St Clears Town Hall
{{short description|Municipal Building in St Clears, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = St Clears Town Hall
| native_name = Neuadd y Dref Sanclêr
|native_language=cy
| image = St Clears Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 3733392.jpg
| caption = St Clears Town Hall
| locmapin =Wales Carmarthenshire
| map_caption =Shown in Carmarthenshire
| coordinates ={{coord| 51.8135|-4.4962 |type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| location =High Street, St Clears
| area =
| built =1848
| architect = John Rogers
| architecture =Vernacular style
| governing_body =
| designation1_number = 25481
| designation1_date = 11 June 2001
| designation1_offname = The Town Hall
| designation1 = Grade II Listed Building
| website =
}}
St Clears Town Hall ({{langx|cy|Neuadd y Dref Sanclêr}}) is a municipal building in the High Street, St Clears, Carmarthenshire, Wales. The structure, which is currently disused, is a Grade II listed building.{{NHAW|desc= The Town Hall|num=25481|access-date=16 September 2023}}
History
File:St. Clears- Badge on the wall of the town hall (geograph 6883890).jpg
The building was originally commissioned a storehouse for a residential building opposite, Cross House.{{cite web|url=https://www.stclearstowncouncil.co.uk/st-clears-town-heritage-trail/the-town-hall-and-corporation/ |title=The town hall and corporation|publisher=St Clears Town Council| access-date=16 September 2023}} The site selected was on the west side of the High Street opposite to the lychgate of the Priory Church of St Mary Magdalene. It was designed in the vernacular style, built in rubble masonry and was completed in the early 19th century.{{cite news|url= https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/media/1229180/st-clears-ca-appraisal.pdf |title=Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan St Clears Conservation Area |page=16|publisher=Donald Insall Associates|year=2022| access-date=16 September 2023}}
The storehouse was acquired by the St Clears Corporation for £130 and converted into a municipal building at a cost of £119 at the corporation's expense in 1848.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Np_H_j3hXUEC&pg=PA215 | title=The Companion Guide to Wales |first= David |last=Barnes|year= 2005 |page=215|publisher=Companion Guides|isbn=978-1-900639-43-9}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ujYyAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA753 | title= Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Inquire Into Municipal Corporations Not Subject to the Municipal Corporations Acts: Minutes of Evidence|publisher=House of Commons|year=1880 |page=753}} The architect was John Rogers, the son of a local entrepreneur, James Rogers.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pR1EAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA102 | title=Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Inquire Into Municipal Corporations Not Subject to the Municipal Corporations Acts|publisher=House of Commons|year=1880 |page=102}} The design involved a broadly symmetrical main frontage of three bays facing onto the High Street. The ground floor was arcaded, with three round headed openings headed by red brick voussoirs, so that markets could be held. It was fenestrated by three sash windows on the first floor. A coped external staircase, leading up to a porch on the first floor, was erected at the south end of the building. A circular plaque was placed between the first two windows: it depicted a legendary wild boar, known as the Twrch Trwyth, around which was inscribed the name of the owner of the building, in English and in Welsh, "Corporation of St. Clears. Prif Cufeillach Trwy'r Byd". Internally, the principal rooms were a market hall on the ground floor and an assembly room on the first floor.
In the 19th century, the building was also used for public meetings{{cite web|url=https://hdl.handle.net/10107/3793992|title=St Clears – The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser|date=23 January 1891|publisher=J. Daniel| access-date=16 September 2023}} and for religious services held on behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=19M_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA205 |title=The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star |volume=38|year= 1876|publisher=P. P. Pratt|page=205}} The borough council, which was managed by a court leet that had held its meetings in the town hall,{{cite web|url= https://forebears.io/wales/carmarthenshire/st-clears |title=St Clears|publisher=Kelly's Directory of South Wales |year=1895}} was abolished under the Municipal Corporations Act 1883.{{cite book |title=Municipal Corporations Act 1883 (46 & 46 Vict. Ch. 18) |date=1883 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1883/18/pdfs/ukpga_18830018_en.pdf |access-date=21 December 2021}} The assets of the corporation, including the town hall, were transferred to a newly established body, the St Clears Town Trust, in around 1890.{{cite web|url= https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=219727 |title=The St Clears Town Trust|publisher=Giving is Great| access-date=16 September 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://hdl.handle.net/10107/3761842|title=St Clears – The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser|date=6 May 1892 |publisher=J. Daniel| access-date=16 September 2023}}
The building was used as a children's classroom from the 1960s and then as a carpenter's workshop in the early 21st century. However, it is currently disused and the condition of the fabric of the building is deteriorating.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Government buildings in Wales}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Clears Town Hall}}
Category:City and town halls in Wales