this road, along with the other main route through town (A470), is the subject of a transport study by the Welsh Assembly to help alleviate traffic congestion in the town centre.[http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/transport/builthwells/?lang=en Builth Wells Transport Study] wales.gov.uk/

The bridge at Builth Wells carries vehicles on the A470. It dates from the 18th-century and has six masonry spans, with small cutwaters on the upstream side. The centre of the bridge has two pedestrian refuges. It was built in 1775 and widened in 1925. The river here marks the boundary between the old counties of Breconshire and Radnorshire.{{cite web |url=http://www.builth-wells.co.uk/routes.php?item_ID=5 |title=Builth Wells Town Walk |author=Builth & District Heritage Society |publisher=builth-wells.co.uk |access-date=9 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161212193310/http://builth-wells.co.uk/routes.php?item_ID=5|archive-date=2016-12-12}}

Ysgol Calon Cymru is the main secondary school and is bilingual. It replaced Builth Wells High School in September 2018 and can draw on certain specialist teachers and facilities as is dual campus with its other site in Llandrindod Wells.{{cite news|author=Anwen Parry |url=https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/16692906.ysgol-calon-cymru-hundreds-of-pupils-start-back-at-powys-newest-school/ |title=Ysgol Calon Cymru: Hundreds of pupils start back at Powys' newest school |work=Powys County Times |date=6 September 2018 |access-date=14 January 2019 }} In 2000 its predecessor was placed 67th in Wales (by percentage of its children, 59%, gaining 5 GCSEs at full pass grades A*–C). According to a 2010 report by Estyn its rate rose to 77%, making it 9th best performing (state secondary) in Wales and the only ranking in Powys after Llanidloes High School. A fall to two years of Special Measures was followed in 2017 by the closing report of the old school finding sufficient progress to remove it from those measures. Progress was ranked as strong as to six recommendations of 2015, in 2017, and sufficient progress as to the other.{{cite web|url=https://www.estyn.gov.wales/sites/www.estyn.gov.wales/files/documents/Builth%20Wells%20High%20School%20en.pdf|title=Builth Wells High School}}

The town features Wyeside Arts Centre, which has two cinemas and a live performance stage.{{cite web|url=http://www.wyeside.co.uk|title=Wyeside Arts Centre website|access-date=23 November 2016}}

Builth Wells has a rugby union team called Builth Wells RFC, also known as 'The Bulls', who play on the Groe. The team play in the WRU SWALEC National League 2.

The town's football team is Builth Wells F.C. who play in the Ardal Leagues, the third tier of Welsh football.

Builth Male Voice Choir has approximately fifty members and performs concerts to support local and national charities.{{cite web|url=https://builthmalechoir.org.uk|title=Builth Male Voice Choir website|access-date=23 November 2016}}

Builth Wells also has a cricket pitch, tennis courts, a sports centre with squash courts, a 25m swimming pool and a bowling green.

:See :Category:People from Builth Wells.

• Caesar Jenkyns (1866–1941), footballer with over 200 club caps and 8 for Wales
• Percy Benzie Abery (1876–1948), photographer, settled locally in 1898
• Grenville Morris (1877–1959), footballer with over 450 club caps and 21 for Wales, all-time record goalscorer for Nottingham Forest (217 goals)
• David Milwyn Duggan (1879–1942), Canadian politician, emigrated in 1905
• Hilda Vaughan (1892–1985), novelist and short story writer
• Kevin Sheedy (born 1959), a football coach and footballer with 391 club caps and 46 for Republic of Ireland.
• Iolo Williams (born 1962), ornithologist, nature observer, TV presenter and author
• Alice Hart-Davis (born 1963), journalist and author
• Jack Harris (born 1986), singer and songwriter

File:Flooding at Builth Wells (1294563).jpg.]]

Image:Builth_PO_main.jpg above the former Post Office]]

Builth Wells has a large number of Grade II listed buildings and fixtures.{{cite web|title=Listed Buildings in Builth, Powys, Wales |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wales/powys/builth |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=21 December 2014}}

A plaque on the wall of the post office stakes its claim as the only in England and Wales to bear a contemporary inscription to less-than-one-year monarch Edward VIII.{{Cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1527230|title=Geograph:: Plaque near the doorway © Bill Nicholls cc-by-sa/2.0}} The claim can be qualified to active post offices as the former one in Bradford-on-Avon has a similar insignia.{{Citation|last=BazzaDaRambler|title=Bradford on Avon ... Edward VIII cipher at the post office.|date=2012-11-07|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bradford_on_Avon_..._Edward_VIII_cipher_at_the_post_office._-_Flickr_-_BazzaDaRambler.jpg|access-date=2019-06-20}}

After a small health centre opened in the town, Builth Wells Hospital closed in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-24298938|title=Builth Wells hospital replaced by £5m health centre|publisher=BBC|date=27 September 2013|access-date=24 March 2020}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/builth_wells/ BBC Wales feature on Builth Wells life] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123174208/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/builth_wells/ |date=23 January 2011 }}
• [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2848692 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Builth Wells and surrounding area]

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Category:Market towns in Wales

Category:Spa towns in Wales

Category:Towns in Powys